I first met Stefan in April 2024 when I shared a
blog post about him. Stefan has delivered a masterpiece with his thirteen-track album,
NORI, which was released on August 16, 2024. I would say that this album is clean, comfortable, relatable, and evoked emotion to keep me listening!
Let's Hear Stefan's Perspective
I had a chat with Stefan and he shared the following about
NORI.
What Inspired This Album? “
NORI was created based on a story that I wrote that was inspired by the weird time after COVID-19 where I would go to the beach with my friends. Every week before the curfew, we would always go to the beach. That was a very happy time in my life - not because of COVID-19 stuff but just being around my friends and going to the beach every week. That’s a really happy time in my life and the story was created around that. I know I wanted to make a story with that because the beach was such a good vibe. That's why the project starts with us approaching the beach. We don't really go to the beach as much now and that's why the ending of the project - it’s just the beach by itself without any noise for a couple seconds. But that’s outside of the actual story, that’s just the inspiration behind the project. I just wanted to make something inspired by that time.
Was It Intentional for Some Song Titles to be in Lowercase?I did this to bring more attention to NORI and XENO because those are tracks named after actual people in the story.
Who Did Your Visuals?Theo Thomas has been the man behind the scenes.
What Do You Want to Say to Your Fans? I want to say thanks even though when you say, ‘fans,’ it feels weird. The feedback has really been overwhelming and I am feeling the love wholeheartedly. Seeing that everyone has been sharing love for the project shows me that hard work pays off.
Tell Us About Team TYCI feel that for the
TYC team – it’s the happiest era of our lives in creating
NORI and putting ourselves out there. Sometimes we would get together just to watch movies, play games, or crack jokes, and eventually, all of this interaction led to success. This team knew that they were talented but this is a bigger step to putting ourselves out there.
What's Your Favorite Track on NORI? My favorite track is
…i’m really not. I believe that
…i’m really not is the perfect song to capture the whole album. It briefly goes through every single situation, every feeling, It basically gives you a top-to-bottom summary of the entire project in addition to a year-after perspective. It just lets you know how he’s feeling and the fact that he hasn't processed all of the emotions that he felt with
NORI - the fact that it’s kind of surreal that she's actually gone. He’s on his own now and he's not the same. His friends are worried about him. He's clearly being distant as you can hear from the skits from the friends in the earlier half of the track. It's just perfect from top to bottom and captures the whole project emotionally – my favorite song.
Where is lido's kitchen? lido's is not a real place, sadly, it is not a real place. Everybody wants it to be a real place. I want it to be a real place too. I picture it on the roadside by the beach because that's where it is actually located in a story, not too far down the road from the beach.
What's Next for NORI?
I plan to do an event called
lido's kitchen later in 2024. More details to come soon.
What's Next for Stefan?
I may let this album breathe for a while. I'm not in a rush to drop another album but I will be sharing more music later in the year. I have a lot of work tucked away. I may focus on a few more EPs. I want to build the brand and get more music out there.
Would You Want to Perform for the 2025 Virgin Islands Festival?
I would love to perform but I would want a live set for the desired effect I have in mind. I want to give a powerful performance and give the people a good show.
Shout Out Thank you to my parents, wider family, and friends for standing with me. Special shout out to TYC for their ongoing support. Thank you to Kyra of
Kickin It for helping me to put myself out there!
Parting Words The project was not aimed to be trap (music) or like
Tola Boy Radio. Supporters can look forward to some visualizers that were completed and one more defining music video of the whole project. The feedback has been great and I am happy with it being the first ever project. I gave it 100% and when I make new music - I want that I have no regrets about it in the future. Keep looking out for what is coming from me. I feel it’s worth waiting for.
The Music The tracks on NORI are:
- you good?: This conversation begins the album with Stefan’s friends asking him, “you good?” They seem concerned, although jokingly at times, about his wellbeing after a break-up. However, Stefan insists, "I good."
- i’m okay …: featuring Donwikk: In response to Track 1, Stefan sings in the hook: “You don’t have to ask me if I’m fine/ I’m okay … I been doing better, honestly there ain’t a day.” The instrumental, which has a classical feel in the first minute and 30 seconds, transitions with some blended pop infusion. It ends with a skit that introduces Track 3.
- NORI featuring Kendake: Track 3 introduces the protagonist. After mutually breaking up with his girlfriend, Stefan found a new love interest, NORI. It seems to be a casual encounter where Stefan introduces himself to her. The song breaks with a skit before Kendake adds her lyrical diversity. She chants, “long as your efforts ain’t juvenile, be honest, don’t be delusional.”
- nori’s theme: Track 4 gives us another insight through the conversation between Stefan and his friends about NORI. They chided him about pretending to be “okay,” but still encouraged him to invite her to the meeting spot. They even joke about him not being himself at the meet-up – not freestyling. They even talk about NORI’s old love interest, which we will meet in the upcoming tracks.
- lido’s kitchen featuring Jougo, TYC, Durnel Sanderson and Stello: This track has an all-star cast. It opens with an ad for “lido’s kitchen” by a dominating voice in the Virgin Islands, Jougo. The mood changes because the song is about “falling in love.” It's a more reggae vibe that you can sing along and dance to. We tend to look at restaurants as places for bringing people together and the song gives us the exact vibe - togetherness. The chorus repeats, "all I wanna do is fall in love with you."
