Transport yourself back to the 50s and 60s with Stephen Sanchez's album "Angel Face (Club Deluxe)" - Exclusive Interview

Kristine Bautista
Aug 26, 2024
5 min read

Updated: Jun 30, 2025

About Stephen Sanchez

Singer-songwriter Stephen Sanchez has captivated audiences with his timeless sound and undeniable charisma. At just 21 years old, he has achieved remarkable success, including a Triple Platinum single and performances on popular late-night shows. His music, characterized by warm guitar sounds and soulful vocals, has garnered acclaim from industry publications and earned him a devoted following. With a belief in the enduring power of romance, Sanchez is making a significant impact on popular culture, and his talent is impossible to ignore.

About 'Angel Face (Club Deluxe):

'Angel Face (Club Deluxe) is a highly-anticipated and long-awaited deluxe album from Stephen, following his widely acclaimed debut album "Angel Face," which achieved RIAA gold certification after its release on September 22, 2023. The deluxe version of the new album boasts an impressive collection of five brand new tracks, including the captivating hit "The Other Side," alongside a special duet version of his quadruple-platinum sensation "Until I Found You" featuring Em Beihold. The release coincides with the exciting announcement of the artist's upcoming tour.

Q&A With Stephen Sanchez

What’s the best piece of advice that someone gave you as an artist?

I went to a Tenth Avenue North concert 8 years, and I was first starting out writing music and I saw their show, and I waited till after to meet the lead singer of the band, and i ask him for a piece of advice and he said "Everytime somebody gives you a pedestal to stand on, they put you on, take yourself off it and put the person who put you on, back on the pedestal" Which is like "Everytime you get first in line, put the person behind you, in front of yourself" and "everytime you get the crown put on your head, put the crown on the person next to you".

With the album called Angel Face, it’s evident that our eyes would be drawn toward the “Angel face” seen in ‘The Other Side’s first verse. However, this track is on Club Deluxe, which is interesting because, with a leitmotif like that, most artists would move it to the main body of work. Was that deliberately done? Did you want us to get to know the characters, such as ‘Evangeline’ before this choice was executed?

I think that I just want to kind of tell the story first, with the characters first and kind of lay out the foundations and, the story and everything. And the song... the lyrics were just like inappropriate before, and I couldn't find a way to make it not that for a long time, so i just didn't put it on the record, till we started talking about Deluxe, and we talked about the song again. Then it came back around and did some major rewriting on it, which felt like a better timing when I released it.

You’ve mentioned that your music is inspired by classic romance and love stories. Are there any particular films, books, or personal experiences that have influenced your songwriting?

Theres totally personal experiences that have influenced the songwriting, of which i have no-comment on cause they're very personal, but in-terms of movies... i definitely find myself relating to different films. Especially this one movie 'Lost in Translation' which is about 2 characters going through early life crisis and mid-life crisis, and they end up meeting each other, and kind-of escaping from their realities and creating one together, thats a lot more happier.

Let's say that one of your listeners has found their way into a forbidden romance, just like Troubadour Sanchez. What kind of advice would you have for them, to achieve a storybook ending to their story?

Oh my god, don't do whatever that character did - don't try to spend a relationship, don't do any of that stuff... But i'd just say pursue a thing thats healthy, they wanna know you, you wanna know them and thats it! You're on the same page. To attain a storybook ending is to have somebody thats willing to write a story with you and doesn't feel like forcing their hand on the paper.

How did it feel to play your first show in Japan and did the audience's energy differ from North American shows?

Total energy shift- but in the best way. I think for the guys and I in America, we've realized that it's all about the hype. Like everyone wants to be hyped up. I think in Japan, they are like that but they want permission to be, which is kind of epic.

You’re back on the road this summer/fall - what can fans with upcoming shows expect from this tour iteration? What’s been the best or most memorable part of this tour for you?

What you can expect from the shows is the experience of what it was like in the 50's and and actually seeing the Troubadour Sanchez and the Moon Crests Live on the Connie Co Show back in whatever year it was- 1958 to 1964. The memorable show was in Toronto (August 2)- being on a balcony, dancing with a girl to 'put my head on your shoulder' and getting a girl putting a cowboy hat on my head.

You’ve performed many iconic covers at shows like “Pretty Woman” and “Unchained Melody”. What’s the process of choosing these specific songs and fitting them into the style and direction of your own shows?

I mean, it feels great to do it, and as much as we like to pull people into the world that we're creating, we just want to put like a timestamp on these Artists Exist in that world too and so I think it helps people pull deeper into it.

As one of your recent singles, “Emotional Vacation,” a tropical yearning for something more real. What are some places you find peace in going to for that yearning sensation?

I'm such a romantic as it is, and i'm always operating out of it. But maybe i'd like to say the Ocean- love the surf-vibe, and the ocean.

In your song ‘Doesn’t Do Me Any Good,’ the first verse includes the lines: ‘They said a man rich with love, Could go crazy, Spendin' all his gold, Bettin' on a maybe. Just like that river, baby. Don't let it be misunderstood.’ Could you share what inspired these lyrics and what they mean to you?

I mean that was a crazy song, and we were in the studio and had just an anger-infused, bad day. It was no ones fault, and at the time i was in a weird situation. It is a love song, and not at the same time, but it is kind of a kind-diss track, but it isn't a diss track, it is more of a 'i'm into you' and i'm giving you a guitar solo.

Stephen is currently on a World Tour this Summer/Fall