CMA Fest Artist Spotlight: Stephen Schriner

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Conversations with Missy: Stephen Schriner

Our next CMA Fest Artist Spotlight has become a very good friend to me and Center Stage Magazine. Stephen Schriner is the kind of artist that I am drawn to. His boyish good looks have no doubt caught the attention of many female fans, though it is his talent and warm personality that keeps them coming for more.

When you discover that there is so much more in the world that just good music and living your dreams for yourself, you become more aware of the world around you and those who are in it with you. Like many of the artists we speak to, Schriner has displayed that he has a huge heart and genuinely cares about his fans, family and friends. I am so proud of all this man has accomplished thus far and cannot wait to see what he has coming up.

Getting to steal him for a conversation backstage at Alley Taps was an exciting moment for me. Up until this point we had only communicated through phone and messaging. I am so proud to call this man my friend. We had fun during our conversation and I look forward to having many more. In case you have not made yourself familiar with this extraordinary talent, read his bio below (taken from his Facebook page) for more information on him.

“Born and raised on the outskirts of Philadelphia in a town called Boothwyn PA, country music recording artist Stephen Schriner is on his way to becoming one of the top new country music acts in the industry. Previous front man for the National touring pop-rock group First Things First, this is definitely not his first "rodeo." Whether it’s performing, writing, or producing music, one thing is for sure; music is his passion. Not to mention, he's pretty darn good at it too.

Stephen picked up the bass guitar at 12 years old and started teaching himself the basics. Wanting to be in the limelight, he started a band with his best friends covering Led Zeppelin and ACDC songs. As Stephen got older, his passion for music grew. He took what he had learned from playing the bass and picked up the guitar. He recorded his first EP as a solo artist in 2008, entitled, Reach for Your Dreams. The release of this EP was just the start. A few years later he was off to Orlando FL to record, The Brighter Side, an EP released by his pop-rock band, First Things First. After constant touring, promotion, and attempts at writing more "pop-rock," Stephen found his true calling; country music. Growing up, his Grandfather unknowingly influenced him while listening to artists like, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and George Jones.

After releasing his first country cover of Luke Bryan’s Rollercoaster in the summer of 2014, Stephen decided to follow his love for country music and go out on a limb and take a chance. As it turns out, the short 15-second video-clip was extremely popular with his fans and Stephen began to post video after video receiving nothing but great feedback. Since then, Stephen has been working hard to build up his social media presence. He now has tens of thousands of fans, which is rapidly increasing by the day. His fan-base stretches “worldwide” giving him a huge jump on the growing country music industry.

In February of 2016, Stephen released his debut single, “Mix it up.” It charted #6 on the iTunes new country release chart and his fans love it. Stephen also has his debut EP in the works and says, “Nothing will get in my way from making it to the top.” Stephen is passionate about his music and will never give up on reaching his dreams.”

Please follow Schriner on social media now. Check out his website and get ready for a Wild Ride which is his new release due out on July 1, 2016. I am so excited and cannot wait for you all to be a part of this incredible journey that he is on. ~Missy