Artist/Band : Lee Stevens
Music Genre: Christian
Websites or Social Media Pages
https://www.facebook.com/lee.stevens.3382
https://www.instagram.com/leestevens3382/?hl=en
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lee-stevens-stevenssongs/1773654440
Lee M Steven’s,
What Musical Genre Do You Feel Best Describes Your Music And How Would You Describe Your Sound?
The primary genre I am focusing on at this stage of my career is Christian. My voice is a clear, rich baritone with a very broad range. That is an amalgamation of many different styles and genres that I’ve been exposed to throughout my life, and also my training in the Broadway musical tradition and operatically.
How Did You Get Your Name? Is There A Story?
In contrast, to many artists, I have chosen to use my birth name rather than a stage name. Number one, I’m very proud to carry on my father‘s surname. Secondly, I was told very early on that. My name just had a naturally nice ring to it for being in the entertainment business. Thoroughly, the only story behind it is that I am named after my great-grandfather, who was also Lee Stevens.
What Are or Have Been Your Musical Influences?
Due to the fact that I’m the youngest of five kids, by quite a bit in fact( 9 1/2 years from the next sibling ) I have been influenced by quite a variety of artists and genres that I’ve been exposed to through them, and also through my grandparents and many relatives. I have been influenced by everybody from secular artists, especially Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, and many many Broadway artists and Christian artists such as the late Keith Green, Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West, Michael W Smith, and the white artist Carman to name a few.
What Are You Working On Now? Any Future Collaborations We Can Look Forward To?
I’m constantly writing all the time throughout the week and have many songs. I would love to have an opportunity to get produced and share with my listeners that I’ve already been following me and hopefully create new ones with. I’m currently putting the finishing touches on a song I’ve been writing called “Do you?” This paints a very vivid picture of how the Lord has done great mighty things, and people‘s lives are shown throughout the Bible, and then asks the listener. Do you think he can do the same for you, and then I can go out to explain that I can assure them that he can through my experiences as well. Although I don’t have any collaborations on tap at the moment, I enjoy and look forward to working with other artists because I believe that true artistry is about collaboration and not competition.
What Is Your Ultimate Goal In The Music Industry? What Is Your Plan Of Action?
My ultimate goal is to make a career and have a mithrought, writing and performing my own music. The goal and focus right now is trying to get my music out there whe, when I can, Lord willing catch the r, right ear, and I have the right producer who can see and share my vision with these songs, smooth off the rough edges, and help me bring my music and my message to fruition. My plan of action is to in addition to sharing content that I have created such as a segment that I do called lyrics Spotlight on my social media platforms where I give a sneak peek of a song I’m currently writing or have just written, and performances as well as continuing to make appearances on music programs like the Goodvue Network in which I can introduce myself to new audiences. In addition., I also want to collaborate with various artists and entities such as Riding Star Underground Radio etc
What Is Your Favorite Track To Perform Live and Why?
To be honest, unfortunately, I have not had too many opportunities to perform live as of late, but I hope to change that in the near future. Of course, I love to play “I’m Not Alone”. In the past, I’ve done a concert. Because I’m relatively new to coming out of the shadows to do my own original music, I’ve done a lot of cover songs. In that spirit, one of my favorite songs to do live as a song by Frank Wildhorn from the musical “Jekyll and Hyde” is called “A New Life”. Not only is it a favorite among my fans, and has done quite well for me on the Indie radio circuit, but it is the favorite song off of my album of Broadway favorites called Broadway and Beyond” of my late aunt, Marsha Stevens, who was one of my most ardent supporters and believed in me from the very beginning. Without all the help and support that she gave me through the years before her passing, I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have.
What Has Been The Biggest Challenge In Your Career Thus Far?
My biggest challenge in my career so far was number one, getting over any misgivings or fears I had of putting my own original music out there. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how my current song has been received. Secondly my current biggest challenge in my career is Being able to get the ear of someone in the right position who can get me in my music to the right producer and that producer is someone who’s able to see the diamond in the rough, who doesn’t get caught up in the rough edges, but simply helps smooth them off, enjoys me and bringing my vision to fruition. Being someone from a working-class, blue-collar background in a small town with very few connections, it’s been very trying at times. But God has been good.
What’s Your Typical Songwriting Process?
In terms of my songwriting process, I have learned to be open and ready to receive inspiration ideas from often unexpected sources at any time,I and toys have a notebook and pencil at the ready lol. When I write, I tend to get the tune in the lyrics simultaneo,usly oftentimesimes the chorus or “hook” will hit me first. In addition, I’ve learned not to rush the process either. Although a of of my songs came quickly, I want to accept when they take a little more time. It’s more important to me to write something that really connects with my listener and to just pump a song out for the Sole purpose of pumping a song out.
