Stephen Williams musical influences mainly come from his up bringing within his family mostly from the music that was played on vinyl by his father at my home on a frequent basis. His brother and sisters loved listening to genres of music like Rare’ Grooves, lovers Rock, Reggae and dance Hall. Most of the time someone some where in his home was always listening to music.
“I loved’ it… young free gifted… we all kind of got reared if you like, on genres of music such as classic rival Reggae, Calypso, Soul classics, and some popular music. We were listening and partying to soul classics. The music in my life played a big part to influence me in the sort of music I have come to love and appreciate”
Also being a DJ along with his friend Raymond who was named Slinky B, in a sound system early on in his youth, he was selecting music to be played from various great soul/reggae/artists/bands to be played on vinyl in his community halls and other places venues etc. This gave him the inspiration to want to also be a performer in the life of music as well as being a DJ.
As DJ’s they did not make a professional career of it, although it was a great time and good experience. Having a natural skill for playing the drum kit which was partly influenced by his uncle Evrod, uncle Chrisie, who both played the drum kit and accoustic guitar.
“I just knew a part of my life had to be involved in the music industry or either in a band or going solo”
“Being in a band, or working with a music production team is like family to me, we all comunicate through music sound waves and musical expression, it’s a beautiful thing”
From an early age in his life he felt that same union from musicians such has: Earth Wind and fire, for example. And some of the soul funk bands from the early days exhibited this’ soul legend group ‘Maze and Frankie Beverly etc’
This union with his family listening and playing music in the ‘sitting room’ started early as he can remember, ‘Jamming’ with his uncles and brother who used to jump on the bass guitar guitar’ Stephen on the drums.
“We were just creating whatever.. great fun… Sometimes we would swap instruments, but most of the time I was on drums, my sisters would sing some times as well, we were just being free… and having fun with maybe the possibility of actually becoming something or someone known in the music industry,’ well I was anyway’ we loved the Jackson family like most people do, and played tracks from their album quite a lot.<p> My parents weren’t that surportive of any of us when it came to music projects or anything to do with arts really, they were more interested in getting what they said “an education…” Although my dad did have an accoustic guitar in the house; apparently he played/strummed a few chords now and again”.
My personal influencies stems from bands and artist like;
Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Alexander O Neil, Freddie Jackson, James Brown, The Whispers, Fat Back Band, Roy Ares, Al Green, Bobby Womack, George Howard, Grover Washington, Loose Ends, Soul to Soul, Aretha Franklin, Usher Raymond, Bobby Brown, Anthony Hamilton, Chic, Will Smith, Eddy Murthy, Curtis Mayfeild, George Benson, old school house music Ten City
The list goes on, there are so many more to mention…