Are you a fan of Frank Sinatra? Do you like cowboys? Soul and funk music? Then Stephen Day just might be the artist for you.
Originally from Georgia, Day found his love for music with a guitar in hand. Later, he moved to Nashville for school and stayed for the music. 10 years later he has toured the globe and released six studio albums and several other singles and EPs.
A self-proclaimed soul-pop, singer-songwriter, Day takes from his favorite parts of each genre to create his own sound. Aligning himself with artists like Jack Johnson, Day’s music goes along perfectly with a rainy day. It has a feel-good energy that you just can’t shake away. To make this happen though, he explained the process. Usually putting the song first, Day said, “My favorite songs are masking a little bit of melancholy [feelings]. It might feel really happy, but if you went and read the lyrics, you might see that it’s not as happy as you thought. There’s just depth or realness to it that I hope to be portraying in my music.”
Day continued and said that John Mayer is his musical hero. He grew up listening to his music and studio sessions which ultimately is the reason for his love for guitar. This could account for the few albums and YouTube videos that are mainly acoustic-focused. They do very well with his fanbase and have become an obligatory addition to his sets while on tour. Day’s continuation of returning to his roots could also be a callback to his 2016 EP “Undergrad Romance and the Moses in Me.” Being his most acclaimed album, it’s raw and has a demo-like vibe to it that is unmatched.
Some other artists that have inspired his musical process are Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Glenn Campbell. Day explained that he started listening to Campbell’s music when he moved to Nashville, and it changed his perception of country music. Because of this, he said that his latest studio album, “Gold Mine” is an homage to his newfound love for country music. “It’s just a tip of the hat to that genre because it inspires me,” Day said. Along with this, he has embraced the absurdity found within his music and inserted it into his music videos. Some that have gained profound traction include “A Bar on the West Side of Town” and the title track “Gold Mine.”
From “Undergrad Romance and the Moses in Me” to “Gold Mine,” Day has stayed consistent in his attention to detail and raw talent. “I always like to bring it back to just me and a guitar at some point,” he said.
Day is currently on his “Gold Mine” tour and begins the West leg of his tour tonight, March 18. Be sure to catch him at The Urban Lounge, on March 25 and kick it with Day for a “confirmed hang with an old friend.”
On his days off, Day likes to go on walks with his dog, hang out with friends and bask in the sunny days in Nashville, Tennessee.