Written by Michele Roldán-Shaw
ven the biggest stars in entertainment don’t just fall from the sky; they all have to be from somewhere. Lowcountry- based country singer Chris Stevers knows where he’s from, and he’s not planning on forgetting it. Though he was recently approached by an independent record label and asked to go to Nashville to record an album, his heart is still here with the fans that have supported him all along the way.
If country is the music of real, working Americans, Stevers is about as authentic as they come. Originally from Fayetteville, Georgia, he has worked in law enforcement for many years, playing gigs at local bars and events on the side. His songs derive from day-to-day life—everything from the ups-and-downs of being a musician, to the thoughts that run through his mind when he sees an older couple dining happily in the restaurant booth next to his.
Following the release of his self-titled debut album, the Bluffton Breeze caught up with Stevers in order to find out more about the man and his music.
Bluffton Breeze: How would you describe your style of music?
Chris Stevers: I call it “power country.” When you say country, a lot of people think cry-in-your-beer stuff. But our music has got a bit of an edge to it. We’ve got a really high-energy band with some top musicians who’ve played all over the world. To be honest with you, I consider myself more of an entertainer than a singer.
BB: Why do you say that?
CS: When we do a show, it’s a hundred miles an hour. It’s not just seven guys up there playing music and looking at you. We’re really big on interacting with the crowd, and we want everybody bouncing off the walls. Country fans are probably some of the most loyal in the world; if they like you, they will stick by you come hell or high water. The way things are right now, if people are going to pay their hard-earned money to come and see us play, we’re going to make sure we take care of them. If it wasn’t for them, there would be no us, so we’ll bend over backwards for them.
BB: Why do you think country music fans are so loyal?
CS: The majority of country singers seem to care more about where they’re from, and it’s like there’s a relationship there between them and the fans. That’s just what I’ve noticed.
BB: Where do you find inspiration for the songs you write?
CS: Country music tells a story most of the time, so if you pay attention, there are a lot of stories out there that you can draw from. For example, I co-wrote Lonestar Cowboy, which is about being an entertainer, being on the road, and all the smoking mirrors that go along with that.
BB: What is your background in music?
CS: I started learning to play the guitar when I was thirteen, and I formed a band in high school. We weren’t very good, but by the time I got to be about twenty-one, we started playing in Atlanta. I came here when I was thirty, and started sitting in with guys here and there until I got my own night at the Electric Piano, and then the Brick Oven. At the time, there weren’t really too many people doing country, so I think we kind of tapped a hidden market. Other than that, my background was law enforcement for a long time. But since I got approached to go to Nashville, that just got too hectic. I still do some part-time stuff for the Yemassee Police Department; I’m a firearm instructor and a canine instructor for them.
BB: How did it feel getting asked to go to Nashville?
CS: It was kind of a shock at first—I was a little bit excited and a little bit scared. I had to do some soul-searching because I knew what the possibilities could be; I would have to leave the security of working for the police department, and there would be no guarantee. But so far, everything’s going well.
BB: What do you love about country music?
CS: I love country music because it’s real; it relates to everyday life. It tells stories that happen in people’s lives, whether good, bad or indifferent. It could be having a party with your friends, and all that that entails; it could be about finding the man or woman of your dreams; it could be about the worst break-up in the world. It’s about things that happen everyday, and I think that’s what sets it apart.
BB: What kinds of things do you like to do in your spare time?
CS: Gosh, when I had spare time...I’m an outdoorsy person so I like fishing and stuff like that. But right now we spend a lot of time writing and rehearsing, getting ready for the next time we go to the studio, because we want to record ten new songs. It’s kind of overwhelming, but I knew it was going to be a lot of work and I couldn’t be happier right now. We want to bust wide open.
BB: What else is important to you?
CS: I’m all about not forgetting where you come from. It’s real easy to get caught up, but I stay in touch with the people at home and I try to stay grounded. I’ve got people around me who won’t hesitate to put me in my place when I need to be. You just take what God gives you and do the best you can.
Chris Stevers will be playing at the Electric Piano on Hilton Head this New Year’s Eve, and at Wild Wings in Spartanburg on January 7th. For more information visit www.chrisstevers.com
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