Steven Taetz

Steven's debut album is a solid offering that doesn't disappoint. The album is only eight songs but there is not a weak one in the bunch. The song writing is what really makes this album work along with the great delivery of the lyrics. Taetz has a smooth voice that really comes off strong in the album.
Taetz's smooth voice delivers (the lyrics) perfectly and the piano in the song keeps the mood well. 'The Miner's Hym' is a beautifully written song and performed quite well by Taetz. Taetz collaborated on writing all eight songs on the album (...) I really enjoyed this album, the song writing was well done, the instrumentals worked well with what Steven was trying to do. The album is worth a listen, I hope to hear more from Steven Taetz in the future.
—Adam Daniels, music journalist, “Sound Check” – Yorkton This Week - Yorkton This Week

For his self-titled debut full-length album, Steven Taetz has come up with a daringly ambitious concept. The Alberta-raised, Toronto and NYC-based singer/songwriter terms it “a Canadian songbook” for it comprises original songs that are connected thematically and geographically. The subtle but strong sense of place in this compelling record reflects the unique and imaginative method of its creation.

In recent years, Taetz has found international success with compositions in the dance and electronica realm, selling more than 70,000 units and charting on worldwide charts for electro-pop music. He became eager to return to rootsier musical terrain. “I grew up listening to folk, adult contemporary pop and country, and I wanted to explore the creative processes of other people writing in those genres. With that in mind, I thought I’d write my way across Canada, figuring out how an artist from each province or region in Canada wrote, what they were interested in and wanted to say.”

Steven began reaching out to Canadian singer/songwriters he admired, checking to see if they had any interest in co-writing with him for his new project. He was thrilled at the positive response he received, and the results are now vividly showcased on Steven Taetz. The compositions are all co-writes, with his collaborators comprising one impressive and highly-regarded grouping. The material was co-written with award-winning artists including Adaline, Emma-Lee, Peter Katz, Leela Gilday, The Wild Strawberries, Tara MacLean, and Geraldine Hollett of The Once.

What The Press Is Saying…

“Steven Taetz puts the “songwriter” in “singer/songwriter”. After writing pop hits for other artists, he has teamed up with other songwriters from across Canada for the northern song cycle that makes up his first solo album. What great songs! What a great debut!”
- Marc Rheaume, Head of CBC Radio’s Music Resources department

“The beautiful songwriting and vocal gifts of Steven Taetz are represented in a debut album that makes us laugh, cry, ponder and connect with our humanity. The unique Canadian perspective is simply a bonus; this is a collection that has universal appeal. He has a unique gift for telling a story in song that manages to connect personally with his audience, so that the songs feel that they were written for each individual listener. From the first hearing of him perform “True North,” it brought tears to my eyes, and I thought it could easily become a new anthem for Canadians both at home and abroad. As we approach the 150th birthday of Canada, I can’t imagine a better musical depiction of the distinctive identity and appeal of our nation.” – Janice Price, CEO Luminato Festival

” You have a winner in both your musical writing and performance. Having listened to the album twice, it is quite impressive. The musical arrangements for each song are unique and distinct from one another. You have a wonderful lyrical quality to your voice. It is indeed a great pleasure to meet the musical artist.”
- Joe Melillo, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music, New Music Festival)

“The CD is truly wonderful.”
- Mervon Mehta, Royal Conservatory of Music, Executive Director, Performing Arts

“Impressive album! Lotta vocal range there! “Drive” will be featured on our next show.. Talk about a story through [songs].”
- Sandy Mowat, Producer – Fresh Air CBC

“Thank you for the great album you sent me. It goes to show there is a lot of artistic talent in this country [...] Canada is a great nation not in spite of its diversity, but because of it and this album you recorded with fellow artists from each province reflects this brilliantly. I wish you all the best with your album and your tour.”
- Justin Trudeau, Member of Parliament – Leader of Liberal Party of Canada

“Thanks for sharing your songs with us last night, Steven. They, like you, are a thing of beauty.”
- Holmes Hooke, (formerly) Booking Hugh’s Room (Toronto)

“Young singer/songwriter Steven Taetz executes an ambitious concept with compelling skill on this self-titled debut album. The stylistically versatile artist has had an international impact with dance-based tracks, but he explores folk and adult contemporary terrain here. ..[An] emerging strong talent.”
- Kerry Doole, freelance journalist – feature from New Canadian Music blog (The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star).

