PHOTO BY KIGON KWAK; STYLING BY BRANDON NICHOLAS; HAIR BY SCOTT KING; MAKEUP BY PHOEBE DAWSON
The daughter of Super Bowl XXXVII champion Aaron Stecker, Newport Beach resident Skylar Stecker has accomplished more than most at 19. The rising pop and R&B singer, who recently released her second EP, Earth Signs, has amassed 17 million streams on Spotify and more than 33 million views on YouTube since her debut studio album in 2015. Here, we chat with the multihyphenate about her musical inspirations, living in O.C. and what’s next. skylarstecker.com
You’re a multitalented artist in many facets— from singing and writing to dancing and instrumentation—what sparked your love of music and the arts? I was asked to sing at a school talent show, and from that moment on, I threw myself into everything related to music. I became a sponge and wanted to learn and do everything I could do to not only be around music but also to play it, sing it and compose it.
How did your love of music and performing grow from a personal passion to a pursued career? It happened for me instantaneously. I have always been a very long-term thinker, and although singing is something I absolutely love to do, I also knew immediately that in order for me to do it full time, I needed to learn the industry and get to work.
Tell us about your latest EP, Earth Signs. What inspired this project? Going through the early phases of a relationship is what inspired me to start writing the music on the Earth Signs EP. Once I started writing about falling for this person, I realized that I couldn’t just stop at ‘Superman,’ the first song that I wrote for the EP. As the relationship continued, the material continued, and soon it became a full body of work.
In terms of your music, who inspires you and why? Bruno Mars and Beyoncé. They have both made me raise my own bar, regardless of what I am doing or creating. They always commit when on stage, and anyone watching can feel their energy and can’t help but be mesmerized by their confidence and stage presence. They’re both incredible!
When you’re not performing or recording, where would we find you out and about in Orange County? I am a huge coffee lover, so most mornings my first stop is Reborn Coffee in Corona del Mar before heading to L.A. for a session. Once I am back home for dinner, some of my favorite restaurants are Zinc Cafe & Market, Urth Caffé, Malibu Farm at Lido Marina Village and Din Tai Fung at South Coast Plaza. On the weekends, I like to hang out in Laguna Beach or at Lido Marina Village.
“I HAVEN’T EVEN BEGUN TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE OF WHERE I WANT TO GO AND WHAT I WANT TO DO.” –SKYLAR STECKER
Words to live by? Dare to dream.
Dream dinner party: Who is there and what do you serve? Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Tina Turner and Oprah Winfrey; vegan pad Thai and macarons.
What’s next for you? I want to continue to learn, grow and evolve as an artist. I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of where I want to go and what I want to do.
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