Stephen tackles grim realities on soaring single "Crossfire"

08 December 2015, 09:45 | Written by Grant Rindner

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Stephen hails from the same camp as electronic R&B maximalists ZHU and Gallant, and his latest single "Crossfire" very much fits that vein.

It's a piece of meticulously crafted, powerful pop that starts in one place and lands somewhere completely different, keeping you engaged throughout and dealing with difficult subject matter.

The record begins with shimmering claps and oscillating synths, squarely in the indie R&B comfort zone. But after just one chorus it begins morphing as little guitar licks and ethereal synths flit in and out.

By the outro, booming live drums and fuzzy chords give the track an arena rock scale with some subtle shades of a Jonny Greenwood nuance. It's fitting that the song starts off tight before turning into chaos, as Stephen compares his own lucky existence to those less fortunate.

"Crossfire," as its title suggests, deals with weighty, harrowingly timely issues of global violence and chaos. It's difficult material for a new artist to take on, but Stephen handles these harsh realities without turning preachy.

As a vocalist, Stephen is charismatic and engaging enough to hold the disparate sonic elements of "Crossfire" together. He's reminiscent of acts like Jack Garratt or Ben Khan, but might be a more powerful singer than both.

The Los Angeles-based musician recently covered Adele's "Hello," drenching the mournful track in soaring guitar and exposing hundreds of thousands to his unique, powerful sound.

He's clearly a rare talent, and if "Crossfire" is any indication, Stephen could be one of the most important musical voices we hear in 2016.