Steph Stephenson

Steph Stephenson is an up and coming singer-songwriter from West Yorkshire.  With original and well written lyrics, her songs are captivating, relatable and passionately delivered.  We caught up with Steph to find out a little more behind the girl with the guitar.  As a special treat for our Piewatch readers, Steph has kindly provided a free download of her track ‘The Internet (I like to)’ (Right Click Here). 

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Piewatch – Hi Steph, thanks for talking to us!  When did your journey into music begin? 

Steph – Hiya Piewatch! Thanks so much for the feature! I guess my journey began when I started writing lyrics as a hormonal teenager at 14. My big sis went to University and she left her Fender Tele at home, which I picked up one day and learnt a chord! I think it helped that at the time, my best friend and I thought Avril Lavigne was really cool… she encouraged me to write my first song, as she also played a little guitar and wrote lyrics! For my 15^th Birthday I got a Tanglewood Folk, and from there the songs just kept on coming.

Piewatch - You write your own material, where do you get your inspiration and do you tend to stick with certain themes?

Steph – I do tend to stick with certain themes. I usually joke about how all my songs are about boys and my love life!  I can’t go wrong with a self-deprecating love song! But I like to think they can be deeper than that… “Blessings” for example has all sorts of meanings…it’s about image and the media, self-acceptance, state of mind, good advice…and err, a boy I fancied! I write about lots of other things too but I guess the theme is always personal. I would love to write a song about politics or something but it’s easy to write about things close to my heart. So it’s easy to say what inspires me: boys, friends, family, my life, my emotions! I usually end up writing a song when I’m sitting outside, so nature can be pretty inspiring too!

Piewatch – Describe your music in 3 words?

Steph – Oooh tough… Poppy. Folky. Girly. 

Piewatch – How did you come across Slicethepie? How have you found the site and scout reviews?

Steph – I think it was just a friend who told me about this great website where you can get lots of reviews in a matter of minutes! This was back in June. It was really tough at first, hearing things like “You have no idea how to write a song”…”This song will never sell, good luck”…and “the voice is very annoying, take some voice classes or something for that.” The thing is, I am so grateful for criticism like that now. You have to learn how to take it, because you’re always going to get it, no matter who you are or what you do! Plus, some criticism is really constructive. If someone says the vocals weren’t so clear, and could do with turning up, then I’ll have another think about the levels. The best thing about slicethepie is that when I read my reviews it really hits home how subjective things can be. One person says that the lyrics are childish and terrible; someone else says the lyrics are really deep and meaningful. Someone marks the same song 1/10, someone else 10/10. Thankfully, I’ve learnt how to take the good stuff to heart and to ignore the bad ones.

Piewatch – In modern times, artists like Radiohead have given their albums away for whatever people wanted to pay.  Indeed, you have given your fans the choice to buy your EP or download it for free.  Do you feel this is the way the music industry is heading?

Steph – Hmm, this is a big subject! I definitely don’t think free music would sustain the music industry. We artists need money to make and promote our music after all! And I think consumers and fans are definitely willing to give you money for your art, they want to support you! However, I’ve chosen to give my debut EP away for free so people can listen to it and see if they like it. The hope is that one or two fans will end up buying something in the future! The great thing is, in exchange for the free download a fan will hand me their email address so I’m also building a little database of fans. I do think music is becoming more free, and that’s why you have to sometimes make the sacrifice and give away your music. However, I have sold a couple of copies, and had a few donations from some wonderful people, so I do think in general people are still willing to buy music!

Piewatch – What are your biggest achievements to date (both musically and personally)?

Steph – My biggest achievement to date would be having my track played on BBC Radio Humberside on their unsigned show “Raw Talent”. They also asked me to come in for a session, so I’m really looking forward to that!  But it’s the everyday stuff that I’m really grateful for: a fantastic message on Youtube, selling a CD, getting a great review, or just being asked to perform! And of course being featured on Piewatch It’s still the beginning of the beginning, and I’m really happy just sitting letting good things happen naturally rather than forcing it. If I get too obsessed with “making it” and trying to control it, I’ll just get sad when nothings happening and I’ll stop enjoying it, which would just be silly. Personally, my biggest achievement is finally finishing my degree!

Piewatch – Any surprises, mishaps or comical moments when gigging?

Steph – Haha…erm… not yet thankfully! I’ve had some good moments though! I’ve written a song with the lyrics “Why’d you break up with me, you bastard?” (poetic, I know!) and it’s always great to get the audience shouting “Bastard!” along with me. I always get really nervous when I perform and have probably embarrassed myself plenty of times by talking nonsense in between songs, forgetting the words, and squeaking instead of singing!

Piewatch – Do you have a preference in the guitar you use?

Steph – When I chose my guitar, I chose it because it was blue and pretty! Luckily it also sounds great too! It’s a Yamaha APX700!

Piewatch – We have to say we enjoyed your DIY music video for your track ‘What if’.  Do you find adding a visual dimension to your songs gives them that added personal touch?

Steph – Aww, thanks very much, I’m really glad you liked it! I used a picture from Slicethepie in it actually, or did ya notice? I took a screen shot of one of my reviews which had the score 0/10 when I sang the line “What if I’m criticised?” I think my Slicethepie reviews are one of the things that inspired that song! But yes, adding a visual dimension really does add that personal touch. My Youtube vids are little like personal performance, you get to see all my facial expressions, and see how passionate I am which adds to the emotional impact of the song. A visual dimension is always a good idea, nowadays I’d much rather go on an artists Youtube page than their Myspace! I would love to do a proper music video one day.

Piewatch – Which of your tracks is your favourite and why?

Steph – Goodness me, I don’t know! My latest song is usually my favourite, because it still sounds so new and exciting to me! I get “The Rejection” stuck in my head a lot, because I really like the guitar. Sometimes I think I know which are the better songs, but everybody seems to have their favourites!

Piewatch – If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Steph – Can I have Sabrina the Teenage Witch’s power? She can just waggle her finger and get dressed really quickly, that’s pretty awesome!

Piewatch - If you were stranded on a desert island and could have a slice of pie airlifted to you, what type of pie would be on the menu?

Steph – Oooh…toughest question yet! Perhaps some good old warm apple pie. Cream too please?

Piewatch – Any last comments, plugs, or shout out’s to the fans?

Steph – Well thankyou very much again Piewatch! I have really enjoyed this interview…it’s my first one! Shout outs to my lovely friends, family, Youtube subscribers, Facebook fans, EP downloaders and generally everyone for the support which I appreciate so much! Plugs? Hmm, come visit me all over the internet, watch me on Youtube – download the free EP – I hope you like it! And if you don’t like it, that’s OK too!

Be sure to catch Steph on the following sites!