Jon Stevens is recognized as one of the most talented rock musicians to emerge from Australia in recent memory.
He has had phenomenal success as a solo artist, knocking Michael Jackson off the top of the charts in Australia and as the lead singer of major rock acts Noiseworks, INXS after the death of his friend Michael Hutchence, and the Dead Daisies.
In 2016 he joined forces with legendary musician, songwriter and producer Dave Stuart (of Eurythmics) to record a new album, Starlight.
With his mojo fully intact, Stevens stands virtually alone in the music scene, with a new raw vocal power that won him attention first as a teenager and now as a veteran singer and songwriter. Time has toughened his delivery while tapping into his emotional wellsprings more than ever before.
He’s got the pedigree: a record-smashing debut at age 16 with two consecutive No. 1 singles in his New Zealand homeland … Huge hits in Australia as lead singer with Noiseworks … A 21st century liftoff to worldwide acclaim at centre stage with INXS … An iTunes featured release with his last band, The Dead Daisies, whose debut single, Lock and Load, which he wrote and produced with the legendary guitarist Slash on guitar.
Jon Stevens new album Starlight bursts with a soulful artistry and honesty that’s rare and borders on extinction today. The title track has an unforgettable hook and is an instant classic. Vivid lyrics fuel his performance on “Feel Like Letting Go”, “Scars” and “Devil In My Heart”. A playful flirtation is set to a steamy soul beat on “Something ‘Bout You” – the first single on “Hold On” is classic powerhouse Jon Stevens.
The lonely ballad “One Way Street” features Ringo Starr on drums. “People” is a life-affirming sing-along anthem, extending hope to the hopeless with a reminder to not “Be afraid of the shadows in the night. You’re gonna wake up in the morning light”.
All of the songs are co-written with Dave Stewart, co-founder of the Grammy-winning duo Eurythmics, who also produced the album as well as played guitar.
Different as they are, each track on Starlight overflows with feeling, with candor, with an exuberance that comes from being plugged into life. Everything Stevens has survived, learned from, mastered and made leads to this album.
