Stephanie McKay facts for kids

Stephanie McKay is an American singer and songwriter from the Bronx, New York. Her music mixes different styles like soul, funk, rock, and hip-hop. She has worked with many artists over 20 years, including Anthony Hamilton and Kelis. Stephanie McKay has released two solo albums, McKay (2003) and Tell It Like It Is (2008). She also released a shorter collection of songs called an EP, Stephanie McKay (2006). She has performed all over the world and used to play guitar in Kelis's band.

Her Early Life

Stephanie McKay was born in New York City and grew up in the Bronx. When she was young, she sang in school choirs and music groups. She also joined the Alvin Ailey School to study dance. Later, she went to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She earned a degree in modern dance in 1993.

Starting Her Music Journey

Stephanie's dream of being a dancer ended after a knee injury. She then started trying out for singing roles. At one tryout, a producer named Kashif hired her right away. She joined a new girl group called "The Promise." This group signed a record deal with Arista Records. During this time, Stephanie began writing her own songs. She also started taking lessons to improve her singing and learn to play the drums.

Her Solo Music Career

While working on her music career in New York, Stephanie also continued to dance. She performed with several modern dance groups. She also sang her own songs in clubs around New York City. She started getting more jobs as a session vocalist. This means she sang backup or on recordings for other artists, like Carl Hancock Rux. While touring in England with the singer Kelis, Stephanie met Geoff Barrow.

First Album: McKay

Stephanie McKay and Geoff Barrow worked together on her first album, called McKay. Stephanie wrote many of the songs herself. Producers Tim Saul and Geoff Barrow (who used the name "Fuzzface") helped create the music. Other musicians also played on the album. The album also included a cover song called "Echo." This song was originally by the group Sweet Honey in the Rock.

The album was very well-liked by music critics. The Guardian newspaper said it brought back the strong feelings of soul music from the 1960s and 1970s. MOJO magazine called her music "extraordinarily eclectic" and said her album was "worth investigating."

Stephanie McKay performed at big music events like WOMAD and the Jazz Cafe in England. Her music became popular around the world and was played on MTV. The McKay album was released in Europe. Later, an American music company called Astralwerks signed her. To introduce her to American fans, they released a five-song EP in 2006. It had new songs, older songs, and a remix by DJ Spinna. She also sang on an album by funk musician Amp Fiddler.

Second Album: Tell It Like It Is

Stephanie McKay's second album, Tell It Like It Is, was released on her own label. She performed at the famous Glastonbury Festival in 2009. She also played at the North Sea Jazz Festival and Spoleto in France.

Other Cool Projects

After her mother passed away in 2008 and her son was born in 2009, Stephanie took a break from touring. She focused on being a mom. However, she continued to release new songs with her friend and producer DJ Katalyst. These songs included "Day into Night" and "You Can't Save Me."

In 2013, she sang with Jimmy Cliff in a Volkswagen car commercial. This commercial was shown during the Super Bowl, a very big football game in the United States.

Working with Jacques Schwarz-Bart

Stephanie McKay is married to jazz saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart. They have worked together on music projects. One example is the album Rise Above, released by her husband. It included a song called "Feel So Free." Another song they wrote together, "Friend and Lover," has been recorded by other jazz artists.

Stephanie's Music Style

People describe Stephanie McKay's music as a mix of "Motown meets midnight Marauder." Her songs combine strong, city-inspired words with cool sounds. Her music includes elements of hip-hop, rock, pop, and soul.

Stephanie says her music is inspired by growing up in New York. She also loves the classic soul singers from the 1960s and the creative soul bands from the 1970s. She remembers:

"I have a brother who is eight years older than me, who was always playing 70's soul and funk music like Earth, Wind And Fire and the Ohio Players, while my mom was in the other room listening to Al Green and Barry White. On my own though, I was a fan of the classic pop station WABC, where I first discovered artists like Michael Jackson and Jim Croce."

Her Albums and Songs

Albums

• McKay (2003)
• Stephanie McKay EP (2006)
• Tell It Like It Is (2008)

Singles and EPs

• "Tell him"
• "Take me Over"
• "Tell it like it is"
• Stephanie McKay EP (2006)
• "Jackson Avenue" (2008)
• "Song in my Heart" (2018)
• "Phenomenon" (2022)

Her Family Life

Stephanie McKay is married to saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart. They met at a concert where they were both performing. This meeting led them to work together on the Tell Me More album. Their personal and musical relationship inspired this album. For example, Jacques Schwarz-Bart said the idea for their song "Rainbow" came to him while he was crossing the Brooklyn Bridge to meet Stephanie. He wanted the song to be poetic but also more than just a love song.