qualified silly billy (youtube Billy Smile for some more kick ass toons)

I have been active as a producer and musician in London (UK) for over a decade. During those years I have steadily honed my skills playing, performing and producing a wide variety of music from post-punk to ambient electronica to folk. In my production work I uphold that same ethos of being open-minded to all music and blending different styles in new and exciting ways.

Stylusboy, Coventry singer-songwriter Steve Jones, creates indie folk music steeped in warm-hearted melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Influenced by cult contemporary songwriters like Anais Mitchell and John Smith as well as classic performers such as Nick Drake and Elliot Smith. Stylusboy’s songs have been described as ‘absolutely brilliant' by BBC Radio 2’s Justine Greene and Coventry Music Historian Pete Chambers said 'you just have to stop, put everything down and listen'. 

Since the release of his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Hospitality for Hope’, Stylusboy has continued to drive his songwriting and creativity with the release of several Eps, a second studio album as well as a live album recorded in a manor house deep in the Derbyshire countryside. Steve’s Fine Art background inspires the fact that all of his releases have unique handmade sleeves lovingly made by Steve himself, all part of the Stylusboy ‘handmade indie folk’ style.

Stylusboy’s sound of ‘arresting melodies and poignant lyrics’ (Right Chord Music) has received praise and accolades from the likes of Acoustic Magazine, R2 Magazine, For Folks Sake, God is in the TV as well as BBC Introducing, 6Music, Xfm and Amazing Radio. Champion of independent music, Tom Robinson from BBC 6 Music, has described Stylusboy as:

“A leading light among today’s new generation of DIY digital troubadours”

Whilst cult website God is in the TV said:

“A sound that continues to explore and advance the relationship between more traditional folk and popular music.”

Performing all over the UK including sell-out shows at Green Note in London and Warwick Arts Centre in his home city of Coventry, Stylusboy is an enchanting live performer. He has supported the likes of John Smith, Newton Faulkner, Danny and the Champions of the World, Grant-Lee Philipps, Megson and Lucy Ward. As befitting a modern-day troubadour he’s performed one-to-one shows for Emily Barker’s Folk in a Box and BBC Coventry and Warwickshire’s All the Wrong Music in all the Right Places as well as pioneering online gigs (well before Facebook live was a thing) to audiences all around the world and has played numerous house gigs. Stylusboy has shared his intimate folk music at festivals such as the BBC Introducing Stage at Wychwood Festival, Warwick Folk Festival, Mosley Folk Festival and Greenbelt Festival. The lead track from his second release Whole Picture EP became a number 1 in Indonesia with the EP later becoming ‘EP of the Year’ on music blog ‘This is a Popscene’.

In January 2020 Steve was part of Tedx Coventry, opening the event with two of his songs and sharing some thoughts around holding on to hope in difficult times. Through Coventry City of Culture 2021 Steve has worked on a number of projects. He was commissioned to write a micro song about Article 25 from the Universal Human Rights through the Humans of Cov Project, his piece went on to be used in the national Fly the Flag project, ran by Amnesty International, Tate Modern and the National Theatre. Reform the Norm - The Story of Us, a project working with marginalised individuals, invited Steve to work on a song with one of the participants about her experiences of mental health. The Cov Culture Show Windows Project commissioned Steve to create a song inspired by of the artworks on display, which was then shared through the Smartify virtual tour app.

Most recently, Steve has been selected a one of the Community Connectors for Coventry City of Culture 2021 where he will be working with the charity Good Neighbours who support lonely and isolated over 50s. Steve will be visiting some of these people and will create a collection of songs based on their stories which will then be shared at an event where people can gather and enjoy the joy of community and music.

Music Producer | Credits: Fuse ODG, Wyclef Jean, The Kemist, Cadet, Tiwa Savage.

Enquiries: info@rgenmusic.co.uk

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