Stef Lang is a Canadian singer, songwriter, producer and performer who resides in Vancouver, BC. Known for her engaging performances and edgy lyrics, Lang released her first commercially produced full-length album, The Underdog, in May 2010, distributed by Hipjoint Music/Universal Music Canada and available on iTunes worldwide.
Her hit single, Mr. Immature, was released two months before the album and achieved mainstream success when it peaked at #5 on The Billboard Chart for Canadian Emerging Artists. Her single, Paper Doll, was released to radio stations nationwide in February 2012. Both the single and a new EP, Fighting Mirrors, which includes the pop anthem, have been made available for free digital download on her website. Lang’s album Self was voted one of Canada’s Top 15 Albums of 2012.
Hailing from the tiny town of Ladysmith on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Stef Lang learned the benefits of a strong sense of community, the power of positivity, and the value of hard work at a very young age. The multi-faceted artist has been relentlessly working ever since, singing, songwriting, producing and editing music for herself and others to accomplish her dreams.
Lang burst onto the scene in 2010 with her first full-length album, The Underdog. The album received a great deal of critical and commercial praise, earning her a nomination for the Western Canadian Music Awards’ Pop Recording of the Year 2011, and she saw the first single ‘Mr. Immature’ hit #5 on the Billboard Canadian Emerging Artist chart. She had two songs featured on Canadian melodramas ‘Rookie Blue’ and ‘Degrassi Junior High’. Now she’s following that success up in 2012 with her sophomore release, Self.
Self marks a bold new step for Stef, who for the first time is exerting full creative control over her music. She personally handled every aspect of the album, writing, producing, recording and editing every song, as well as even hand painting her own album art. The devotion of her fans coupled with the excellent reception of The Underdog fueled Stef’s passion for Self, and that passion is evident in every heartfelt note. The album eschews the traditional pop trappings of parties and boys and instead focuses on introspective, empowering lyrics and compositions designed to give fans relatable, positive and motivational music and establishing Stef as a role model for future generations of women. “When you listen to music and understand what someone else is saying – you feel understood.
You feel less alone. I want to be that voice that brings sense and sanity to peoples lives. I want to give people that happiness, sadness – whatever is it that they want and need to feel. Music is an experience. I want people to experience mine,” says Stef, revealing a maturity and self-awareness beyond her years. The music video for the lead-off single is entirely fan-generated and will showcase her fans’ ideas of the concept of ‘self’.
Stef has opened for and performed with a number of big names in the industry including Suzie McNeil, Mother Mother, K’Naan, Shawn Desman, and Matthew Good, as well as performed at Canadian Music Week in Toronto, and the 2011 Canadian Radio Music Awards. She has also showcased at the 2009 Canadian Music Cafe for TIFF, the 2010 NXNE Music Festival, and the 2010 CMJ Music Festival in New York. Along with her feature albums The Underdog and Self, Stef has released three EPs: Birth, Blood and Bravery, and Fighting Mirrors.
Combining the folk sensibilities of Joni Mitchell or Ani Difranco with the pop hooks of artists like Robyn and Alicia Keys, Stef’s passion for her art is apparent in every aspect of her life and her tireless work ethic knows no bounds. She truly commits herself to following her dreams and expressing herself through her music and artwork.
Stef Lang is exceptionally talented and accomplished Canadian singer, songwriter, producer and performer. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You started singing, dancing and playing piano at the age of 5. As a teen you began performing in music festivals and high-school plays. You started pursuing singing and reached the pinnacle of success when you released your first commercially produced full-length album “The Underdog” in May 2010. Tell us about your journey that took you to where you are now in the world of singing?
Ms. Stef Lang: The journey has been full of surprises. My first big move into music was when I won a radio contest at 17 and moved to Vancouver, BC and began interning at a studio. Over the course of the next 7 years, I focused on writing songs and playing shows. I put out several records and toured through Canada and the US. This year I moved from Vancouver to New York City and am working full time as an artist and songwriter.
Everything so far has really come down to being persistent and being a self-starter. You have to get up and make things happen for yourself. Fortunately, I’ve had some incredible support from my family and worked with many talented, kind people along the way.
Full interview on Next Page!
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Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have selected a profession of being a singer, songwriter, producer and editing music that requires a lot of hard labor, technical soundness and excellence in different faculties to finally succeed, how do you achieve that?
Ms. Stef Lang: Learning how to produce, record and edit my own vocals is not something I ever ‘planned’ on doing but now that I know how to, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Knowing how to build, create sounds and track your own vocal ideas has been so important to me and absolutely crucial to my creative process. It’s also opened a lot of doors for me also because I’ve earned several big features on records simply because I was able to record the vocals myself and send it back to them.
Having that versatility can only benefit you. I learned productions skills back when I was an intern and continued to use them, practice, try new ideas and watch/learn tricks from others. My case has been a ‘learn-by-doing.’
