Brighton based songstress Steph Brown is gearing up for her enchanting new single, Feel You Near, due for release on now.

Steph, formally known as Della Lupa, began hosting open mics at 16 and, such was her own untapped talent, was encouraged by her contemporaries to join them in their musical endeavours. 

Feel You Near lyrically explores ideas of rediscovering your partner after an extended period of distance – either physically or emotionally. Despite being in longterm relationships, many of us fall in and out of love over the course of our lifetime but, when the love stops, we intrinsically know that the relationship is over.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Steph Brown about her latest release, technology, motivations and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?

This style of music is always what I’ve done and what I’ve listened to. I like the emotional intensity, story like quality personal biography of this genre. I like music I can empathise with and I’m an analytical lyric listener and poetry enthusiast – so it makes sense J

What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?

To be very honest I wrote my first song the day after my mother died when I was eleven, having never written a song before. I now look back and see it was a direct response to that and the need to find some outlet of expression. It did sound very much like the Titanic theme song though…. Very dramatic… 

Of recent, I don’t much like pushing my music to the public and it is my partner Kev Minney (who is also a fellow singer songwriter) who does a lot of that side for me often bribing me to sit down and do tasks like write out interviews and email my mailing list …check my phone … . I love the making part the most and I find talking about myself more uncomfortable than I used to. IHavingsaid that I really like it one somebody takes value from something I’ve made so maybe I should work on this.

Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?

Because of how my song writing began I have naturally come to express everything I see and feel around me in song format whether it’s about me or someone/something else, but having time and space are big influencers in how much music I produce. The more of it I have the more I produce. 

My tastes have always been very eclectic and unapologetic and have not changed since they began showing themselves. 

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?

Feel you Near is the first song I have released from an album of ten songs. The aim for the album was to have some tracks to be a very intimate and intense confessional experience mixed with easier, pop-yer, in-a-major-key kind of tracks.

What was the last song you listened to?

Manu Chau – Me Gustas Tu

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?

If I could go back to simple days of the CD I would. I’m now in this limbo of using Spotify but finding it lacks the ability to help me memorise an album and new artist and I find myself craving a different connection to music without the lumbering of the physical thing. I’m suffering here but trying to adapt. 

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else?Why?

Spotify, because it’s hooked me in and I’m only just figuring out how to organise it properly and please don’t let the world change again for I cannot adapt so quickly (as a slow moving creature who absorbstoo much detail) 

Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?

Taking lots of time off paid work (I’m a Vocal coach and choir MD) to go play shows and booking decent ones.

Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?

By following me on Spotify / Apple music 

Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?

Thanks for taking interest.