Kansas City bred singer-songwriter Stephonne has had his head in the stars since the age of 8. "My parents always played music from cassettes, old records and CDs. I was musically exposed then to everything from jazz and blues to r&b, and old school soul, " said the now 23 yr. old. "My interest was about the whole song and the whole record from the companies to the artists, producers and writers. When I read those liner notes and credits I always had in my mind that I would be one of those people." That is still in his mind only now he doesn't just want to be one of those people. Stephonne wants to be one of the most successful, important and celebrated singer-songwriters in history.
Performing started for Stephonne in Church and grew to include plays, musicals, competitions, and various choirs. He was classically trained and grew up listening to mostly "black" music but Stephonne has never fit into or understood boxes. "I never got that. Why because I was black I had to be associated with hip-hop culture. Music has no skin color! In junior high and high school I fell in love with Nirvana, Prince, Korn, Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morrisette and so much other shit. It was trippy for kids to see me switch out my Fugees CD and then put in Alice in Chains."
Songwriting started for Stephonne through poetry and progressively his mastery of words came to include melody. "I always had fully produced songs in my noggin. I heard every instrument, vocal part, harmony and arrangement. I didn't know how to notate it and couldn't play anything. All I had was a pad a pen and a dream." In addition to the above listed influences Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu helped train the young writer to write in all genres. "I love music. PERIOD. Ask me to write anything in almost any style and I can do it well."
Starting writing at age ten, today Stephonne has written an incredibly large body of work at quite a prolific pace. "Recording started in high school but it was when I got to college and Glory Blue started that writing caught on fire for me and became a giant monster." Glory Blue would last over two years, birth two albums (one with limited release) and produce close to a hundred songs and various performances.
"Glory Blue was great but there came a point that Justin and I just didn't work. I want the big dream to be reality and want all that comes along with that. He didn't. You pick up, refocus and remember not to give up. That situation made me who I am today. Those songs are the truth and some of my most precious gems. That situation can't ever be duplicated and I am grateful to God for it."
Pressing forward with GBM (Glory Blue Music, ASCAP) Stephonne keeps the mission of the name he created but has a more fiery and fixed focus. "I am a star, " the performer says. "I will take over the world and make them love me and I know that. I've got the voice and the talent I just need to right opportunity." Stephonne graduated with a Bachelors in Music (vocal performance) from Benedictine College and is working on his masters in entertainment business through Full Sail Univeristy. He is now working on an EP and gearing up for world domination. "I am ready for the Grammys and the sold out arena tours. I am ready to be all over radio and known by a first name basis. I am ready to be a king and I won't stop until I claim my throne."
"Sex Machine Model No. 73690" EP COMING SOON!!!
1987-born
2010-badass
used to in Glory Blue.... but live shows are coming. Think Rocky Horror Picture Show meets Purple Rain. It has to be right or executed in the perfect way at the right time. It will be worth the wait.
Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Janis Joplin, Billie Holliday, Prince, Fionna Apple, Coldplay, Nirvana, Sarah McLachlan, NIN, Radiohead, Alanis Morrisette, Korn, Jon Brion, Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse, Regina Spektor, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Jesse Harris, Linda Perry, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Ingrid Michaelson, The Fugees, Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Justin Timberlake, Feist, Aimee Mann, D' angelo, Sia, Zero 7, Rachael Yamagata, Missy Higgens, Kanye West, Jenny Owens Young, Danja, Bess Rogers, Janelle Monae, Harvey Danger, Ray LaMontagne, Incubus, The Swell Season, The Neptunes, Madonna, Beck, 70's Rock, cheesy 80's music, Mozart, DeBussy, old school R&B and Soul...
Maybe later...
