Steven Bamidele

Steven Bamidele is a Nigerian-born, London-based singer, songwriter, musician and producer. His isolated upbringing has shaped the introspective nature of his songwriting, which pairs with his distinctive reverb-drenched falsetto, synth textures, and syncopated beats to create a forward-thinking soulful sound. Citing the influences of contemporary musical storytellers and genreless creators such as Frank Ocean and Tyler the Creator, to Solange, Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino, Steven puts social commentary and artistic narratives at the forefront of his music.

When writing ‘THE CRASH!’ the “curse” of the second album loomed over him. “There was a pit in my stomach – the feeling of having to go through the whole thing again and again”, he explains, “I was so scared that that feeling was going to be there forever; that I’d feel the same way every time”. Driven by this pressure, he was forced to reflect on what he was creating for. Taking inspiration from the album deep-dives of the Dissect Podcast, Steven considered the value of lyrics and messaging in music, digging deeper with his own creative expression on the record.

Raised strictly Christian by his mother, Steven started to examine the very foundations of existence aged 17, and eventually let go of his Christian faith; “I was depressed, lost and couldn’t seem to get my head past the fact that we’re all just out here on a spinning rock and – at least to my mind at the time – none of it meant anything”. Turning his focus strategically to music for years, these feelings returned in 2024 as Steven began to see a music industry – and a world – more fraught than ever. “It was an intoxicating feeling when I was younger and had no responsibilities, to foolishly believe I was the first person in history who’d worked something out that no one else had. Where I’m at now, nihilism is debilitating, boring and unhelpful. I’ve worked to find a way to channel those feelings into this project. I’m really proud of it. 

I don’t know if I’ll ever create an album that’s regarded as truly artistically ‘great’, but I don’t see the point in carrying on if I don’t strive for greatness”.

Moving from Nigeria to the predominantly white county of Suffolk at a young age led Steven to experience paradoxical feelings around his mixed-race heritage. He explains, “There were very few people of colour and because of this I felt like I stuck out, as if a spotlight was on me. However, simultaneously, I felt invisible, or like I just sat outside of the parameters of real life”. While at school, Steven adopted his mum’s unused acoustic guitar and began self-teaching, eventually finding solace in music as a creative output, especially in his most introverted and lonely moments.

He began building his live performance skills and musical language playing in bands at school, and with the worship band at his church. At a similar time, after discovering Modeselektor and the creative potential of electronic music, Steven began to pair his contemplative style of songwriting with production styles rooted in curiosity and exploration.

“I’m a bit of a contrarian by nature. I don’t like being told what to do, at all. I found it hard to be in bands growing up, because I could hear other people’s parts in my head very quickly, and I didn’t want to negotiate about it. I was obsessed with every aspect of the songwriting process, and I didn’t want to share. I was a bit of a dictator like that (still am, ask Dave [Bryce, co-producer]). I thought this would make life as a musician hard, and it sort of has, but I was eventually inspired by producer/artists like James Blake and Sampha. Artists like them made me realise you don’t need to go to a studio or have your ideas moulded by other people who might not understand the vision. There is a large appreciation out there for idiosyncratic voices who go against the grain”.

While studying Music Technology at Keele University, Steven released 3 EPs and a number of singles under the stage name ‘Mirror Signal’. His music was featured on the ‘Brownswood Bubblers 11’ compilation, and he performed a live session for Gilles Peterson and was selected by Jamie Cullum and the PRS Foundation to perform at Montreal Jazz Festival 2016. However, dissatisfied with his musical output under this alias, Steven decided to go back to the drawing board and began releasing music under ‘Steven Bamidele’ with the 2017 single ‘You Can’t Put Out This Fire’.

Steven self-released his EP “Uncrowded” in 2021 after several singles. This inspired a remix from Salami Rose Joe Louis, received support from KCRW, Fred Perry and BBC Radio 4. A year after release, the EP-closer “Painted Over” was interpolated by US artist KayCyy for his “Get Used To It” mixtape.

His first full-length project, ‘Summing Up’ was released via Brighton-based label Tru Thoughts in 2023, and was followed by remixes from edbl, Jamie 3:26 and Danou P and Fybe:One. The album garnered support from Clash Magazine, FIP Radio France (who named it their FIP Selection), Wordplay and Stereofox and airplay from BBC Introducing, Jamie Cullum and Trevor Nelson (BBC Radio 2), CassKidd (BBC 1Xtra), Deb Grant & Tom Ravenscroft’s New Music Fix and Don Letts (BBC 6Music), Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM), Novena Carmel – Morning Becomes Eclectic and Valida (KCRW), Esk (Rinse FM) and Bill Brewster (NTS). Tracks from ‘Summing Up’ were highlighted on Spotify’s BUTTER, Lowkey, Just Dropped and New Music Friday UK, as well as Apple Music’s ‘Brown Sugar’, ‘New Latitudes’ and ‘New in R&B’. Steven also graced the cover of TIDAL’s R&B: Rising.

His stage presence and love for performing live have continued to grow, leading to headline shows at Brighton Dome Studio, Prince Albert and Folklore Rooms Brighton, 91 Living Room (w/ Jazz re:freshed), Workman’s Cellar Dublin, Pizza Express Live Soho and The Gallimaufry Bristol. He has also showcased his music at the Jazz Café alongside fellow Tru Thoughts artists, Sofar Sounds across the country and at Cherise’s Shade Indigo event at 91 Living Room, while making festival appearances at We Out Here, Love Supreme, Shambala and Reading & Leeds. Alongside his solo work, Steven has supported renowned artists including Alice Russell (Village Underground), Sly5thAve (Prince Albert), Hot 8 Brass Band (Brighton Dome), Marlon Craft (Jazz Café), Kymara (Lower Third), Alice Auer (Dalston Curve Garden) and Ebi Soda (100 Club).