@steven_khalil

Talent: Elle Winter @ellewinter
Photography, Creative Direction, and Production by: Mike Ruiz
Editor-in-Chief: Dimitri Vorontsov
Stylist: Melvin Sanders @MelinStyles
Hair: Ana Estela @anaestelahair
Makeup: R Pro Makeup Artist @Rpromakeupartist
Retouching by Color Consulting Us Inc. @colorconsulting_us
Location: Los Angeles, California

Dress Michael Costello @michaelcostello

You took to music at a young age – what inspired your early interest in music?

My mom says I started singing and talking at the same time. I grew up singing karaoke over my favorite pop divas like Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. Music was always playing in our house with my parents blasting Motown and other favorite songs from the 60’s. I was fortunate to meet a band leader/musical director who took me under his wing at a very young age. We began writing and recording music together when I was 9 years old.  I realized early on I loved music and performing for live audiences.

Does your youth in NYC and your identity as a New Yorker influence your music?

Growing up in NYC definitely had a huge influence on who I am as an artist. I was exposed to endless creativity and talent and developed a true appreciation for the arts at such a young age.  Living in NYC also provided me with so many opportunities to develop my craft and meet people in the industry. I started my career by taking an acting class at age 7 that culminated in a showcase where I met my first manager. NYC gave me the platform to work on various projects, perform at venues in and around the city and eventually be cast in a number of roles.

Tell us about competing in “The Next Big Thing” program and your time touring and working with Radio Disney.

Being a part of Radio Disney’s The Next Big Thing program was such a formative experience for me and really catapulted my career. I had grown up watching Disney Channel and loved all the Disney music artists. Being chosen for Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing program at age 13 was so exciting for me. The program involved regular appearances on Disney Channel and having my original music featured on Radio Disney. The show included touring throughout the country with the other participants and visiting so many cities and meeting so many interesting people. For many years after the program ended, I continued to perform at concerts and events for Radio Disney.  The whole experience really showed me firsthand how my music could connect me with others and touch so many people.

You were signed to Sony Music’s The Orchard during your freshman year at UPENN – what inspired your path towards higher education in general and UPENN in particular? What were you studying? 

My academic studies have always been very important to me. I love to read, write and learn new things.  Having knowledge is very empowering. UPenn is a great fit for me academically, creatively, and personally. The school has a multidisciplinary curriculum that allows me to study a variety of subjects that I enjoy, such as communications, cinema, and history. It is a creative campus with many people engaged in the arts. The school is located in Philadelphia, only a quick train ride to NYC. I never wanted to choose between my studies and my career. UPENN has allowed me to continue to take courses online as I live in LA to pursue my music career. The school has been incredibly supportive of me.

@steven_khalil

You’ve called “Yeah, No.” your “empowerment anthem” – tell us more.

“Yeah, No” is my empowerment anthem because it’s about me setting the narrative for my own story and not letting anyone try to dictate how I feel. I wrote “Yeah No” in Nashville after a break up where my ex-boyfriend kept calling me to check in. I felt so frustrated by his behavior because he knew me well enough to know I would be just fine on my own.  This song was for him and all those ex-boyfriends out there to know that if they think our love is still theirs, “Yeah, No”, it’s not.

How did it feel to be named one of People Magazine’s Emerging Artists for 2021?

It was super exciting! I have always admired their curated selection of artists and it was an honor to be included.

Dress: Nu @Nuofficial

What story do you want to tell with your music? What do you love about music?

I want to tell the story of my life experiences in an honest and empowering way so that listeners can identify with them and realize they are not alone in what they are experiencing. I love that music is truly a universal language that allows connection with people all over the world. I have been fortunate to experience the power of music by the connections I have made with fans from a number of countries outside the United States.

Your music videos are quite glamorous and powerful – what are your visual and fashion Inspirations?

Thank you! I love all things colorful, glamorous and a bit retro for my fashion style. Bridgette Bardot, Peggy Lipton, Diana Ross and Nancy Sinatra, are some of my fashion inspirations. The same goes for visuals. I love things that not only capture the essence of my music, but also my own positive energy. I consider myself an optimistic person and want that type of energy to be reflected in my music videos.

Dress: Nu @Nuofficial

Who and what are your musical inspirations?

I’m super inspired by empowering female artists.  I grew up listening to Christina Aguilera, Avril Lavigne, Britney Spears, and Amy Whinehouse. I also listened to and was influenced by female artists from the 60’s such as Lesley Gore and girl groups like The Ronettes and The Supremes. I am so inspired by strong female artists, especially the women in the sixties who challenged social norms and were able to have agency and use their voices to express themselves.

What was it like collaborating with such a strong team on your new music, especially the legendary Jeff Barry?

It was amazing to be able to work with such talented people. I developed my new “Yes Please” EP with Grammy winning producer Kizzo (“We Are”) and Grammy winning songwriter and producer Autumn Rowe (“We Are”), who encouraged me to be true to myself and really express who I am through my music. Spending a lot of time with them both in and outside of the studio was a wonderful learning experience. I was also so fortunate to meet Jeff Barry.  We struck up an amazing friendship and he gave me such insight into the writing process.  He joined us in the studio on a number of occasions while I was working with Kizzo and Autumn. Jeff is certainly a legend and has worked with so many of the artists who have inspired me to create this new EP.

Head piece @aida.novosel
Jewelry @baroqco_official

What can you tell us about your upcoming music?

My upcoming EP has a real retro quality to it while telling my own stories of self-worth and empowerment. The songs on the EP incorporate a lot of elements of the music I grew up listening to; live instruments, rich harmonies, uplifting themes and concepts that truly reflect who I am, both lyrically and sonically.