A dad and his daughters who like to dabble in singing, playing, writing and recording.

Guitarist for Opus Soul.
https://opussoulband.com/
Hi, my name is Stephan Lipinski, or other wise known as "Pinner". I am a jazz/rock/fusion guitarist from New Jersey. I began playing back in the sixth grade and was fortunate to study with Jazz Great Vic Juris while in high school (http://vicjurisjazz.com/). My biggest and most direct influences include Robben Ford (www.robbenford.com/) Vic Juris (http://vicjurisjazz.com) Scott Lerner (http://www.scottlernermusic.com/) and Chuck D'Aloia (http://chuckdaloiamusic.com/) I have played in everyting from jazz to rock bands, and latest project was an acoustic duo called Kosmik Kow. Even though I am not in formal group now, I can been found at local jam sessions and sitting in with some friend's bands. My current gear includes a Collings i35lc, Collings City Limits, SVL 61 Reserve, Suhr S1 and a Mark Jenny Reliced Telecaster into a Fuchs Overdrive Supreme Bassman Mod (with some additional mods by Scott Lerner) into a Glaswerks 2x12 with Celestion G12-65's.I am a big fan of Dumble style amplifiers lol. I use Curt Mangan strings on all my guitars.

I like doing a cover song from time to time. Vocals, guitar, bass, and drums provided by yours truly.

“This album nearly broke me,” recalls State of Illusion vocalist/guitarist Jacob Porter regarding the band’s newest release, Pluto’s Ghost. “I doubted myself nearly every step of the way. I couldn’t find band members. I suffered a crushing writer’s block for over a year. It made me feel like I wasn’t a good musician or songwriter. It felt like I had no purpose—like I should just give up. And, in the end, I think that’s what makes this album so special. State of Illusion persevered and I think you can feel every bit of frustration, every question, every doubt throughout this album. And I think you can feel that they were all overcome.”

Pluto’s Ghost catalogues State of Illusion’s journey to another world, much like the actual otherworldly audio provided by NASA found in every song, finding their unique identity along the way. While keeping the easily accessible rock core of what State of Illusion established on their previous effort, Aphelion, Pluto’s Ghost sees the band adding progressive elements, ethereal soundscapes, and doubling down on mood and emotion.

The record, self-produced by Jacob Porter and mixed and mastered by Nick Coyle (Cold/Lifer) and Brandon Hart (The HartBeat Studios), takes on a variety of challenging topics, such as self-worth, purpose, the crossroads life brings, striving to become a better person, starting over, and dealing with tragic loss.

With soaring-yet ethereal, simple-yet-complex radio-ready single “Starlight" to heavy-yet-melodic tracks, "Artificial Paradise" and "Wasted Life," to quiet moments, highlighted in the reflective "Home," Pluto’s Ghost promises to be a launching point for State of Illusion. 

Notable performances:
State of Illusion are honored to have toured with Cold and have shared the stage with: Staind (hand-selected by vocalist Aaron Lewis),  Chevelle, 10 Years, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Spiritbox, Shinedown, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch, Megadeath, Bush, Lamb of God, All That Remains, Pop Evil, Puddle of Mudd, Saliva, Fuel, Flaw, Smile Empty Soul, and many more.

Followers of David Klein