Stephen Chopek: Space Magnets

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Chopek always uses his drums as the starting point of his songs. Once he has settled on an interesting backbeat, he then starts adding guitar, bass and whatever else instrument he can get his hands on. The new Space Magnets EP finds him tackling subjects like love, paranoia and nigthlife by way of off-kilter, lo-fi art rock.

All four tracks are quite high strung, as if looking for release and never fully achieving that. It makes for a captivating listening experience, revealing new layers after each play. Recommended if you like Television and the early Talking Heads albums.

Stephen Chopek: Hearts Running Wild

Stephen Chopek filled every nook and cranny of his new single Hearts Running Wild with stuttering and repetitive tidbits to channel the high expectations plus the intermittent soundtrack of a night on the town. It may come of as a disjointed take on power pop at first, but in fact it is a musical jigsaw puzzle, where all the odd shaped parts are connected seamlessly.

Stephen Chopek: "Don't Go Stay Home" video

Stephen Chopek has posted a no-frills lyrics video for his Don't Go Stay Home single: "Pushed forward by a mix of guitars and synths [the song] only needs a little of two-and-a-half minutes to gets its message across. Note the choice sound effects in the coda, wherein the music is shivering to channel the cold that is outside".

» stephenchopek.com

HCTF review of Don't Go Stay Home

Stephen Chopek: Don't Go Stay Home

photo: Aleks Antonio

Now that winter is coming Stephen Chopek makes a plea to stay home and get comfortable. Pushed forward by a mix of guitars and synths Don't Go Stay Home only needs a little of two-and-a-half minutes to gets its message across. Note the choice sound effects in the coda, wherein the music is shivering to channel the cold that is outside.

Stephen Chopek: "No One Just Us" video

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Chopek has made a video for his latest single, No One Just Us: "[...] he played all the instruments on this track, celebrating a new found love. When a thing like that happens, the world seems a better place, wherein other people and setbacks don't matter at all."

Stephen Chopek: No One Just Us

Stephen Chopek has succeeded to create another tasty power-pop and synth-driven New Wave for his new single, No One Just Us. As per usual he played all the instruments on this track, celebrating a new found love. When a thing like that happens, the world seems a better place, wherein other people and setbacks don't matter at all.

Stephen Chopek: "Empty Hands" video

Stephen Chopek has made a video for Empty Hands, a single from his upcoming Dweller EP, out on July 22nd via Declared Goods: "[It is] an amalgam of power pop and synth-driven New Wave. The upbeat backing track and chopped guitar notes are an indication that a partner can enter his life soon, provided he is at the right spot on the right time, filling the void, but until that happens, he has to be patient and endure being alone for a little while longer".

Stephen Chopek: Empty Hands

photo: Jamie Harmon

Stephen Chopek is looking for love on his new single Empty Hands, an amalgam of power pop and synth-driven New Wave. The upbeat backing track and chopped guitar notes are an indication that a partner can enter his life soon, provided he is at the right spot on the right time, filling the void, but until that happens, he has to be patient and endure being alone for a little while longer. On the upside: he is an avid multi-instrumentalist, so he can keep himself busy, creating his music on his own conditions.

Stephen Chopek: "All Play No Work" video

Stephen Chopek has made a video for All Play No Work, the lead single from his upcoming Dweller EP, out on July 22nd via Declared Goods: "[It] is a 101 for funky guitar riffs and vocal harmonies. Chopek played all the instruments, but he sounds like a full band".

Stephen Chopek: All Play No Work

photo: Jamie Harmon

For Stephen Chopek it was weird not to be on the road after a decade of intensive touring. Lucky for him just before everything grounded to a halt, he had experienced a peak in his songwriting output focusing on rhythm, riffs and keyboards, leaving him with a wealth of songs in various states of completion.

Moving from Memphis, TN to Atlanta, GA, gave him the time to distance himself a bit from the material. Once he got his home studio up and running again, the rearranging and tweaking process found him moving into powerpop territory. Six songs made the cut for an EP, Dweller, out on July 22nd via Declared Goods. Lead single All Play No Work is a 101 for funky guitar riffs and vocal harmonies. Chopek played all the instruments, but he sounds like a full band.