Today we’d like to introduce you to Stefan Poole.
Artist name – STF (pronounced Stef)
The son of an American entrepreneur father and Italian fashion designer mother, Poole is a dual Italian-American citizen who was raised between Tucson, Arizona, and Milan, Italy. “Italian was actually my first language, so I struggled a lot in school in Arizona,” he says. “I had an accent, was between languages, and was just very awkward.” His love for music came from his dad, a classic rock fan who put a guitar in young Stefan’s his hands at age 13. Poole also studied piano, violin, and drums, “which I loved, but playing drums meant always playing other people’s songs and I wanted to be part of the creative process.”
Poole stuck with guitar, began singing and writing songs at 17, and, after graduating from high school, moved to Los Angeles to attend Musicians Institute where he formed a funk-pop band that made the rounds of Hollywood clubs like The Roxy and House of Blues on Sunset. Poole got his first professional break when he was cast as a musician on the hit FOX series Glee. In between seasons, Poole went back to Italy to appear on a talent show called Amici, which he describes as a cross between American Idol and Big Brother. For the six weeks, the show was on the air, Poole was a star. “I would walk down the street and get mobbed by people wanting to take pictures,” he recalls. “I’d pass by the newsstand, and my face was on magazine covers. It felt like a dream. One moment nobody knew me, the next moment the whole country knew me. Then it all stopped when the next season started because there was a new cast.”
The fleeting fame messed with Poole’s head. “I was always focused on the music, so to have people talking about me for something other than that, and then to have it go away so fast, it was hard,” he says. “It was also bad timing because I didn’t have any music ready while the show was airing, so I didn’t capitalize on the moment.” In fact, Poole had recorded a bilingual album for Sony that wound up being shelved. Poole decided to move back to L.A. and rejoin the cast of Glee, but other setbacks followed, including a deal with an indie label that didn’t pan out, a painful break-up, and health issues.
“At that point, I didn’t have the energy to make original music,” he says. “But I needed to pay my bills, and I wanted to do it through music.” Poole became a touring musician, hitting the road with singer-songwriter Bridget Mendler, Andy Grammer, and Jack & Jack, with whom he toured the U.S. this summer.
“My motivation and inspiration slowly began coming back,” he says. “Now I feel like I’m a bit wiser, a bit more experienced, and less naïve. “I’ve come to know myself more and have realized that as much as I love being on tour and playing for other artists, there’s still that itch of wanting to be a front man who sings my own songs. It’s like an addiction that connection I’ve experienced between myself and the audience — when they’re in the palm of my hand, and we go on a ride together. There is no better feeling. I just want the audience to be able to experience the same joy.”
Please tell us about your art.
I create music whether it be by myself with my guitar or in collaboration with other songwriters, artists, etc. I really just want to move people both physically and emotionally. I try to make groove based Pop with substance and meaning. But it’s GOT TO GROOVE. Ultimately, my music is meant to be experienced live. There’s really no better feeling than connecting with an audience during a show.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
Absolutely!
First, budget budget budget. You need to be wise about spending. Set aside a specific amount each month to invest in your art and hold to it. Also, don’t just hire the most expensive producer, publicist, engineer, etc. Someone’s impressive resume doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the right fit for your music.
Lastly, don’t be too proud to take on a part-time job outside of art, but choose carefully! You don’t want to get sucked into a job that pays well but takes up all your time that you could be working on your craft. That’s a fast way to get jaded!
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
People can find my music on Spotify, iTunes and all other streaming services and digital stores under my artist name STF.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/stfsings
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/stfsings
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/stfsings
- Other: www.youtube.com/stfsings
Image Credit:
Andre LaDon
AxiA
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