Album Notes

“Look At Her” is a collection of inspirational soul declarations, songs that celebrate, defend, encourage, and speak honestly about women, while providing a glimpse of how artist Steve Burks views himself, as a man and a citizen of the world. A vocalist, saxophonist, drummer, and pianist with perfect pitch, Steve is a disciple of the DIY, Prince school of artistry, having written, composed, arranged, performed, recorded, mixed, and mastered the entire album.

“Look At Her” was 4 years in the making, but its sound took 4 decades to develop. Emotion from Steve’s church upbringing, precision from his classical training, and his investment in world-class hip hop, all meld into a style that pushes the standard industry envelope. A bold example is his use of singer-rapper duets, where one lead vocal contains a rap performance, and another lead vocal contains the identical part set to melody.

“As a musician coming up, I was allowed to be me, doing what I liked and writing as honestly as I could. That’s still the case today. I’m stuck in my ways, and cool with it.”

True uniqueness is not all that common, given the world of critics, labels, peers, and that basic human desire to fit in.

“I was an outsider as a kid. It’s paying off now. It gives you perspective. When you’re not participating, you’re observing. And that’s where the learning comes. It definitely helps you have something to say.”

Steve is a native of Gary, Indiana, a performer with the International House of Blues Foundation, a classical composer, and a gospel music director of 12 years. He graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, received his Master’s from the IU department of African American Studies, and wrote his Master's thesis about soul music and conscious hip-hop.