Rest Assured that Stevens latest release is merely a scratch upon the surface of this very talented Artist.It embodies his abilities to write passionately about the things in his life with both strong vocal melodies & lyrics that come directly from his heart,without reservation. "It is what it is" as he puts it.
The subjects range from the passing of the Beatles to prescription drug abuse,to "In A Mother's Eyes" a deeply emotional song Steven wrote about a mother grieving the death of her son to suicide. The song "I'm Not" is a must-have in any acoustic song list.
More to come....Take a listen, it will definately be worth the time if you like the James Taylor meets acoustic pop/rock style he's developed. About Steven... People who have had the pleasure of experiencing Steven's unique and individual brand of acoustic pop/rock all agree on one thing,it has a captivating quality in itself that weaves both the performer and listener through an emotional journey to places they've been,places they're going,and places they stand.Simply put,his music has a soothing and emotional characteristic that can touch the essence of a soul.Steven has most often been compared to a cross between James Taylor and R.E.M.,with just a touch of Phil Collins and Sting.Quite a comparison,indeed,but it suits him well.He has a unique vocal and songwriting style that has landed him on various compilation CD's,and an "Honorable Mention"in Billboard's National Songwriting Contest for his song"Hollywood".He was born in Redstone,Alabama,but grew up while traveling all over the Continental United States and Europe.He even spent several years in Guatemala.His father was a distinguished Colonel in the United States Army,so Steven spent the first 17 years of his life on the move & on the road."I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in this world"he said,"I've met people, been places,and seen things most people will only see in National Geographic".It was during his early traveling years that he picked up his father's mail-ordered Sears Silvertone guitar and started teaching himself how to play.By age 9 he'd started his first three piece band,orchestrated a neighborhood concert,and sold all the tickets.Yeah,those were the days,and little did he know. He continued his musical endeavors on through Jr.High and High school prolifically writing,performing,and sharing his gift with anyone, any time,and just about any place. He loved to play & people listened.After High School he declined acceptance to Berkley Conservatory, and opted for a year at Marshall University where he eventually recorded his first acoustic release. As a lead vocalist and front-man in his earlier "rock"years,Steven was instrumental in the CD releases of several notable rock bands, including "Wallstreet"(1996),"Worx"(1997)and "Medicine Man"(1999/2000).He returned to his acoustic roots in early 2001,and has since independantly released (5) solo acoustic albums,including his most recent"Things I Know"to wide acclaim and acceptance. Steven currently averages 250+ performances a year to very diversified audiences, and being enjoyed by everyone from pre-schoolers to teens,to college age,on up to 70+and everyone in-between! Steven's music truly is loved by all. He is very involved with charitable performances for mentally handicapped,and performs at fundraisers on a regular basis. "Giving Back" is the intention Steven has set for the future,and sharing his music on a much larger and deeper scale is just the beginning. Steven's current repertoire consists of approx.(3)hours of purely original music covering almost any style from James Taylor type ballads,Beatle-type pop,and some new material in the vein of R.E.M. meets The Counting Crows.He performs as an acoustic solo but seamlessly uses a drum machine in support of his voice and guitar.The one thing that can be said about his performances and music,with just a few minor exceptions, is what you hear on his CD is exactly what he sounds like live.He prefers to play (2)one hour sets, if possible, and rates vary according to circumstances and/or venue. Please feel free to call for any charitable performance requests.It is usually only a matter of availability.Steven says"It's all about the music,and I just love to play,so when I get the opportunity to give something back,or help someone else just by sharing the gift of music...man,it doesn't get any better than that". "It's Tough" CD to be released April 2006...cdbaby/cd/stevenbradshaw
© 2006 Steven Bradshaw
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