“A young lady with a very impressive set of pipes…” Gary Crawley - BBC Introducing
“I was two years old when I sang my first song. I’ve always sung. Singing has been my thing for as long as I can remember”
A fan of the golden era of soul performed by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Janis Joplin, James Brown, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, and Ray Charles amongst others; it seems that Stephanie McCourt was born in the wrong decade. A unique mix of Irish and Zambian and the combination of two very different, yet similar cultures has created a passion for music that comes from deep within the soul of Stephanie McCourt. Knowing that she wanted to be a singer from a young age helped Stephanie to start pursuing her dream early on. Her parents whom she cites as being huge influences on her music decided at 9 years old to enrol her with the legendary vocal coach Tona de Brett, (Seal, David McCalmont, Joe Strummer, Dido, Duffy, Lily Allen and more.) who became Stephanie’s vocal coach until the age of 15. Singing was her escape from a troubled School life where Stephanie was frequently on the receiving end of vicious verbal assaults from other students.
Upon finishing school, Stephanie; encouraged by her ever supportive mother upped sticks, left London and headed to Brighton where she enrolled onto a four-year course at BIMM. (Brighton Institute of Modern Music) Graduates include the likes of platinum recording artists The Kooks and Tom O’Dell to name but two. It was only after completing her course that Stephanie realised she could write songs. A mutual friend took her to Hot Money Studios the home of Unstoppable Music Group and introduced her to music producer EFX who they hoped would be interested in writing and recording with Stephanie.
The two immediately struck up a relationship and began writing and recording together. Over the next few months the pair would write and record tracks which would end up forming the basis of her EP “Stripped Back” and before long EFX introduced Stephanie to his manager and business partner in Unstoppable Music Group; Ben Wynter who quickly signed her to a management and production deal. Stephanie’s music influences are apparent. The soul influences of ‘Hard Living’ are clear whilst influences of gospel, and jazz are present on the melancholy ‘Never Did I!’ This is juxtaposed by the uplifting funk, and Motown soul leanings of Not Giving It Up. Most recently Stephanie has headlined the Jazz café and supported BBC The Voice finalist Matt Henry on his album launch tour and released her ep which stormed the Itunes chart in Ireland peaking at no. 4.
Stephanie McCourt’s EP: Stripped Back is currently available on Itunes, Spotify and all good digital retailers.