How Has Social Media Influenced Your Career As An Artist?
Social media has influenced my career, and it has been a game-changer. It helped me rewatch my career in 2017 after putting all my artistic aspirations on the back burner to be a hands-on husband and father for many years. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, etc. have given me a way to introduce myself to new audiences that wouldn’t have otherwise heard of me outside of the region that I came from where I’ve had a small but loyal following
What Are Some Tracks and Artists Currently On Your Playlist?
The tracks and artists on my playlist definitely reflect that wide range and variety that they mentioned before when I asked about who my musical influences have been. I have current artists such as Steven Curtis Chapman. With his new single “Speed Of Love“ an older songs like “The Walk”, and “ Dive’n in”, Chris Tomlin and his new album “ The King is Still The King “, Brandon Lake with “ Hard Fought Hallelujah “, Matthew West with “ Chosen”. I have many secular artists as well such as some classic Billy Joel with “ Movin’ Out “, and “ Matter Of Trust “ etc, Huey Lewis with “ One Of The Boys “ and “ Back In Time”., Johnny Cash with “ Get Rhythm “ and “ “ Sunday Morning Comin’ Down”, of course, tons of Elvis Presley such as his new “ Sunset Boulevard “ album and too many Broadways songs to mention . I even have an Indie Christian hip-hop artist named Smudge D with “War Ready”.
What Did You Do Before You Started Making Music?
Music has always been an essential part of my life from the time I was a child. I’ve been singing publicly since I was seven years old and I started singing professionally when I was 19 but along the way like a lot of hardships, I have worked a variety of jobs from a paid radio internship and various retail jobs to multiple customer service jobs because I genuinely like people
Any Advice For Young People (Men or Women) That Want To Succeed In The Music World?
There are a few things I would say to young men and young women who want to get into the music world. First, make sure that you really know who you are as a person and who you are in the Lord, and make sure that you know what you really want as an artist. Artistically, I would pass on the lesson I learned very early in life. I was told, “Find out how Lee Stevens would sing that song instead of whoever the artist was”. In other words, find out what your sound is. Answer the ques:tion What do you sound ?ike, How would you interpret that ?o or Perform that song. Don’t try to sound like the artists who have influenced you; take their influence and glean different tools from what those performers have done, but don’t try to sound like them. Try to sound like you. Figure out what you sound like and be true to that. Thirdly, and I can’t stress enough, humility is so key. Always be humble and gracious to other artists that you’re fortunate enough to work with and to those who extend a hand to help you.
What Would You Change In The Music Industry If You Were A Top Music Executive?
Wow, if I were a top executive in the music industry, I would first want to help get the industry back to not getting so caught up and, you and get more focused on artists who have real talent and can do more than just “sell the song” on sage . Secondly, I would want to get rid of a lot of these technologies that help cheat with tone, correction, and things like that. One thing I pride myself on as an artist is being able to vocally live exactly what the person hears on my recordings, and I would want to help the industry get back to finding artists who can deliver the same thing. Another thing I would do is want to create greater accessibility for ND artist to be able to get their demos before producers and talent, scouts, etc. Unfortunately, not everybody comes from either a family that’s well-connected or that has money and can afford to up and move across the country to get them closer to those in the industry. I would probably utilize social media somehow to try and create those new avenues.
How Do You Feel About Originality?
I’m a big proponent of originality. I think, unfortunately, that there are a lot of carbon copies out there in the music industry. Especially it seems in the pop music genre. When music becomes too homogenized on the radio it begins to sound Manous and it loses the fire and inspiration that it’s meant to have. Even in the songwriting itself, I try to strive to make each song that I write a little bit different from the last one. I try to give each song, a different flavor or a different hint of a different musical influence that I’ve had.
Is There Anything Else We Should Know About You Or That You Would Like to Add?
Yes, one thing I’d really like to share. That’s very important to me. Is that through my music and my artistry, I want to be able to share a story of hope, of being an example of hope to people out there who may be struggling with an obstacle that might seem insurmountable to them at the time. I’ve always said that when I perform, I try to keep in mind that there may be another “Lee Stevens“ out there in the audience who needs to see that if I can do it, they can do it. The reason I say that is because I have through a very strong faith in the Lord and His graciousness, overcome much of a neurologically based disability that I was born with that affected all five of my senses. Many of the specialists and experts in my life never would’ve imagined that I would do what I’m doing, acting and performing on stage and musicals in concerts, and in recent years, even doing film work. So, through any opportunity or platform that I am fortunate to get to take my music to the next level, I want to make sure to always be that example of hope, encouragement, and the message that anything is possible through the Lord. Don’t give up.