Steffanie Christi’an’s New Album “It’s Complicated” Out This Weekend

Steffanie Christi’an demonstrates how “rock ‘n’ roll” is not just a genre, it’s an adjective.

You’ve heard the clichés that “music is a way of life” for certain artists—and if you don’t believe the validity of that statement yet, then you haven’t seen a Steffanie Christi’an concert. The Detroit born and raised songwriter and performer has been singing her entire life and has proven her versatility for a range of styles including gospel, soul, funk, and R&B. Her specialty, though, is “rock ‘n’ roll,” which is evident through the energy, heart, vulnerability, and the frenetic movement she expels onstage. ‘Rock ‘n’ roll’,” in adjective-form, not only describes the soaring, scintillating, soulful quality of her voice, it defines her presence.

Christi’an has spent the last five years completing her magnum opus, an album titled It’s Complicated. Thunderous drums and gliding strings elevate the new single from the album, “Limbo.”

Along with her commanding stage presence, Christi’an has made an impression with audiences locally and globally by focusing in on ferocious energies characteristic to rock, blues, funk and soul. She cultivates that energy, in real time, into a veritable tidal wave in song-form. Since singing is her principal mode of communication, she never takes any concert, any opportunity to connect with her audience, for granted, leaving nothing on the stage, nothing left unfelt, unsaid, unsung…

She’s performed with a range of artists including Tyler Mac, hip-hop legend Talib Kweli, and techno pioneers Inner City, whom she’ll be joining on their world tour next month to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Leading up to It’s Complicated, she’s independently released four EPs and has toured the world, performing everywhere from California to Australia.

It’s Complicated comes out next weekend with a release party at Otus Supply’s Parliament Room on Saturday, March 30. Also performing is her longtime collaborator Dean Beanz leading The Faculty. 

Steffanie Christi’an “It’s Complicated” Release Party
Saturday, March 30, 8:30 pm
Parliament Room in Otus Supply
345 E. Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale


This story is a part of Detroit StoryMakers.

WDET’s Detroit StoryMakers initiative empowers local storytellers in bringing Detroit’s stories to life. Support for this initiative comes from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs and through matching gifts from station donors.

Author

  • Jeff Milo
    Jeff Milo is the host of "MI Local" on 101.9 WDET. He's a longtime music journalist documenting the Michigan scene for 20 years.