The Merchant Hotel
Stephen Jonathan to perform at Zebra Lounge, Lake Umuzi Waterfront on Friday 10 January 2020. The party starts at 4pm and entry is free of charge.
Stephen Jonathan is a South African musician and songwriter from Pretoria, who has been active in the music industry for twelve years. Although he first became known for his incredible guitar skills, Stephen also proved himself as a formidable singer and writer early in his career.
This talented man has formed part of several successful bands/groups, including Stones & Gold (founder, singer, songwriter and guitarist), Jackvalve (guitarist and songwriter), Joshua na die Reën (acoustic guitarist) and Deon Bakkes and the Stolen Horses (rhythm and main guitarist), to name a few.
He has also performed at big festivals such as Oppikoppi, Mieliepop, Innibos, Aardklop and the Smoking Dragon Festival and has shared the stage with Fokofpolisiekar, Francois van Coke, Jeremy Loops, Matthew Mole, Desmond and the Tutu’s, and more.
Stephen grew up in a home where his dad played music all the time, from Classic Rock to Blues. According to the artist, he has been fascinated by the way chords, melodies and words flow together perfectly to bring forth so much meaning from the age of twelve, when he started playing guitar. Shortly after, he developed a passion for writing his own songs.
“I find inspiration in my own physical and emotional experiences. If I can feel something, I can use words and melodies to tell the story,” he says. “I also admire local artists such as Joshua na die Reën, Dan Patlansky, Roan Ash and Jeremy Loops. I feel they are where they are now because of the amazing unique music they make, and not through a hustle, they have honestly clawed their way up. I also think that the slightly ‘underground’ acts in our South African music scene like Pollinator, Scarlotte Will and Strait-Jackal who make fantastic music even though our scene doesn’t repay them with the recognition they deserve.”
Stephen describes himself as a laid-back coffee lover who would have like to be a psychologist if he didn’t pursue a career in music, especially as matters of the mind is close to his heart. He appreciates different types of music and lists Dire Straits, Pearl Jam, John Mayer, Chris Cornell, Bruce Springsteen, MUSE, Foo Fighters, Ryan Adams, Madrugada, Rodrigo Y Gabriella, JJ Grey and Mofro as having a big influence on his own style, which combines different genres. “I love great music and the genre doesn’t always matter as long as the song is good. But I would have to say what I have liked most throughout my life, is Grunge, Blues, Rock, Funk and R&B. I even like metal and have a weakness for country music, as well as a good dose of Pop every now and again. I am also a huge fan of beautiful acoustic music,” he says.
This versatile artist recently decided to focus on his solo career and plans to release his first single and video shortly. His solo project and performances include aspects of everything he has worked on to date and can be described as Progressive Pop Rock, which brings a new and exciting sound to the local music scene.
Just like every other artist, Stephen has had to fight for his place in the spotlight. He searches daily for that one song that makes him tick and believes that music decorates time. With his music, Stephen tries to leave a lasting impression on the hearts of listeners.
Originally posted on www.facebook.com/stephenjonathanmusic/