Detroit-bred and Nashville-based singer-songwriter Danny Stevens is finally making his triumphant return with the debut solo LP Better Than You Left Me. Stevens initially cut his teeth on the indie circuit as the frontman for the seminal pop-rock outfit The Audition — releasing four critically-acclaimed albums, touring the world, and sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in alternative music.
Following the disbandment of The Audition, Stevens returned to his roots and began writing the music he had always wanted to create, which references everything from classic Motown soul music and country — to Americana and folk. While combining these traditional influences together, Stevens also pushes his sound into the modern world by injecting the perfect dose of pop accessibility coupled with tender and vulnerable lyrics that feel both timeless and universally relevant to any listener. “I wanted to make a record that sounds like it’s for everybody, and I think we accomplished that,” Stevens says confidently.
With an arsenal of songs under his belt, Stevens enlisted the help of prominent Nashville hitmaker and producer Sammy Mitchell (Luke Combs) to lay down the tracks that ultimately became Better Than You Left Me. The result is a hook-laden release that showcases Stevens' powerful vocal prowess, a knack for ear-worm melodies, fearless lyricism, and exceptional instrumentation. “Everything about this [album] has been such a natural progression. I learned to trust myself as a songwriter in this process, and once I did, the floodgates really began to open up,” Stevens reflects.
— Alessandro DeCaro