Stella Prince is an independant Nashville based Americana singer songwriter
Born and raised in Woodstock, NY, Stella is the only child of creative parents (a painter/photographer and a writer). She was immersed in music from an early age thanks to her parents’ extensive all-genre CD collection and her frequent attendance at concerts where she first encountered artists like Levon Helm, Amy Helm, Pete Seeger, Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Tracy Bonham, and Natalie Merchant.
Growing up, Stella was also heavily influenced by pop and oldies music; she has always known that she wanted to be a performer for as long as she can remember. She began taking voice lessons at the age of four, piano lessons at the age of six, guitar lessons at the age of nine, and she wrote her first song at the age of ten. From the age of 12 to 14, she hosted her own 1930s–1940s oldies radio show.
Stella graduated highschool at age 15 (during the beginning of the pandemic in 2020) and earned her two-year associates degree—with a focus on music—at age 16. She says in an interview with Stereotype Co, “I think the pandemic actually pushed me positively to focus entirely on my career, and nothing else but my career.”
In 2021, she began to release music and play live, travel to Nashville and Los Angeles, gain representation in the music industry, and book her own performances. Stella released four singles in 2021: “The Rain Might Fall,” “Scared,” “Before You Leave,” and “Alone for the Holidays.”
2022 was a groundbreaking year for Stella with her first international run in the UK and an 18-city tour of the Southwest. Her first single that went to radio, “Crying on a Saturday Night,” charted on the Americana Singles Chart, was played on over sixty radio stations internationally, and was the most added song on folk radio in March. The follow up single “Eighteen” was released that July—debuting on the Folk Alliance International Charts at #46 on the Alternative Country Charts.
Stella’s song “Closing Doors,” produced by famed Professor Louie [The Band] was released November 2022 and debuted at #15 on NACC. Her music video for the song was released May 2023 and has received over 118,000 views on YouTube alone, and gained support from well-known outlets including CMT, Ditty TV, Heartland, The Country Network, and Discover Music Videos. Professor Louie wrote in Mix Magazine, “Stella has a voice and sensibility well beyond her years, and can draw listeners in with her vulnerable lyrics and captivating vocals.”
In February 2023, Stella was awarded a First Timers Scholarship at Folk Alliance and performed in six different private showcases between Feb 1-3. She has been performing around Nashville since her recent move there and is currently booking later summer and fall tours.
Over the past few years, Stella Prince has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues and events, such as London’s The Bedford and Spice of Life, New York’s Bitter End and Arlene’s Grocery, Nashville’s famed Bluebird Cafe and The Basement, Pig N’ Whistle and Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, Woodstock’s The Colony, The Falcon (NY), the Greenwich Village Folk Festival, Folk Alliance, among others.
Stella’s music has been highly acclaimed and featured in outlets like Guitar Girl Magazine, Mix Magazine, Americana Highways, Music City Magazine, Americana UK, Music Mecca, Word 4 A Third, Think Country Press, NYS Music, Nashville Entertainment Weekly, WMOT Roots Radio’s Finally Friday, Mostly Folk, Essentially Pop, SA Examiner, A & R Factory Blog, MRowNetworks, Pop Culturalist, Stage Right Secrets, Vents Magazine, Nashvegas.com, Blaire Magazine, Girls Life Magazine, Country Music Views, Teen Look, Ensure Magazine, New Scene Magazine, Launch TV, Scenes Media, Music Crowns, BuzzMusic, Medium, Authority Magazine, The Devon O’Day Show, Cowgirl Magazine, and more.
Stella is thrilled to continue to release music into 2023 with her 8th single, “Two Faced,” featuring Steve FIshell on steel guitar, independently released on August 4.
For this newest single, Stella had the pleasure of working with Steve Fishell, a Nashville-based pedal steel guitarist, Grammy-winning record producer, and educator [Dolly Parton, John Prine, Mavis Staples, Emmylou Harris]. “No one sings like Stella Prince,” says Fishell. “I was transported the first time I heard her and I bet you will be too.” Emotionally moving from the start, accentuated by Fishell’s pedal steel, with the harrowing opening lines, “You got her right where you wanted… Lonely enough so she’d take the bait… Blinded by words that were only an empty promise… Desperation paves way for mistakes.” The heart of the song is in the chorus: ‘There’s all kinds of empty… but the hardest one to take… is lies that seem tempting… Loneliness is two faced.’ Stella says, “My big goal is for someone to play my song and think, ‘That’s exactly how I feel…’ I want my songs to resonate with everyone, every generation, every issue: loneliness, fear, all of that.”
Self produced, “Two Faced” was recorded at the legendary Sound Stage Studios on Music Row in Nashville ([Est. 1970. Johnny Cash, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Buddy Guy] with Sound Engineer Kameron Luchterhand [Carrie Underwood, Devon Allman, Luke Combs]. Stella says, “It was an amazing experience—my first time ever recording with a full band. Actually this song specifically is the first ever song I recorded with more than just me. It was wild and incredible.” Joining her at SoundStage, along with Fishell, for the “live recording” feel are Nashville players: Ben Garrett (keys, guitar), PJ Schreiner (drums), Mike Dunton (electric guitar), and Father Phillip.
Featured on episode 15 of Discover Her Music Podcast
Song: Two Faced
