A former contestant on American Idol (Season 3) and Division-I collegiate wrestler, Stevey is a singer-songwriter currently based in Fort Collins, Colorado.

 

Stevey’s debut EP album "Beneath" was released worldwide in Spring 2018, featuring singles Damn Girl Lie and Melba, accompanied by Time is a Thief and Can't Find Myself.  “I view this collection of songs as an introspective musing of self-worth, heartache, love, and time -- the stuff beneath the surface that we all connect with,” he explains. 

 

Stevey (born, Steve Ertl) was raised in the dirt and timber of an eastern Iowa farm, where he discovered his voice by emulating his father whistling to an old-school country vinyl spinning on the record player. He later uncovered a passion for writing imagery-centric poetry and was published at age 11.

 

While enduring the grueling lifestyle of Division-I college wrestling, he and a teammate formed the R&B group, verseAtile, placing three original pieces in the independent film, “7 Minutes.” Stevey continued his musical pursuits post-university by teaching himself guitar, winning multiple singing contests, amassing 200,000+ YouTube views, and ultimately began performing nationwide as a singer-songwriter in 2011.

 

Stevey has shared the stage and supported artists such as: Nathaniel Rateliff, The Nadas, The Kinky Fingers, Carry Illinois, Maxwell Hughes, Royce Lovett, Shane Burke, The Wendy Woo Band, Clayton Risner, Elise Wunder, Alright Alright, and The Covz.

 

Stevey’s writing is poignant and conscious, which is complemented by his rich, creamy, soul-wrenching vocals. By threading moments of personal vulnerability, listeners become tethered  to his music: a Folk-Pop-Americana vibe that walks the line between mainstream and obscurity.