Music Player, Writer, Producer, Author & Teacher
Music teachers and students are just like everyone else during this chaotic time… We’re all trying to keep each other safe while moving lessons and classes online. I’ve been teaching online for over three years and love it – I’ve come to learn that it has several advantages over in-person lessons. But students and teachers making this switch with no warning or planning is not the ideal way to venture into the world of online teaching.
Here’s a cover version I came up with of one of the best songs that Kermit the Frog ever sang. I hope you like it!
Since I had the stems to Charli XCX’s “Claws” I used them to experiment with some emo chords with synths and pianos to create a downtempo version. You can download it for free here…
I hope you like it!
Last night after work I made this little video at the piano when I realized it was Willie Nelson’s birthday. It’s one of my favorite songs of his and thought I would share it. I hope you enjoy it!
If you’re getting this via email and can’t play the video, click here to check it out.
Here’s a new remix I did this week of Charli XCX’s new song “Claws”. She released the stems (individual tracks) online this week so people could create new versions. Charli and her production team with AG Cook have been really inspiring to me over the past couple of years. It was really fun to work on this.
It’s available here for free download if you like it or want to share it…
You can check out the original version here:
The last several weeks and upcoming weeks (and possibly much more) have put a huge strain on the world. Everyone is rightly concerned about staying healthy, staying employed, staying sane while managing this unprecedented time we find ourselves in.
Several of my students and friends who depend on being creative for their livelihoods have been struggling with getting into the space required to create their art. This is very stressful when you can’t get in the right frame of mind despite having all the time and space in the world to create or continue new works. » Read more
I just posted a new ambient, electronic piece that was recorded this week. It is three parts that are gradually manipulated in various ways over the course of the piece. I hope you like it!
If you can’t see the player, click here to take a listen.
I released new music today. For the past few months I’ve been in a deep dive into the world of sound design and synthesis. It’s pretty overwhelming but I thought I would share a song I made a few days ago while learning some new equipment.
This one took a cinematic turn as I was improvising over the original chord progression. I hope you enjoy!
If you can’t see the player and want to check it out, click this link – https://michaelstegner.bandcamp.com/track/seens
The fourth installment of “Letters” is out now.
This one has two songs, one about heartbreak and time travel. The other one is about the perils of comparing ourselves too much to others.
If you can’t play the songs in your email – click here.
Here are the lyrics to “It’s Tomorrow (Everywhere but Here)”
The sun climbs the trees
along the River Ij in Amsterdam.
Where a pretty girl from Athens
Walks canal-lined streets.
An afternoon train rolls through Tokyo.
Where a jazz man from New York
unloads for an early show.
It’s getting late here
but I can’t sleep.
I drove down to the place we met,
hoping we’d meet again.
It’s tomorrow everywhere but here.
I got your message late yesterday.
Your voice is so different.
I guess I am too.
I had to listen twice
Or maybe it was five times.
I forgot how bad it hurts
to hear the words you never say.
It’s tomorrow everywhere but here.
I had lunch in the park.
I think it was last Tuesday.
A girl walked by with a smile like yours.
It stole my heart away.
It’s tomorrow everywhere but here.
Michael Stegner
On Wednesday at Gold Diggers in Los Angeles, we’ll be doing our second installment of new music. This show will feature two of the most impressive vocalists around.
The show will be from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. It’s 21+. Gold Diggers is located at 5632 Santa Monica Blvd. This is a free show – no cover.
Loren Battley will be debuting her new original music project. She is currently on tour with Michael Bublé and has performed vocals with groups such as Pomplamoose, Low Leaf, Knower and many more.
Here is Loren performing with Michael Bublé on Good Morning America earlier this year…
Blake Lewis is an innovative force as a vocalist and beat boxer. He launched to stardom after finishing 2nd place on American Idol in 2007. His originality made him stand out and he has since continued to perform his solo material as well as collaborative projects. Here is his incredibly original performance from American Idol…
Blake will be doing an improv set with KJ Sawka and I. It should be fun to make music with these creative forces. Here’s a little clip of KJ Sawka doing combining drum acrobatics and electronics on a radio show…
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