Smooth Soul Songstress Erin Stevenson eager to uncover her own GRAMMY® nomination
Music from “Cover Girl Uncovered” is up for consideration in three categories, perfectly timed to the release of her new single, “Perfect Island Night.”
The release of R&B/jazz singer Erin Stevenson’s “Cover Girl Uncovered” album last July was a coming out party for powerhouse performer and background singer who has spent the majority of her career singing behind GRAMMY-winning superstars. And now Stevenson herself is a contender for nominations in three GRAMMY® categories: Best Jazz Performance, Best R&B Album, and Best Traditional R&B Performance.
Stevenson has toured and performed around the world, sharing the stage with Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, Duran Duran, Nicki Minaj, John Legend, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Ciara, Rihanna, and Camila Cabello. Taking command of her own spotlight, she had a hand in writing seven new songs and producing three tracks for “Cover Girl Uncovered.” In addition to her originals, Stevenson reimagines tunes originally recorded by Teena Marie (“I Need Your Lovin’”), Chaka Khan (“Everlasting Love”), Phil Perry (“Perfect Island Night”), Nancy Wilson (“Save Your Love For Me”), and Alicia Myers (“I Want To Thank You”).
Recording “Cover Girl Uncovered” was more than a two-year journey for Stevenson, who calls herself the Smooth Soul Songstress. Early on, she got together with GRAMMY-winning saxophonist Marion Meadows to record “Smooth Soul.” Her sensual coos are surrounded by sultry soprano sax overtures on the single that is now for consideration as Best Jazz Performance. Stevenson produced the track with David P. Stevens.
The eleven-song “Cover Girl Uncovered” is up for Best R&B Album consideration. The Innervision Records release reveals an alchemy of R&B grooves, improvisational jazz, neo soul nuances, and buoyant pop melodies. Exercising her freedom to express herself through her own songs, Stevenson shares thoughts, insights, and stories that ruminate on love and relationships, and finds optimism through life’s challenges. In addition to her own production work, a variety of producers guided Stevenson on the record, including two-time GRAMMY® winner Paul Brown, who is featured playing acoustic guitar on the self-love affirmation “Believe.”
Stevenson pays homage to Wilson on “Save Your Love For Me,” which is up for Best Traditional R&B Performance. She delivers the song as an elegant and exquisite straight-ahead jazz ballad which she produced with GRAMMY® nominee Nathan Mitchell who added piano as gorgeous and as graceful as Wilson was herself.
“Cover Girl Uncovered” is Stevenson’s second album, but this is the first time that she submitted music for GRAMMY® consideration. The same day the GRAMMY® nominations are announced, November 8, Stevenson is scheduled to take the stage at Spaghettini near Los Angeles. She hopes to have something special to celebrate at that show.
“Being nominated would mean that I've beat all the odds, that faith and hard work are still a recipe for success, and that it's never too late to go after your dreams. I'm a former background singer turned artist, writer, and producer, who is over 40, Black, and Female,” said Stevenson, who also performs at the SoCal hotspot on October 27 and December 13 with the December date being a holiday-themed concert.
While Stevenson’s music garners GRAMMY® consideration, her latest single, “Perfect Island Night,” has begun its chart ascent. Her version of Perry’s song has Brazilian jazz inflections and is another coproduction between Stevenson and Stevens with the latter adding guitar to the mix. Keyboardist Christopher Thomas, bassist Keith Eaddy, and drummer Obadiah Joel Tate help create an enchanting and romantic ambience on the track that was released with a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlFg2g9f1Qo&t=2s).
For more information, visit https://www.erinstevensonmusic.com.
