PureVolume

Signup

Stephen Speaks

On Tour

Genres: Folk Rock / Christian / Southern Rock

Location: Tulsa, OK

Stats: 559 fans / 175,710 plays / 0 plays today

Members: Stephen Speaks

Stephen Speaks's Top Song: Passenger Seat Buy Album

Billboard

"Speaking From The Heart"
(John Lawton, Viridian Times)

With only a home studio, a handful of songs, and a lot of passion, Stephen Speaks has been shattering barriers in independent music since 1999. For example, Speaks was the first garage band in the history of the world to break international borders and become the number one band in another country. In 2003 Stephen Speaks' song, Passenger Seat, took the number 1 spot on the radio in Asia, which was held by Christina Aguilerra at the time. Passenger Seat held it's throne for twelve weeks, and was finally knocked down to number 2 by their second single, Out Of My League, giving them the number 1 and number 2 song in the country. At the year end countdown, both songs were atop the charts.

"I've no idea how it happened," says Rockwell Ryan, front man and producer of Stephen Speaks. "Some college exchange students stuck it on the radio all and it just took off. Thats our whole career; we just make music and our fans take care of everything for us. Who needs a record label with fans like that? (laughs)"

With a dominant college-based grassroots following back in the US, Stephen Speaks continues to plow ground as one of the pioneers of the indie movement. The band has managed to sell over 40,000 albums, played for tens of thousands of people, topped radio charts, had the number 1 video on MTV Asia and MYX for weeks, and had literally millions of MP3s downloaded from their Web-site. Thats not unheard of, but doing it in a home studio with no manager, no lawyer, no record label and no booking agent, is very impressive indeed.

"I've had labels show interest - many," states Rockwell, who shunned a record deal with Sony in 2004, "But I've never heard a sales pitch that beats what we have; the American dream. What makes this country great is the freedom to live the way you want, when you want. There are no executives with dollar-sign-eyes pushing us around. No doubt, I plan on being a millionaire (chuckles), but there's no price you can put on freedom. I want to promote living for what your heart tells you, not other people. Thats what our music is all about."

While the band hasn't ruled out signing a record deal, doing things on their own, or anything in between, one thing is for sure - the bands passion for living each day to the fullest will always run their lives.... and inspire ours.

Comments

View more

mollyyy. said:
out of my league is beautiful. i love your sound. keep it up! :) Jul 09
CJ[Tell me you love me] said:
grrreaat styylee Jan 22
musiclover said:
I love you guys! :) I want your CD so bad. Where can I buy it? Nov 27
legreensong said:
Love you guys! God Bless! Oct 23
u make me scream said:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of your songs. My favorit one is out of my league on your myspace page. Its so cute. Every time i lisen to it i can help but smile. it takes me down memory lane and i love it .... keep up the good songs ha ha.. J-Dawg- Feb 05
moshersequalriot said:
you guys should put out of my league up here...that song is my favorite next to passenger seat! Nov 27
[[diStaNt eyEs]] said:
AMAZING with a giant A on the forehead! i love it! out of my league is the sweetest song ever. Oct 22
lindsey21q said:
your music is amazing and i absolutely love Out of My League. it\'s so great, I put it on my myspace too:] keep it up. you should come to Austin! It\'d be so awesome if yall would! Oct 03
i say bitchin said:
Out Of My League is such a beautiful song. I really like it. I put it on my Myspace. Jul 20
0wakemefromthisdream0 said:
I absolutely love the song \'out of my league\', esp. when it was personally played and sung to me by the love of my life! *missy Jul 17
Laci_t said:
Add Comment here... Jun 30
DANCE!DEVAN_DANCE! said:
passenger seat and out of my league are my favorites.. they are so adorable. keep up the great love songs and lyrics. i Jun 29
annabanana325 said:
I love the piano in your music it adds a certain beauty to your music. You have such a gift for music. Jun 14
said:
man this band Rocks! Feb 17