Stephen Lerby Folkes, a Leytonstone, London artist, is an emerging singer, songwriter, sound engineer, and producer who began his musical journey at the age of 11, when he performed brilliantly and didn’t fail to impress his audience at school. At age 13, he already began writing his own songs and perfecting his skills under the guidance of a former UB40 backing singer and piano teacher, Claude Alexander. His journey is shaped by his resilience and determination to rise above the challenges the world throws at him. Being raised as an individual with special needs, Stephen encountered and overcame significant struggles, which included a life-altering hospitalization at the age of five. This became the fundamental experience that shaped his background and creativity.
With a focus on turning this unique story into art, Stephen Lerby channels his experiences and emotions into creating an innovative sound that defies genre by incorporating genres such as soft rock, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Pop, Disco, Dance, Trance, and Metal into his art. Today, Stephan is a seasoned Performer, Sound engineer, and Producer, collaborating with industryveterans such as Nick Michaels of the band Bethnal and Producer Phil Curran.
Stephan Lerby Folkes is inspired by his cousin, acclaimed UK artist Deyaz, and Legends like Prince, George Michael, Stevie Wonder, Bee Gees, and Michael Jackson, as well as contemporary influences like Billie Eilish. Stephan’s latest track, “It’s None of Your Business,” is his new genre-blending electronic-hiphop-infused track that feels refreshingly unique not only for its rich and layered electronic texture but also for its exciting elements that keep the atmosphere vibrant and revitalizing.
“It’s None of Your Business” is a bonus track from his acclaimed album “Hazard Era,” which was released on October 15, 2025. This unapologetic track begins with a distorted electronic synth, accompanied by the percussion; Stephan straight away enters singing the line “it’s none of your business” repeatedly. In an era where overprocessed vocals have become the norm, Stephan delivers this track like no other; with his powerful, raw, and gritty voice, he ignores conventional and modern vocal execution patterns; instead, he keeps his vocals authentic in reminiscence of hip-hop tracks from back in the day. Stephan’s vocal performance is significantly complemented by the head-bopping boom-bap beat and the ad-libs, which, when combined, create a rich musical soundscape.
Instrumentally, the boombap hip-hop-infused beat is the heartbeat of the track, and it is carefully blended with the electronic element to create that sense of anticipation in the atmosphere. The combined elements create this head-bopping and cosmic experience for the listener as it blends seamlessly with Stephan’s vocals without overshadowing or taking away its presence. The production quality is satisfactory and should be applauded, as it was made sure that the mix was harmonious throughout.
“Born into unequal circumstances and shaped by hardship, Stephan Lerby Folkes turns resilience into sound, proving that perseverance can rise louder than any limitation.”
Dulaxi
In “It’s None of Your Business,” Stephan covers themes like resilience, perseverance, personal boundaries, self-assertion, and the harsh reality of life. This track stands as a reference point to motivate listeners, that regardless of what you go through in life, whether it’s injustice, cruelty, or being born into unequal circumstances or disadvantage. Stephan urges listeners to persevere in dark times and rise to the light. “It’s None of Your Business” is birthed from Stephan’s previous experiences and circumstances as he overcame the harsh reality of life fated to him, and with determination in his heart, Stefan rose above all his battles to remain victorious. Don’t wait any longer; grab your headphones and dive right into his raw story and energy, and remember, if Stefan can do it, so can you.
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