Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: I spent a portion of my time alone and that is when my daydreaming really started. I never fully fit in with my friends or family, so I would find the time to be with my thoughts; either on my bike or scooter. I’d think about what it would be like if I was a singer, how much fun it would be to tour and make records and the whole shebang. That’s when I started to hyper-obsess with female entertainers and would study what they did, how they did it and how it was received. I would memorize every lyric and melody and practice them in my room for hours on end. I think that the fake-world I created in my head helped shape everything that I am doing in real life today.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Stephen Lind”?
A: I want to bring myself out of the digital landscape and do more live shows. My experience headlining the 2023 Tucson Pride event sparked something inside of me and also opened my eyes to seeing that you have to exist in real life as well to gain a real audience. If someone just happens to come across my music without knowing who I am first, I guess my message to them would be the lyrics I’ve written; that gives a pretty good understanding of who I am.
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: I’ve been listening to Slayyyter’s new record “Starf*****” a lot. I think it’s the closest thing we’ve gotten to Britney Spears’ “Blackout” in a long time. It’s fun, silly and solid from start to finish. I’ve also recently started listening to UPSAHL and I really like their EP “The Phx Tapes.” My personal inspiration comes on the day of the studio; my brain is a rolodex of pop hits spanning decades so it depends on what my mood is that day.
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “Nosebleeds.”?
A: I had a tumultuous relationship with a friend of mine that was so up and down. It, obviously, came to an end and the hatred that came my way was a bit jolting. Knowing someone is keeping a list of your insecurities to use against you when they want to obtain power is scary. So, to get this whole situation out of my system I wrote “Nosebleeds.” I essentially wanted it to acknowledge how obvious they were when they did switch on me, and that the love I gave was real but I cannot continue. You can enjoy the view of my life from the “Nosebleeds.”
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: Interesting.
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “Nosebleeds”?
A: None, this song came really easily actually. I told my Producer the vibe, everything fell into place.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: I think the message I want to get across is that anyone can do anything. The idea of a pop artist is perfection and sex. But, some of us, no matter how hard we try, just do not sell that vision. So I want my message to be one for people who know they are sexy, great and special but may not get that validation from those around them.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: Ashlee Simpson, for sure. I think we would make a really fun pop song.
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Trust your journey. There will be people who obtain the success you want much quicker, or in a way that looks like it was ‘easier’; but stardom cannot be your goal. If you are making music or want to, just know you will find your audience in time. No one knows if it’ll be Taylor Swift sized or something that keeps you local, but if you are dedicated and passionate it will work out for you in the way it’s supposed to.
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?A: Probably the cliche “don’t worry what other people think.” It’s the most obvious and overused answer, but it’s true. When you’re young, you move in a way that looks to please everyone else around you; whether it’s to be cool or anti-cool. But, once you start making decisions based on your own desires, regardless of opinion, you truly start to find your happiness.
LISTEN TO THE ARTIST:
Follow Stephen Lind:
Spotify – YouTube – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – TikTok – Website