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Stef Lang: I run a lot. I used to really dislike running but now I need to because it clears my mind. When I don’t, I can get really bad anxiety so when I run it completely releases all that tension and gets me back to a good place mentally. I’m a big fan of the P90X work outs (KenPoX, Plyometrics, YogaX) and I also like to take fun classes like hip hop dance classes.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Stef Lang: I don’t have a special diet other than I eat several smaller meals throughout the day as opposed to two huge meals. I eat a lot but it’s broken up into 4-5 meals so I think the key for me has been portions. Also, my body has the ability to tell me whether or not I’m not eating enough fruits, veggies because I’ll crave it. When it comes to food, I love everything that’s bad for me, especially bread, pasta, chocolate. Whenever I’ve tried to cut these things out of my diet completely, I only want them more. So I keep them in my diet just in portions and moderation.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hair to make them look so stunning?
Ms. Stef Lang: For skin cleanser I use Estee Lauder ‘Perfectly Clean’ Cleanser and I use the Day Wear & Night Wear moisturizers. For foundations and primers I love using STILA makeup products.
My hair has been done by Matthew J Schubert for many years now, he’s kept all my hair looks (cuts & color) all very fresh and fashion forward. We’ve used many products by Redken (Shampoo & Conditioner) Also CAT treatment & Anti-Snap. I also like using the dry-shampoo & powder grip for styling as well as argon oils for softness and shine. My hair’s really long, so I tend to keep it simple by throwing a few curls in it as a daily look.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words for our inspiring and budding singers who all are your fans, what should they do for their climb to the ladder of success in field of singing?
Ms. Stef Lang: The biggest thing I could say is that if music is something you need to do, then do it. There’s a difference between “wanting” to do something and “needing” to do something. I’m in music because I need to do it. There’s nothing else I’d rather do. If you want it that bad, don’t be afraid of the challenges along the way, go after it and keep getting back up when you fall. Cause you will 🙂 Also, if you’re an artist…do what you think is cool. Trust in your talents as they evolve and have faith in your abilities. Everything starts happening for you when you believe in yourself.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar: On your website you wrote “When you listen to music and understand what someone else is saying – you feel understood. You feel less alone. I want to be that voice that brings sense and sanity to peoples lives. I want to give people that happiness, sadness – whatever is it that they want and need to feel. Music is an experience. I want people to experience mine” . Elaborate on this concept of your own personalised music?
Ms. Stef Lang: I think the purpose of music is to feel connected. To feel emotion, to be inspired. When someone hears a song and that songs resonates with them, then that’s when music is a success. The artist has connected with the listener. They have evoked something inside them emotionally and moved them. I love the way my favorite music moves me… and that’s what I want to give to others.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Who has been your inspiration and motivation that led you to your success in the world of singing and as a music performer?
Ms. Stef Lang: Tegan and Sara have been a big motivation. Mostly because I’ve watched their entire career, been to their shows, seen them evolve and grow. Watched how hard they work, I’ve been a fan since I was 14. Seeing them accomplish things lifts me up, inspires me to do better. Every win for them, is like a win for me. I also just love listening to Robyn’s records and Kid Cudi’s records.
Robyn took time out after her hits in the 90’s, when she came back, she had completely re-invented herself. I just love that she took that time to herself and came back when she was ready to. I really respect her as an artist. She seems very confident in her style and her writing and is very much in control of her career. Kid Cudi raps a lot about his struggles coming up from Cleveland, how he chased his dreams and all the hardships he had along the way. This personal input into his art really motivates me and inspires me to know that none of us are alone in feeling what we feel.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Tell us about your sophomore release”Self”. This album of yours was voted one of Canada’s Top 15 Albums of 2012?
Ms. Stef Lang: “Self” was a gift to myself. I started working on that project after I had done three Canadian tours and had 3 singles on Canadian radio. While the more commercial sounding songs I had written were garnering all this attention, I still needed to make music that took me elsewhere. The album is very moody, I wrote all the songs, produced all the songs and I basically gave myself the permission to play around with whatever sounds I felt like playing with. It was my way of “freeing” myself from the expectations of commercial radio.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: With exceptional hard work you are credited with all your achievements. Do you believe that does the hand of Providence (Supreme Being) played a role in your success?
Ms. Stef Lang: Yes. All of it is because of Him. He gave me all my gifts. I choose to use them, pursue them but He made me the way that I am. When I make music, it’s not even really me…. its me tapping into the “creative source” some sort of “divine source” – ideas seem to come from thin air but I believe it’s all Him.
I’m just the vessel, He works through me. I pray through everything…. through good times, bad times, hard times, He always knows just what I need and I believe the journey He made for me is exactly where I’m supposed to be, even when I want to be elsewhere….I know He’s teaching me.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Stef Lang: I want to say thank you for taking the time to feature my interview. I appreciate the work that you do and I’m so happy to see a website that provides so much knowledge on health, fitness and well being. Please keep inspiring women to live well and to take great care of themselves. Thank you! – Stef
To know more about Stef Lang check her out at http://www.steflang.ca and https://www.facebook.com/steflangmusic.
Women Fitness Team thanks Stef Lang for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
To know the latest about Stef Lang. Check her out on Twitter @StefLang and on Instagram @StefLang88
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness