Stephan Leroy Folkes throws down the gauntlet with his debut single, “Say It Like You Mean It” a song that doesn’t simply request honesty, but insists on it. With a vocal delivery evoking Prince, and a genre-bending production that stretches through soft rock, funk, jazz and R&B, Stephan creates a sound that’s as fresh as it is timeless.
At heart, “Say It Like You Mean It” is the lesson of self-worth, as told through the all-too-common plight of pursuing love that isn’t entirely mutual. The track vibrates with primal feeling and, the chorus invites listeners to realize their worth, and to stop wasting energy on those who won’t meet them halfway. Lyrically poignant and sonically rich, the song delivers a message that hits home without losing the groove.
Stephan’s musical DNA is a potpourri of influences, from the iconic sounds of Prince, George Michael and Stevie Wonder to the contemporary artistry of Billie Eilish. His refusal to be confined to the genres of pop, disco, trance and even metal can be heard everywhere on his material like a kid playing with every toy in the schoolyard. “Say It Like You Mean It” is a statement. It’s the coming of an artist who’s not afraid to do things differently.
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