- don’t rush featuring Alyssah: Track 5 has me wanting to hear more from Alyssah! This sexy track gives me a smooth R&B feel, reminiscent of the songs that we still sing today from the 90s and 2000s. At the 2-minute mark, the song transitions into a different instrumental and mood. Stefan has been trying to call NORI and she has not responded.
- been callin’: The energy change continued from Track 6 to this track This was the first song I heard from the album and may be my favorite. NORI seems to be having doubts about the relationship and her friends are intercepting Stefan’s calls. Stefan expresses doubts and reminisces on the earlier conversations with his friends who had encouraged him to slow down. NORI's friends lecture her about the way she has been treating Stefan.
- been dodgin’: In Track 8, NORI admits she’s been dodging Stefan. In the skit in between, NORI's friends encourage her to reach out to Stefan. However, Stefan responded by repeating, “I’ve been calling, you been dodgin'.” The song ends with NORI asking, “Will you wait for me?”
- waiting…: In response to Track 8, Stefan sings, “I don’t want to wait for ya” in the refrain. I love the old-school R&B feel of this song, the deep feelings that are expressed, and the vocal ranges.
- i love you featuring mic.ah & Durnel Sanderson: This track gives a more acoustic vibe at the start but transitions to a hip hop/pop flow with a telltale story backtracking on what Stefan sang in Track 9, "This don't make no sense, I ain't tryna fall in love, this **** makes no sense."
- XENO featuring Hancho Flippaz and Jefe Tunez: I would call this the angry song on the album with its ominous start of the instrutmental. It includes some serious banter between NORI's ex, XENO performed by Hancho Flippaz, BVI's 2021 Qua-Rap-Tine Battle winner, Stefan, and an instigator, Jefe Tunez. XENO starts his lyrics as if speaking to NORI about the early days of their relationship and throwing shots at Stefan. The instigator also pops in, and then XENO chants, "How you run tell your friends I toxic/ I ain't perfect this *** does take practice." Stefan chimes in, "Yeah that's my baby so we making plans/ help me out I don't really understand/ how she moved on and you still a fan, damn." The instigator adds, "And all ayo at the bottom of the barrel/ broke ***** thought that Chanel was a channel/ and your friends thirstier than a camel/ make one wrong move and I done this whole jam." Stefan retorts, "I know you intoxicated/ and you partly faded but meh boy/ you ain't got no pride/ keep my girl name out yuh mouth." The song ends with a taunt to shoot and we hear voices and a gunshot.
- lido’s kitchen pt. 2: This track starts with a touching voiceover of what appears to be NORI getting shot and the excitement, fear, suspense, and pain of everyone in the scene.
- …i’m really not: This pop style track brings a different mood to the album, It’s a bit more pop-py and the ad-libs mention a ‘funeral.” A voice calls out during this track, “I tell you you wasn’t ready for love….” The track runs for almost eight minutes with elements that bring the story to an exciting close.
Feedback from Friends and Other CreativesPapi Woodyard, poet and host extraordinaire of
Papi’s Poetry Corner, commented on the YouTube videos:
- on I’m okay: “Love this vibe ...❣️❣️❣️”
- on NORI – “Beautiful song ... sent to my wife.”
Akin Chinnery, musician and poet from USVI, said:
“It's at the 3:13 segue skit for
NORI that I really catch the vibe and genius of this brother.🥰🙏🏿❣️ It's spiritual, yet sensual, totally celestial.🔥❣️ I love it😍🙌🏿❣️. He has a professional vision about his artistry that supersedes his age😃☝🏿❣️. I'm a fan officially from here on😁🙏🏿❣️. And I love the way he segue his skits🔥☝🏿.. Not even the adult emcees do that anymore for the most part🤷🏿♂️.”
William Douglas, a
writer from Toronto said:
Stefan's album
NORI is a melodic journey with vibes reminiscent of Drake, featuring good rhyme schemes and engaging conversational interactions. The track
been dodgin' had me bouncing around, while
waiting... stands out with its relatable lyrics, excellent flow, and a great chorus. I loved how the album wrapped up with the soothing sound of waves, adding a perfect ending touch.
Dr. Dierdra Wheatley, my friend and HR colleague (I have mentioned her several times in this blog), said:
I like the artist's voice - it's smooth and kinda buttery. I like the story telling aspect of the album because it carried me through a journey that a lot of us can relate to in one way or the other. I like those aspects. I liked the beats as well - they were 'feelable.'
Khadija Walters, HR colleague, creative and owner of
Khad's World, shared:
I felt like I was listening to his story. The album was well put together, every song flowed one after the other in chronological harmony. I also loved that the music felt timeless; nowadays we're so bombarded with modern twists on music but this album brought such a nostalgic vibe, taking you back in the day. The album is truly a work of art and I expect it will hit the global market.
Anthony of
3AL Productions said his favorite songs are
lido's kitchen,
been dodgin and
XENO.
Anjanique from
AMC Edits said she loves all the songs, but her favorites are
i love you,
waiting...,
NORI and
XENO.
If you have not listened to this album yet, please check
Spotify,
Apple Music and
YouTube. Stefan is superbly talented and I do look forward to hearing more amazing music from him in the future. I quote from Stefan's hit song,
GOING PRO featuring Jefe Tunez:
"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
How he so cold with it?
And he so different maybe cuz he put his soul in it
He dropping hits after hits, going pro
He on a roll"
I am confident that Stefan will be recognized for his talents!
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