Hailing from the picturesque city of Sibiu, România, Stef is a young singer quickly making waves in the music world. With a voice that captivates and a style inspired by modern R&B and pop influences, Stef is on the path to becoming a breakout artist. We had the pleasure of capturing Stef through the lens of our talented photographer, Ancira Adeon, who beautifully documented the essence of this rising star.
You’re just beginning your music career, what inspired you to take that leap and pursue singing professionally?
It didn’t really feel like a leap. Putting thoughts and feelings through the lens of music was always a thing that came natural to me. Even though I always felt like I was doing it for myself, seeing people resonate with my melodies pushed me to strive for more and make a career out of it.
Drake, The Weeknd, and PartyNextDoor have clearly influenced your sound. What is it about their music that resonates with you, and how do you incorporate that influence into your own work?
I can say for certain (no pun intended) that Party played a crucial role in how I shaped my sound. His music, but also Drake’s and The Weeknd’s fit into Toronto’s unmistakable style of R&B. The production is one of my main takeaways from their catalogue but also the intimacy of their songwriting.
Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you go from an idea or feeling to a finished song?
I prefer working with a producer in-session. That way, every feeling that I am trying to convey can have a more hands on approach. The songwriting process is a very organic and dare I say unconventional one. I never write anything down, having the microphone right in front of me and recording myself gives me the feeling of being in control of the narrative. I am very fortunate to work closely with my childhood best friend George Pitariu(who is a producer) so that the line between a session and a hangout becomes very thin.
What has been the most challenging part of starting your music career, and how have you worked to overcome those obstacles?
As I previously said, once my music started resonating with people, solidifying a fanbase and maintaining an identity was always something challenging. As of right now, I feel like I’m going through a constant change, given my age (19), so balancing my growth as a person with the expectations of my audience can become something I sometimes ponder over. Feeling directionless can be derailing,however the fact that my music is the soundtrack to people’s day to day lives is a blessing that I will never take for granted. All things considered, perseverance and facing situations head on is the way of overcoming anything
Can you tell us about one of the first songs you wrote or recorded that made you realize music was something you wanted to pursue seriously?
The first song I ever recorded was a song called “Timpul”. George and I worked on it in his bedroom and it consisted of me rapping over a Lo-Fi beat about the changes of time even though I was like 12 years old (laughing). Even though the feedback was mixed when it came to the people around me, my mom really liked it and saw something in what we did. I took her honesty and support to heart and kept going.
What are your short-term and long-term goals as an artist? Where do you see yourself in the next few years?
When it comes to short-term plans, I think the next step is just dropping a few singles and ultimately the album that I’m working on with George. I would love for the project to see the light of day sometime in the next year and hopefully no later. Long-term I’m thinking about expanding beyond the borders of Romania, as I know that my music can resonate with people around the world. So yeah, standing the test of time as a generational artist is what I’m pursuing. And as scary as they might seem, I like to think that the big stages aren’t ready for me and not the other way around.
Follow Stefan Costea HERE
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