Meet Stefan - Talented Musician from The Virgin Islands

My son first introduced me to Stefan's music. I was intrigued by his song, "Going Pro," which featured Jefe Tunez.

The hook of "Going Pro" is:
"Cold world that we living in
Sometimes I even consider giving in
I know that I'm better than
everybody they bringing in for shows
but you know how it goes when you're chosen
I know I've been on your radar
People be faking, they ain't really who they say they are
Don't think I'd make it far
The thing is I know
soon they going to recognize me wherever I go."

Stefan is a multi-talented artist from The Virgin Islands (BVI) who has been creating music for the last seven years. I was able to chat with this singer and rapper on March 30, 2024, to learn more about his music.

Genre
Stefan classifies his genre as "worldwide" because he does not narrow himself to one specific genre.

Who Writes Your Music?
Stefan writes all his music. He shared that he started writing songs in high school using beats he found on YouTube. He said he was inspired by J Cole, a mainstream rapper who wrote his lyrics in a book. Stefan followed suit and also began penning his raps in a book.

Who Produces Your Music?
He shared that he was tired of buying beats, so he started creating them. He continued to refine this skill and has become more comfortable with his production abilities.

What Inspires You to Write?
Stefan shared that he was more into the arts, specifically drawing, then his parents bought him a Mac, and he started honing his Photoshop skills. He noticed the GarageBand app and began to experiment with creating songs.

Early Journey
In the beginning, Stefan started sharing his music on SoundCloud, with the support of his close friends. At first, he did not tell his parents he was uploading music. Once they knew, they encouraged him and helped to fund his dream. After five years of posting on SoundCloud, his girlfriend motivated him to upload his music on revenue platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

What Has Been Your Biggest Musical Accomplishment?
Stefan said his hugest musical accomplishment five years ago would have been shout-outs from fellow Virgin Islanders. Today, he considers his consistency over the past seven years to be his greatest achievement. He is proud that people across the world play his music.

Who Do You Listen to?
Stefan is pursuing studies in Arizona, so he is exposed to different styles of music. He is inspired by J Cole, Kanye West, and some underground artists. He shared that tobi lou is one of his influences because his music is about having fun.

Would You Collaborate on a Soca or Reggae Song?
Stefan said he would be willing to collaborate on either genre, but it would have to feel good. He said he would give it his all.

Who Would You Like to Collaborate With?
Stefan would like to collaborate with Rock City, considered the most influential musicians in the entire Virgin Islands. He described an opportunity such as this as "legendary."

Favorite of All Your Songs
Stefan said that his favorite song has not been released yet. However, his published favorite is “Out of Control,” which was released in early 2024. He considers it to be a versatile pop/disco song that was well-received.

Advice for Persons Who Want to Get into Music
Stefan had several pieces of advice to share:

• "Practice consistency."
• "You can’t be afraid to invest in your talent."
• "You have to put in the time."
• "Figure out how you can do what you love, but do it differently because if everyone is doing the same, no one really stands out."

He also shared that his parents gave him the tools, but he invested in the software. He added that while he would not share his first tracks, he has seen progress and is happy with his journey. He said, "Investment in your music will pay off eventually, but not with money right away." He added that he has had some setbacks with projects getting pushed back, which can be unmotivating. However, he encouraged artists to keep their heads up.

Do You Have Anything Else to Share with Readers?
Stefan shared that he was an artist from Tortola who has been creating music for over seven years. He has loved music his whole life and loves to express himself through various art forms. Music happens to be his favorite because it evokes emotions.

He also stated that he appreciates his circle of family and friends for their ongoing support. Stefan gave a special shout-out to "the boys" because they visited him every Saturday. He said, "I wouldn't be Stefan without them." They love music and helped to push him and build his confidence.

New Music
Stefan was excited to share that he has new music coming soon! While he was not ready to share any details of the upcoming tracks, I could sense the excitement in his voice. He said the new projects are "definitely something to look out for.”

I am looking forward to hearing more from Stefan. Subscribe to his social media pages for the release date of his new album.