“The cd is keeper — really enjoyed it… ”
- Jim Marino, Host – Freewheeling Show, 93.3 CFMU radio - Music News Nashville

The singer/songwriter terms his self-titled debut full-length album as "a Canadian songbook"
Read more at http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/163466-steven-taetz-cross-canada.html#I4VX154dBv1bIhum.99

"On September 25th, 2013 I released my first solo full-length album, including roots folk pop material co-written with artists from across Canada. The material was created as a labour of love, a northern song cycle, and Canadian songbook. I am so thrilled to share this live at venues such as NYC's The Bitter End, Calgary's Ironwood, Toronto's Dakota Tavern, Hugh's Room, Christmas Festival, and World Pride Festival 2014 to name a few."
-Steven

For his self-titled debut full-length album, Steven Taetz has come up with a daringly ambitious concept. The Alberta-raised, Toronto and NYC-based singer/songwriter terms it "a Canadian songbook" for it comprises original songs that are connected thematically and geographically. The subtle but strong sense of place in this compelling record reflects the unique and imaginative method of its creation.

In recent years, Taetz has found international success with compositions in the dance and electronica realm, selling more than 70,000 units and charting on worldwide charts for electro-pop music. He became eager to return to rootsier musical terrain. "I grew up listening to folk, adult contemporary pop and country, and I wanted to explore the creative processes of other people writing in those genres. With that in mind, I thought I'd write my way across Canada, figuring out how an artist from each province or region in Canada wrote, what they were interested in and wanted to say."

Steven began reaching out to Canadian singer/songwriters he admired, checking to see if they had any interest in co-writing with him for his new project. He was thrilled at the positive response he received, and the results are now vividly showcased on Steven Taetz. The compositions are all co-writes, with his collaborators comprising one impressive and highly-regarded grouping. The material was co-written with award-winning artists including Adaline, Emma-Lee, Peter Katz, Leela Gilday, The Wild Strawberries, Tara MacLean, and Geraldine Hollett of The Once.

Read more at http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/163466-steven-taetz-cross-canada.html#I4VX154dBv1bIhum.99 - AltSounds

As clichéd as it may sound, Steven
Taetz first realized he wanted to be
a singer when, at age 7, he heard is
mother (singing). “I was
watching her ...and said ‘I want a
piece of that action.’”
Years later, the classically
trained musician is making his
mark on the music scene, one track
at a time. Taetz moved from his home
in Alberta to climb the music-industry
ladder in Toronto, making connections
wherever he could. “I’ve had to go
through the past years of slogging
it out,” he says, “contacting everyone
I wanted to work with and often never
hearing back or getting those rejection
emails.”
But Taetz is quickly gaining
notoriety...
Taetz’s crystal-clear vocals
and driving melodies, which he writes
himself, have led to collaborations
with some of the finest in the music
business.
Taetz’s next project is a solo album,
with a lead-single title befitting what could be on
the horizon: “Calm Before The Storm”.
Or, as he modestly puts it, “at least a
little downpour.”
— DEREK DOTTO - Mint Media Group (national distribution)

Steven Taetz puts the "songwriter" in "singer/songwriter." After writing pop hits for other artists, he has teamed up with other songwriters from across Canada for the northern song cycle that makes up his first solo album. What great songs! What a great debut!
- Marc Rheaume, Head of CBC Radio's Music Resources department

You have a winner in both your musical writing and performance. Having listened to the album twice, it is quite impressive. The musical arrangements for each song are unique and distinct from one another. You have a wonderful lyrical quality to your voice. It is indeed a great pleasure to meet the musical artist.
- Joe Melillo, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music, Next Wave Festival)

The CD is truly wonderful. I will stay in touch on opportunities for booking in the future.
- Mervon Mehta, Royal Conservatory of Music, Executive Director, Performing Arts

Impressive album! Lotta vocal range there!;
"Drive" will be featured on our next show.. Talk about a story through [songs].
- Sandy Mowat, Producer - Fresh Air CBC

Thank you for the great album you sent me. It goes to show there is a lot of artistic talent in this country [...] Canada is a great nation not in spite of its diversity, but because of it and this album you recorded with fellow artists from each province reflects this brilliantly. I wish you all the best with your album and your tour.
- Justin Trudeau, Member of Parliament - Leader of Liberal Party of Canada

