Hailing from Manchester UK, Stephani B has already built a solid and ever-growing fan base. Her electrifying remixes and live performance mash-ups see her draw on her drum pad skills to lay down killer grooves full of vibrant synths and plenty of club-ready energy.
Now with over a quarter of a million followers, a record deal with Perfect Havoc and her debut single with Movada ‘Sober (La Da Dee)’ now released, there’s no stopping the incredibly talented Stephani B.
Here we caught up with her to find out how her journey began, who she cites as big influences, and where she learned those serious drum pad skills.
Check out the full interview below!
What was it like working with Movada on your debut single? We saw the pair of you had a day together in Manchester recently. What did you get up to?
It was great! Me and Movada work so well together and constantly bounce ideas off one another. He’s got an amazing attention to detail which I admire, and his productions are just quality. We jumped in the studio for a bit and filmed some promo stuff around Manchester. I got some cool on location videos to help promote our single and we finished off with a lovely McDonald’s.
How did you get started in the music industry?
I started off really getting into music properly during my school years. I was in every band going in school from brass, rock, funk, jazz – I really took every opportunity I could. I was 14 years old when I joined my first girl band and did many shows around the UK up until I was 18. I then studied at LIPA University which is where I really started to find my musical direction. I started to meet many contacts within the music industry around this point which helped shape where I am now.
Did you always have your sights set on studying at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts? And did you have a fallback plan if music didn’t work out?
LIPA was top of my list to study at, I didn’t really contemplate anywhere else as it seemed perfect for me! In a simple answer, no, I didn’t have any fallback plan if music didn’t work out. I did put my eggs in one basket because there is nothing else I’d want to be doing other than music. It’s the one thing that I excel in, and I have every intention of always striving. I can never see myself not being in the music industry in some way.
What inspired you to combine live drumming and pad sampling with DJing?
This was a lightbulb moment for me. It was during lockdown when I was at a struggling point, like a lot of people during that time. It really got to me, and I felt like I lost myself a little bit. It was when I was surfing the internet and saw this drummer/DJ called ‘Mad In The Hat’ – he seemed to have been around a while and he was incorporating the full kit all incorporated with the Roland sample pad, which is at the heart of what I do today.
I then took more inspiration from the likes of Booka Shade and recently Fred Again… I love how these artists bring DJing more to life by having a live drum element – it was a no brainer for me to try something similar.
You gained an incredible quarter of a million followers across TikTok and Instagram. What was your reaction when your followers started to surge over lockdown?
I was very surprised and overwhelmed to say the least haha! I never expected it to happen, and it was kind of a wow moment to know that people were really enjoying what I do, which I have spent years trying to build up. I am so happy and grateful to have such a platform to share what I do, and I want to keep building on it.
Congrats on your multi-single deal with Perfect Havoc. How did that come about?
Perfect Havoc have always been a label which I thought would be a good home for me. This came about by them seeing me online and reaching out. I think because I had been at this for years on my own building up my socials and my own brand, I was ready and in a good place for when they came along. I had music ready after spending years perfecting my production and writing skills and I am so happy to have secured this deal with them.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
Try to be open in getting involved in whatever you can do. Take the opportunities when they come around and find something that can separate you from the rest. Make yourself unique in some area and you’ll always be someone that’s in demand.
What’s next for you in your music career?
A lot of music. 2024 is going to be full of new music from me and my main focus is getting my tracks out. I have a few already lined up for next year and you can expect a lot of events and festivals especially during the summer months.
Tell us three facts people may not know about Stephani B?
I am a drum teacher. I used to work in a special needs high school as a TA (teaching assistant) whilst pushing my music dream. And I am also a singer.
And what three tracks can audiences expect in your forthcoming set at Ministry of Sound on 24th November?
Everyday by Eric Prydz, some Stephani B edits and of course, Sober (La Da Dee). It will be full of up-beat and uplifting sounds from tech house, house and dance music throughout.
Listen to the track below.
