One we are most definitely watching. Stevan, multidisciplinary artist from New South Wales is on the rise. With the release of his new mixtape 'Just Kids', he has been cemented as one to watch in the R&B world, however it would be unfair to consider him only an R&B singer. Although he does flow brilliantly over the smoothest of beats, he glides effortlessly on pop tracks like single 'On My Mind' and harmonises over a heavy drum and guitar-focused alternative beat on 'Rock N Roll'. We can clearly hear his influences (read on) infused delicately throughout his production and vocals. And might we add, all that production and instrumentation on this mixtape has been dreamt up and created by Stevan himself. The power. With the release of 'Just Kids' we asked Stevan 10 questions on the state of the world right now, and how the mixtape came to be:

There's a lot happening in the world right now with the Black Lives Matter movement. How have you been navigating the last few weeks? Have you been making music during this time? 

"It's been stressful and tiring but that's nothing compared to what other people are going through at the moment. Shootings are still happening and it's traumatic seeing people die on the internet knowing you can't do as much as you'd like too, and the conversations that have come out of this movement have shown me who people really are. I haven't made music, I've been trying but my mind and my heart just aren't in it at the moment."

What do you hope comes from this global outrage and protesting? 

"I can only hope for real change. I want people to care and to no longer justify police shootings and racism. I want people to see this issue as a human problem that needs to be solved by all of us, and not to see the movement as an activity but a lifestyle to call out these toxic cultural and societal issues in their personal life as well as on social media."

What do you want to communicate to your audience right now about the movement? 

"That people are dying at the hands of evil, entitled and incompetent individuals. If a doctor committed an act of malpractice they'd lose their license, job and depending on the act go to jail. That occupation is demanding and dangerous yet we excuse the police under the “it's a hard job”. I'd like people to see police brutality for what it is, not what they want it to be. At the end of the day they have to decide where they stand but I know what's going on is wrong and there is no excuse for this type of behaviour."

Your mixtape is called Just Kids - why? 

"The whole perspective of the project is from a 15 year old me. I named the project just kids because all the things I talk about on the project reflect a childlike mentally. I'm not that kid anymore so when I listen to the project it takes me back. I noticed, as I got older that adults were basically big kids who pretend to have things figured and sorted. Adults have the same social anxieties, wanting to be liked and respected feeling intimidated and afraid and most importantly feeling lost. So the name “Just Kids” became a way of finding the similarities between the younger me and current me rather than the differences. Because regardless of how old I get a part of me is always going to be that kid."

What did you learn through the process of making this mixtape? 

"I learnt how to play a range of instruments and how to express myself in a healthy way."

Who are some key people you have worked with throughout your first year in music, and in the lead up to the mixtape? What did you learn from them? 

"Cosmo's Midnight have been like big brothers to me ever since we met. They encouraged me and always told me how good I was at music. I really needed that because I looked up to them and my schoolmates would listen to their music. So it gave me something to aim for in terms of musical success."

Do you have a favourite song on the mixtape? 

"Take it Slow, I think I produced the hell out of that track and the second verse has some really nice vocals. I definitely stretched my vocal range."

What do you hope those who listen to Just Kids take from it? 

"That it's okay to be a kid and awkward and out of the loop. I think there's more pressure now on young people to act older, but some of the best moments in life are when you're young. I want to send people back to these moments and feelings."

Who are your musical influences? Dream collab? 

"I'll name three Stevie Wonder, Frank Ocean, Sza. And my dream collab would be Andre 3000, or Pharrell."

What has been the best moment so far in this journey? 

"We played a show in Perth to like 4000 kids. That was crazy."

What's next? Tour? Album?

"I have no idea, I'm going to try enjoy this release for the moment."

by Roxy Lola

Listen to Just Kids here.

@stevan.jpeg