Stephen Dawes Finds His Voice on Debut Album 'Skin to Skin'
Stephen Dawes, who went viral in 2022 with a cover of Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream' (over 50 million YouTube views, quarter-billion Spotify streams), releases his debut album 'Skin to Skin'. The 23-year-old singer-songwriter, now based in Los Angeles, moved from New York after leaving NYU two years in. His electro-pop sound crystallized after experimenting with rock and folk on earlier albums. Dawes cites Arctic Monkeys, Flaming Lips, Joji, and Wilco as inspirations. The album, largely self-written after burning out on collaborations, focuses on his girlfriend and life in LA. Key track 'Optimist' is the most personal. He envisions live shows as dance-friendly night outs, not DJ sets, and dreams of a Jamie xx remix.
Key facts
- Stephen Dawes went viral in 2022 with a cover of Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream'.
- The cover has over 50 million YouTube views and a quarter-billion Spotify streams.
- Dawes is releasing his debut album 'Skin to Skin'.
- He is 23 years old.
- He moved to Los Angeles three years ago after leaving NYU.
- The album is electro-pop, inspired by Arctic Monkeys, Flaming Lips, Joji, and Wilco.
- Dawes wrote much of the album alone, drawing from his relationship and life in LA.
- The song 'Optimist' is the most personal on the record.
Entities
Artists
- Stephen Dawes
- Katy Perry
- Justin Bieber
- Becky G
- Jay-Z
- Kanye West
- Conan Gray
- Ne-Yo
- Alex Turner
- Joji
- Jamie xx
Institutions
- CULTURED
- NYU
- Mercury Lounge
- Baby's All Right
- Rockwood Music Hall
Locations
- Manhattan
- Cape Cod
- San Francisco
- New York City
- Los Angeles