Stephanie Anderson is an in demand Singer/Songwriter, Entertainer, and Recording Artist based in West Central Florida. She performs her original music, as well as a wide range of diverse cover songs at various live entertainment venues throughout the area.
Above all, Stephanie's passion derives from her own songwriting, and her own development as an artist. Her original music mixes catchy melodies with insightful, thoughtful lyrics. Each song is unique, both in style and content. Stephanie's powerful, beautiful voice will stop you in your tracks the first time you hear it. She will make you laugh, cry, and think. Stephanie is passionate about what she does and it shows.
An Intimate Look...
written by Deborah Bostock-Kelley
(for full bio, visit:
www.stephanieandersonmusic.com)
Stephanie Anderson was born to sing. This is simply a fact she has known from an early age, singing along with her parents' records in the small town of Bonney Lake, WA.
"I think I started singing the same time I started talking." A smile punctuates her sentence. "I always wanted to be a singer. That was all I wanted to do." But actually, it wasn't all. At the young age of twelve, Anderson picked up a notepad and penned her first song. "I actually wrote my first song in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep. I woke up with this melody in my head, and just started singing it in my bed with the lyrics flowing. I had it memorized by morning."
Fast forward several years and while in college at Central Washington University, Anderson purchased her first guitar and began the lessons that would change her life.
Through dedication and practice, she earned the ability to label herself a singer / songwriter.
Over the next several years, Stephanie performed with a few different bands and duo acts. But being a "member" of multiple bands wasn't where she saw her future.
Anderson was ready to devote her time into developing herself into a solo performer, an acoustic guitar player with an impressive, original repertoire and a beautiful, powerful voice.
"A lot of my inspiration comes from God, love, relationships, nature...and really the love of singing. I just love performing so much." She pauses to sip her coffee. "Musically Sarah McLachlan, Lenny Kravitz, and Bob Marley (among others) have been a huge influence on me. I feel a real connection when I hear their music. You can tell that the words are coming from their heart, from within and that's what I hope people will feel when they hear mine."
From a pubescent girl scrawling lyrics in a dog-eared notebook to the confident young woman performing in front of live audiences, the performing has never stopped.
Years later, Anderson offers her audience an approach to music that cannot be pigeonholed into one particular genre, a style that is as eclectic and versatile as her musical genre influences. "I like blues, r & b, funk, folk, acoustic, alternative, rock, singer-songwriters, anything with harmony, reggae."
When asked to describe herself in six words, Anderson was stumped for only a moment. "Loving. Kind. Heart. Spiritual. Authentic. Inspired." She jokes, "I guess I'm a hippie at heart."
Produced by Heartbeat Production's Tony Rockcliff, her fully-produced debut CD, "Broken Sky" is a fresh blend of raw original vocals mixed with pop, rock, folk and reggae influences. Broken Sky will be available to her growing number of fans in 2009 with a second original acoustic album following shortly thereafter.
The biggest compliment she has ever received about her music is that her voice has healing power. "It makes me proud that someone who had a really bad day hears my music and I make them feel better. That's all I want... to touch people, to make a positive impact on their lives."
There is no doubt that Anderson's insightful and thoughtful lyrics coupled with her distinctive voice are sure to make an impact for years to come.