To Sonder House

Aloha Sonder House -

My name is Stephen Henderson and I am an independent singer, songwriter and producer in Hilo Hawaii. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to share my music with you.

Below is a collection of songs in a few different genres that I am building larger more cohesive album projects around and a few draft visuals to go with them. I am currently releasing many of them as singles (one every month for the next year) for streaming and to hawaii radio with my primary radio partners Q103FM Maui and Pacific Media Group, but have found it difficult to promote my music effectively.

I love everything about what you are doing at Sonder House and I hope to get an opportunity to build great relationships and to collaborate in bringing fresh new music to more listeners.

I remain humbled and grateful for the amazing work you do in supporting independent artists like myself. Thank you for your consideration.

— Stevie

ISLAND ACOUSTIC POP

Island acoustic soul meets pop reggae in these more upbeat hawaii radio jams. Think Jack Johnson meets Magic!.

MOUNTAIN SOUL

Nashville songwriting meets muscle shoals. Produced at Williamette studios in utah these full band songs are the kind of country soul vibes that make the heart sing. Think Allen Stone meets Alabama Shakes.

INSTROSPECTIVE INDIE FOLK

Folk songs that make you feel loss with silver lining. Musings on the grief cycles and great joys of life. Think The Careful Ones meet Bruno Merz. (Lighthouse and In The End recorded at June Audio in Provo, UT.)

MELANCHOLY ELECTRONICA

If angst had a choir and a personal angel. Songs that blend downtempo electronica with ethereal background vocals and gentle songwriting. Think Haux meets Ry X.

SHORT BIO

Serious music nerd. Multi-media geek. Songwriting junkie. Lover of indie rock and folk. Multi-instrumentalist. Looper Artist. Singer. Writer of bops, country songs, island soul tunes, melancholy music that turn the insides out and cinematic ballads the bring us home. Left Stanford to be an artist. Failed at becoming a rock star at 25. Decided to soul search and restart again. Fell in love and got married. Had a baby boy. Got a job in tech. Bought a house. Lost my mother to cancer. Got a puppy. Had a baby girl. Company went public. Lost my father to cancer. Decided to soul search and start again. Renovated and sold our home in utah. Bought some farm land in the big island. Moved back home to Hawaii. Now I’m 35 and work remotely during the early mornings, have a mini homestead and go to the beach with my kids in the afternoons while somehow magically keeping my music dreams alive.

Maui to San Francisco to Oahu to Los Angeles to Boulder to New Zealand to Salt Lake City to Hawaii.

Collaborators include: Robot Koch Okoren Kimberly Knighton ARIUS Leilani Wolfgramm

Heroes Include: Kris Kristofferson Gabby Pahinui George Kahumoku Jr. Bon Iver Jack Johnson John Mayer Ludwig van Beethoven

Influences Include: Novo Amor Arcade Fire Panama Dawn Golden RY X Kwabs James Vincent McMorrow Bernhoft Sleeping At Last

LONG BIO

Stephen Henderson is an independent producer, singer/songwriter, looper pedal artist and multi-instrumentalist whose roots stem from the small town of Hana, Maui, Hawaii. Raised in a musical family, Stephen had his first taste of the music industry touring with The Jets at a young age, while his father managed them in the 90's. His passion for music was fueled when his family moved from Los Angeles to the small town of Hana, Maui where Stephen was inspired by country legend Kris Kristofferson to begin writing his own music at the age of 12. Since then he has written over 200 songs and holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Music, Science & Technology, emphasizing in Music Cognition and Audio Engineering from Stanford University. He traveled and lived in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Boulder and New Zealand before settling down with his family in Salt Lake City.

Stephen derives his acoustic soulful style from influences such as Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, James Vincent McMurough, Active Child, James Blake, KWABS, Jack Johnson, Allen Stone, Earth Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder. His fusion of genres give him a unique voice and sound. 

Stephen was awarded the Carolyn Applebaum Prize for Music for excellence in service to the musical community and entrepreneurial endeavors from the Stanford University Department of Music. While in Stanford he produced the Stanford Soundtrack and was integral in creating a community of artists that remains strong and intact today. Stephen co-founded The Red Couch Project, a non-profit that showcases and produces up and coming collegiate artists in the west coast using social media as the primary launching platform. He curated opening acts for multi-grammy award winning artists while working as an intern for Stanford Live. As an artist he has performed with notable hawaiian acts such as Willie K., Kaumakaiwa Kanakaole and multi-grammy award winner George Kahumoku Jr.; recorded with multi grammy award winner Dave Thomas of Take 6, and performed with Reggae Rising Star Leilani Wolfgramm, and country legend Kris Kristofferson in small and intimate settings. He is also featured in the song 'Dreams' which he co-wrote with producer Robot Koch on his album 'Hypermoment'. In 2016 he crowdfunded and released his Debut Album: ‘Outside Looking In’. He has released music on and off since 2016 and now that he and his family have moved back to Hawaii - he will be releasing music again hopefully until the day he dies.

SELECTED PHOTOS