A boy, small for his age, sits in a secluded area of a school in Scotland. His denim jacket worn so proudly with patches sewn on.... Elvis patches mainly, as they were all he could find, sewn on by a mother’s touch yet at his own request. While other children played and had their cowlicks flattened by their mothers handkerchief, this young boy had muddy fingers, from puddles that had been left in the wake of Scotland’s ‘true to form’ showers. His wet fingers had run through his hair to style it like the stars of rock ‘n’ roll, a comb lay in his back pocket and an old portable tape player in his hand at any given minute. Still playing as a child but alone with just his ears and imagination. His ears hearing early rock ‘n’ roll and in his mind he was performing to large audiences. This was a boy who courageously did not care what others thought of his carefully styled hair and funny jacket, tapes spilling from his pockets, carrying that old tape player and listening to weird music for a child so young... A boy so ahead for his time.... Aged ten this boy unwraps a gift and one that is used in a much more metaphorical sense....
As we see this boy today he is Steven Oakland and is a far cry from that small quiet boy. He is not small nor is he quiet, gently spoken maybe, but he has plenty to say with beautiful lyrics one can get lost in. It is inherently clear from listening to this individual, still with his own original style that comes from the very roots of his childhood, that he is one of a rare kind and is cut from the same cloth as living and past legends.... A self taught musician, he has taught himself with just his ears, his patience and a real feeling that music is his calling. Years of months, hours of minutes spent totally focused on his aim.... to teach one’s self. He has indeed done just that and beyond. Steven has gone from learning his first song to creating melodic masterpieces with a twist of country, Rock and folk music. He writes with flowing intensity and his lyrics have a profound impact on many listeners. His songs have the most intricate rhythms and he is vocally outstanding and with modest expression he explains:
"I hope to be able to write songs people will be able to relate to in their own way, I don’t like to be so obvious in my choice of lyrics even if I am writing about a subject that means something to me. I would like for people to be able to interpret the song into their own feelings......"
Its is evident from Steven’s original material that he has achieved just that. He has picked some particularly deep subjects to write about and although, on the surface, they seem to mean one thing they could also have many different meanings. He writes with deep and clever metaphor. His words have hidden messages and go beyond the obvious. Since learning to play his first song, Steven has been inspired by an extensive collection of artists. It is through learning many different styles that he has created his own sound which has country, folk and rock ‘n’ roll influences but has also drawn on inspiration from many other styles and genres. His music is full with detailed and intricate strumming patterns and ethereal vocals that add a haunting quality. Each song he has written stands alone in its own right but also collectively as an album and live performances from Steven are atmospheric and enchanting. A most intriguing musical chameleon.
During the course of his discovery of music Steven has ricocheted between many different genres of music. After facing being pigeon holed with a band based in Scotland he decided to move on in search of a new direction. It is in the millennium that Steven moves South to England and meets, once again without plan, like-minded musicians, some of whom he still works closely with today. He started to perform with a band based in Milton Keynes but later the band split due to tragic circumstances involving the loss of the keyboard player and it was these circumstances which led Steven to follow the path back to his roots. He once again became focused on acoustic styles with the band’s bass player David Kirk and began to write at an astonishing pace. He surrendered to an artistic honesty that formed itself in to his acoustic style and he fell back into the heart and soul of beautiful song writing.
It seems this journey has been as much of a discovery as his journey in finding his own sound. Steven's path crossed again with Tony Lever his bands guitarist after each had gone separately in their own directions yet both remaining dedicated to music. A long, and much missed, conversation that lay with music happened between them and from there they began the journey of working tirelessly, with Tony's dedication to music equal to Steven's commitment, they have successfully been recording tracks for the album. The album will offer a varied range of styles. Steven's way with words and their wide choice of instruments offer the listener sadness and loneliness but with hidden hope, also the happiness and giddiness of love yet also portraying the uncertainty of emotion.
Each song stands the test of time....it is their beauty that makes them timeless........
