The Note's Anna Goldenberg speaks with Stephen Babcock about his latest single, "Atlanta," his songwriting roots, and his life as a recording artist in NYC.
AG: First off, congrats on the release of your single, "Atlanta"! What are the inspirations behind the creation and lyrics of this single?
SB: My inspiration for the single is based off a recent tour stop in Atlanta. I had never been there, and I really fell in love with certain parts of the city and the people I met there. Atlanta is one of those "epicenters of the south" so to speak, so it just felt like a natural place for me to write a song about. The song is also one of the only true "love songs" on the record, so it was only fitting to place it geographically in a place I had kind of stumbled upon through music, but ended up falling in love with.
AG: Can you recall the first song you learned on the guitar that made you want to continue your career as a singer/songwriter?
SB: I think the first song I ever covered that made me want to actually become a songwriter was "The Guy That Says Goodbye to You is Out of His Mind" by Griffin House.The first concert I ever went to was a Griffin House show at Hamilton College back in 2005. I got to meet him, and I still have a signed copy of the album containing that song. Once I learned to play it, it just made me want to write songs like that. It's one of those tunes that is so inherently good that I can't stop playing it. I still perform it at my live shows today.
AG: What have been the greatest challenges and advantages of recording in New York City?
SB: The greatest challenge I think is not having a car to move gear around. That sounds like a very "New York" problem, but it can be tough when it comes down to recording. Also, recording in New York tends to be more expensive than other places when it comes to renting a studio and paying recording costs. The greatest advantage is the wealth of talented musicians and producers that I can tap into for projects here. I would be nothing without my amazing band (Cody Rahn, Jeff McLaughlin, Alex Minier, Andrew Miramonti and Jacqueline Rosokoff) as well as my longtime friend and engineer Mor Mezrich. They constantly help shape my sounds and are the best asset I have here in New York.
AG: Where is your favorite venue to perform?
SB: My favorite venue in New York would have to be Rockwood Music Hall on 196 Allen Street in the Lower East Side. I've played there so many times now that it almost feels like an extra band member. My album release show will be taking place at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage Two on April 7th at 9pm
AG: What advice do you have for young musicians looking for a shot in the industry?
SB: I think if there was any advice I'd have to give, it's that you need to be patient. That is something I struggle with all the time myself, but the music industry moves really fast and really slow at the same time. Artists seem to become "overnight successes," but 9 out of 10 times those same artists would tell you that they put years into their music and songwriting just to reach a certain level of success. I think it's important to stay humble and pay your dues. I still am best friends with many of the folks I met at open mic nights when I was 19 or 20 years old, just grinding things out and learning my craft. Music is a tough thing to get into, but if you truly love it, it's 100% worth putting your all into it.
To listen to and learn more about Stephen Babcock, check out the March 29 edition of The Note. "Atlanta" the is second single off his upcoming album, Fiction, coming out on April 6. Be sure to grab tickets to his album release concert at Rockwood.
SB: My inspiration for the single is based off a recent tour stop in Atlanta. I had never been there, and I really fell in love with certain parts of the city and the people I met there. Atlanta is one of those "epicenters of the south" so to speak, so it just felt like a natural place for me to write a song about. The song is also one of the only true "love songs" on the record, so it was only fitting to place it geographically in a place I had kind of stumbled upon through music, but ended up falling in love with.
AG: Can you recall the first song you learned on the guitar that made you want to continue your career as a singer/songwriter?
SB: I think the first song I ever covered that made me want to actually become a songwriter was "The Guy That Says Goodbye to You is Out of His Mind" by Griffin House.The first concert I ever went to was a Griffin House show at Hamilton College back in 2005. I got to meet him, and I still have a signed copy of the album containing that song. Once I learned to play it, it just made me want to write songs like that. It's one of those tunes that is so inherently good that I can't stop playing it. I still perform it at my live shows today.
AG: What have been the greatest challenges and advantages of recording in New York City?
SB: The greatest challenge I think is not having a car to move gear around. That sounds like a very "New York" problem, but it can be tough when it comes down to recording. Also, recording in New York tends to be more expensive than other places when it comes to renting a studio and paying recording costs. The greatest advantage is the wealth of talented musicians and producers that I can tap into for projects here. I would be nothing without my amazing band (Cody Rahn, Jeff McLaughlin, Alex Minier, Andrew Miramonti and Jacqueline Rosokoff) as well as my longtime friend and engineer Mor Mezrich. They constantly help shape my sounds and are the best asset I have here in New York.
AG: Where is your favorite venue to perform?
SB: My favorite venue in New York would have to be Rockwood Music Hall on 196 Allen Street in the Lower East Side. I've played there so many times now that it almost feels like an extra band member. My album release show will be taking place at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage Two on April 7th at 9pm
AG: What advice do you have for young musicians looking for a shot in the industry?
SB: I think if there was any advice I'd have to give, it's that you need to be patient. That is something I struggle with all the time myself, but the music industry moves really fast and really slow at the same time. Artists seem to become "overnight successes," but 9 out of 10 times those same artists would tell you that they put years into their music and songwriting just to reach a certain level of success. I think it's important to stay humble and pay your dues. I still am best friends with many of the folks I met at open mic nights when I was 19 or 20 years old, just grinding things out and learning my craft. Music is a tough thing to get into, but if you truly love it, it's 100% worth putting your all into it.
To listen to and learn more about Stephen Babcock, check out the March 29 edition of The Note. "Atlanta" the is second single off his upcoming album, Fiction, coming out on April 6. Be sure to grab tickets to his album release concert at Rockwood.
