Stefano Di Stefano is Italian outfit An Early Bird – and an artist Backseat Mafia has been following closely ever since we sprang into production way back in 2013. Stefano came into our view with a band called Pipers before setting off on a very successful solo career.
Stefano is the archetypal romantic troubadour of the highest degree, and while his work has always been beautiful, his new single ‘Fishes in the Ocean’ catapults him onto a whole new level. It’s a song that transfixes and mesmerises – one that floats and shimmers in the ethos.
The vocals recede in the mix, somewhat, compared to his previous work, in the face of gorgeous and lush instrumentation – a haunting piano refrain that tiptoes gently through the sonic landscape. For the most part, Stefano sings almost in a falsetto – a whole new approach – and this suits the songs perfectly.
The melodies are ascendant and imperial – creating an pulse-quickening rush and become ingrained indelibly into your psyche. The frail majesty of the song raises the hairs on the back of your neck. An absolute delight:
The song is out though An Early Bird’s new label Greywood Records in Berlin. Recorded, mixed and produced in Naples in August 2020 by Stefano Bruno, An Early Bird writes the songs, lyrics and plays all the instruments.