The beautiful songwriting and vocal gifts of Steven Taetz are represented in a debut album that makes us laugh, cry, ponder and connect with our humanity. The unique Canadian perspective is simply a bonus; this is a collection that has universal appeal.
He has a unique gift for telling a story in song that manages to connect personally with his audience, so that the songs feel that they were written for each individual listener.
"Drive” displays Taetz's unique gift to touch us all with the universal longing to put all our daily demands aside and simply find a way to make a personal connection.
From the first hearing of him perform “True North,” it brought tears to my eyes, and I thought it could easily become a new anthem for Canadians both at home and abroad. As we approach the 150th birthday of Canada, I can't imagine a better musical depiction of the distinctive identity and appeal of our nation.
- Janice Price, CEO Luminato Festival

Thanks for sharing your songs with us last night, Steven. They, like you, are a thing of beauty.
- Holmes Hooke, Booking - Hugh's Room (Toronto)

Young singer/songwriter Steven Taetz executes an ambitious concept with compelling skill on this self-titled debut album. The stylistically versatile artist has had an international impact with dance-based tracks, but he explores folk and adult contemporary terrain here. His concept, he explains, was "to write my way across Canada" by collaborating with top songwriters in each province. […]"The Miner's Hymn", is a powerful and haunting highlight. [...]Taetz has a warmly melodic voice, and producer Rob Szabo and a cast of local players contribute effectively. [An] emerging strong talent.
- Kerry Doole, freelance journalist - feature from New Canadian Music blog (The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star). Link to feature

Gorgeous album!
- Linda Brumbach, Producer, CEO - Pomegranate Arts (Phillip Glass, Laurie Anderson)

The album is lovely. Feel free to pick my brain on ways to get it out there.
- Derek Andrews, Music Programmer - Luminato Festival

This was a nice project to work on and it was a pleasure working with Steven. It’s a very exciting direction he’s taking with his work and I congratulate him!
- Ian Phillips, Illustrator and Designer

Steven is a gifted songwriter with a unique voice that's hard to describe. It has a lightness to it but retains the ability to express complex emotion and nuance. I had a great time working with Steven. He has a very clear artistic vision but remains open to new ideas an approaches ... a very delicate balance to achieve!
- Rob Szabo, Producer and artist - Juno-winning production on Steve Strongman's 2013 Blues Album of the Year

The cd is keeper --- really enjoyed it...
- Jim Marino, Host - Freewheeling Show, 93.3 CFMU radio

“[Taetz] is making his mark on the music scene, one track at a time [...], quickly gaining notoriety. Taetz’s crystal-clear vocals and driving melodies, which he writes himself, have led to collaborations with some of the finest in the music business.”
- Derek Dotto, cover and feature article, Outlooks national magazine - Steven Taetz (misc contributors)

As clichéd as it may sound, Steven
Taetz first realized he wanted to be
a singer when, at age 7, he heard is
mother (singing). “I was
watching her ...and said ‘I want a
piece of that action.’”
Years later, the classically
trained musician is making his
mark on the music scene, one track
at a time. Taetz moved from his home
in Alberta to climb the music-industry
ladder in Toronto, making connections
wherever he could. “I’ve had to go
through the past years of slogging
it out,” he says, “contacting everyone
I wanted to work with and often never
hearing back or getting those rejection
emails.”
But Taetz is quickly gaining
notoriety...
Taetz’s crystal-clear vocals
and driving melodies, which he writes
himself, have led to collaborations
with some of the finest in the music
business.
Taetz’s next project is a solo album,
with a lead-single title befitting what could be on
the horizon: “Calm Before The Storm”.
Or, as he modestly puts it, “at least a
little downpour.”
— DEREK DOTTO - Mint Media Group (national distribution)

Topped with the vocals of up and coming singers Roberta Harrison and Steven Taetz, a win-win combination, 'Drive' turns into a catchy, easygoing tune that might just go far beyond an underground hit. - Armada, Perfecto

"The original has a Deadmau5 feel with an amazing emotional vocal.
Sure to garner support it has a moody progressive vibe. Along with a vocal there is dub to compliment it nicely... It puts together the energy of tech house track with the vocal that will sure to be played in some primetime set moments.
- Peace Magazine