Sheli Stevens

LIFE There's a new voice in pop music, and her name is Sheli Stevens. "Bold", "sensual", "honest", and "moving" are just some of the words which have been used to describe Sheli's voice. With flavors of pop, folk, and rock, woven together into 3-minute-something crafty pop gems, her debut CD 'Come Home' is laden with catchy melodies, profound lyrics, and highlights the talented singer's unmistakable vocal stylings. It is one of those rare CD's in your collection that you'll want to listen t...

LIFE There's a new voice in pop music, and her name is Sheli Stevens. "Bold", "sensual", "honest", and "moving" are just some of the words which have been used to describe Sheli's voice. With flavors of pop, folk, and rock, woven together into 3-minute-something crafty pop gems, her debut CD 'Come Home' is laden with catchy melodies, profound lyrics, and highlights the talented singer's unmistakable vocal stylings. It is one of those rare CD's in your collection that you'll want to listen to from beginning to end, without ever touching the 'skip' button. Sheli grew up on a raspberry farm, her father a potter/storyteller, her mother a painter/photographer, and both were musicians. "My parents taught me to always be creative, while life on the farm taught me to build a strong relationship with nature. It's no wonder that today I'm a singer who cares so deeply about our environment." Upon finishing high school, Sheli was accepted into a renowned song & dance company which toured extensively. Her musical journey had begun, and the Oregon native immediately left her hometown of Boring for Los Angeles. Her singing took her all over the world, performing on countless stages, until she finally decided to take a break from touring and settle in Montreal, where she now calls home. In 2007, Sheli met writer/producer Eric Dick. The two developed a solid friendship, and began working on material for what would later become the 'Come Home' CD. "I always knew an album was around the corner, but the right person just never appeared", says Sheli. "The more we talked, the more it was clear this was to be a great fit, and I guess the rest is history." MUSIC While it is certainly a pop record, 'Come Home' delves much deeper when you begin to explore the songwriting, production, and instrumentation. "I grew up listening to some of the great singer/songwriters like Carole King, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, so I needed to have songs which were first and foremost strong, and would stand up with just a single voice and piano, or guitar, or whatever. Once that was in place, it was just a question of which direction we wanted to take each track", explains Sheli. "It was essential to [producer] Eric to maintain a pop approach, but no matter which song it was, as long as the instrumentation always felt organic and the lyrics were heartfelt and personal, to me that was the right direction." Upon hearing tracks like 'Come Home', 'Too Late', 'Where Does it Go?', 'Undone', and the first release 'Still the One', there is no denying that these songs were crafted to stay in your head. While the smart lyrics, soaring instrumentation, and elaborate vocal arrangements provide for a depth we rarely find in mainstream music, make no mistake, these songs are pure pop, and you’ll be singing them after just one listen. "Still the One is definitely a straight ahead pop tune, but it has this mysterious feel that I find can really get under your skin" describes Sheli. "Every time those back-ups kick into the second chorus, I get the shivers... and I have to say it's fun to get that from your own material", she says smiling. About 'Undone' she adds, "That was the first track Eric and I worked on together. I'm pretty sure he'd agree that was when we both knew we were onto something... ." While keeping within its pop framework, ‘Come Home’ still offers up some interesting surprises. ’Since I Let You Go’ is a two-minute ditty with a great, up-tempo feel. "Eric was hearing the Beatles, and I was hearing The Andrew Sisters!" Sheli laughs, "I think it turned out pretty well in the end...". ‘Into the Black’ is a song one probably wouldn't expect to find on a pop record, taking the listener on a journey with many different moods, tempos, and time signatures. "I think I love that song so much because [musically] it has a little bit of everything I'm about; And not to mention the lyrics, which deal with environmental and social issues very close to my heart." Armed with 11 stories to tell, an unforgettable voice, and a team behind her that won't quit until the entire world knows who she is, Sheli Stevens is poised for the journey that lies ahead. "Bring it on" she says, grinning from ear to ear, "I've been preparing for this all my life."