London-based singer-songwriter Rich Stephenson has unveiled Better Things To Do, the lead single from his upcoming I Am Rich EP.
The energetic slice of summery folk-pop showcases his sharp lyrics, choppy guitars & talent for infectious choruses. Born and raised on the rural Yorkshire coast and now living in the capital, these two contrasting locations are useful metaphorical signposts for Stephenson’s songs – timeless and organic yet driven by a restless energy
and lyrical bite, and equally influenced by rustic folk and bustling pop.
This combination of acoustic guitars and catchy melodies has landed him on BBC Introducing & Amazing Radio playlists and led to support slots with Ben Howard, Django Django and The XX. His work has also been heard soundtracking hit TV shows like E4’s Skins, underlining his ability to pen evocative and accessible songs that connect with mainstream audiences.
In this interview spotlight, we chat with Rich about the new project, influences, and more.
Full Q&A, links, and a stream of Better Things To Do below.
https://soundcloud.com/rich-stephenson/better-things-to-do
Where are you from and what style of music do you create?
I’m from the Yorkshire coast in the UK (near Hull) and I write and perform a mixture of acoustic folk and catchy pop – with a whole lot of heart.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
I had an inspiring set of music teachers at school – both of which gave me the motivation to practise and explore my creativity streak… And I’ve never looked back.
Music has given me so many exciting opportunities: writing for TV, performing in NYC, Holland, Budapest, the O2 Academy, London. And I’m always meeting new friends through my adventures. As long as that continues, I want to keep being a musician!
Who or what are your biggest influences when it comes to your creativity?
I’m constantly inspired by so many different things when it comes to writing: a good book, an emotional film, a new found song on the radio… The list goes on. As long as I have a guitar, a recording device and (most importantly!) time, I’m in my element.
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
This is the second EP I’ve done with producers Emma Towers-Evans & Nick Harding – and we had one goal for this one: to push ourselves to the limit. I worked at my writing (cutting down the dozen or so songs I had to just four was hard!). Emma certainly had me working hard too – in one session she had me playing marimba and vibraphone (neither of which I’d played before).
Arrangement wise too, we started to add more to the acoustic foundations we worked with on the first EP. There’s everything there: 3 piece rock band, a string quartet. I’m really excited by the results!
Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?
It’s certainly hard trying to cut it as a musician – especially performing your own compositions! But, it’s always been very competitive. If anything, the digital age we now live in is a great help. Yes, the competition is high, but you can potentially reach so many new people online. Only today on Twitter I was getting well wishes from new fans in France and Portugal, which is amazing!
How do you feel about streaming services? Any romantic attachments to the physical formats: vinyl, 8-track, cassettes, CDs?
I’m a big fan of streaming services. I was an early subscriber to Spotify when it started I’ve also found a lot of new music online that I may not have found otherwise. In a way, I like the fact that the music industry is more and more about live shows – I love singing and dancing with my trademark ‘bendy legs’!
There is still room for physical copies of music too though. I released my first EP on cassette store day, which was great fun! I did an in store gig at a Music Shop in South London – and even even offered punters pencils to wind the tracks on, which was great fun!
Where can we follow you online and hear more music?
You can find me on all social platforms. Go to richstephenson.com for links to all of them! You can also find me on Spotify – don’t forget to follow me on there! There’s more music in the pipeline!
Anything else before we sign off?
Yes. I’m writing this just before a homecoming show in Hull. Wish me luck!
