First off, What’s up with your name? Is there a story behind it?
Steve Conte. The story is, it’s basically what my parents named me, give or take a few letters.
Tell us about your musical past, would you tell us about your early years?
During my earliest years I heard classical & jazz in the house from my parents. But once I heard pop music on the radio in the 60s, especially The Beatles, Who, Small Faces, Hollies, Monkees, Buckinghams, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Sly & The Family Stone, Booker T & The MGs, etc. that melodious, pop-rock-soul became my focus.
How would you describe your sound?
Rock ’n’ Roll, Power Pop, Psychedelic, Hard Rock ’n Soul
Which artists have the biggest influence on your sound?
Beatles, Stones, Police, Pretenders, XTC, Small Faces, Free, Jeff Beck, Zeppelin, Who
What’s the last song you listened to?
Captain Beefheart – Sun Zoom Spark
What’s your source for hearing new music?
Word of mouth.
Who is your dream producer?
Todd Rundgren, Steve Lillywhite (I have worked w/ both), Hugh Padgham
If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be?
Andy Partridge (who I just collaborated with – so I’m living the dream!)
What led you to music, and what motivates you to keep making it?
My life would be incomplete without it. Since I was 10 years old I have ALWAYS had a song in my head. If that ever went away, I think I’d go mad. I have to keep writing, recording and releasing new music…if I ever stop it’ll be when I’m dead.
Tell us about the songwriting process. How does it all come together?
It’s always different. Sometimes it starts with a phrase or title, sometimes with a riff or a chord progression, a groove or a concept. And it’s got to be special, I don’t settle for cliches.
How do you connect with your audience? What is the easiest way for them to connect with you?
I play and sing my ass off on songs that I wrote and they know it’s something special that not everyone can do.
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Steve Conte – Wikipedia
What’s next for you?
Finishing the mixes on my new album now, due out in 2024.
Anything else you’d like to add or let us know about?
Check out my latest single and video – “Fourth Of July” – co-written by Andy Partridge of XTC.
Bio:
Raised in a musical family – Steve’s mother Rosemary Conte is a noted NY/NJ jazz singer – Steve wrote and recorded his first original music “album” in the family living room at age 11. He started spending time in New York City as a kid, his father bringing him to his first Madison Square Garden concert, by none other than Chuck Berry. Some years later, Conte found himself playing an entire show onstage in Berry’s band. His own music first gained notice when his band Company Of Wolves signed to Mercury Records, releasing a self-titled album on the label in 1990.
More recently he’s become known for his memorable guitar work as a member of New York Dolls, as well as former Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe’s band (with whom he still performs), Steve found international fame in recent years via his collaborations with Japanese composer and artist Yoko Kanno on the soundtracks to several hit anime series, including Cowboy Bebop. Over the years he’s also worked with Peter Wolf, Eric Burdon of The Animals, Willy DeVille, Billy Squier, Willie Nile, Maceo Parker, and even been Paul Simon’s tour rehearsal vocal stand-in.
His most exciting musical accomplishment of late is co-writing 1/2 of his forthcoming album on Little Steven Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records label with his songwriting hero, Andy Partridge of XTC.
