Who is Stephan Marcellus?
Music is food for the soul, and new artist Stephan Marcellus is an up and coming Master Chef. Born in Brooklyn New York in 1990, the singer songwriter grew up during the neo-soul movement listening to greats from Maxwell to Erykah Badu to D’Angelo. The likes of these artists as well as legends such as Nat King Cole and Bob Marley inspired him to keep those imaginary studio headphones to his ears and sing at school assemblies and programs, allowing him to flow into the evolutionary pool of alternative soul. That’s not to say that Marcellus’s musical inspirations didn’t vary across the genres. “Anything that makes me ‘feel’ is also Soul.”
The year 2014 saw the release of the rising star’s EP Puppeteer. “[Puppeteer] talks about acknowledging that you've been hurt but allowing yourself to let someone else teach you how to trust again and ultimately how to love". Marcellus is currently working on new music to be released in the fall of 2015, drawing from a desire to be honest with his listeners. “In writing and recording my music I found that although being vulnerable can be embarrassing or terrifying it can also be liberating and empowering.”
Raised in Englewood, New Jersey by Guyanese parents, they always stressed the importance of education but were very supportive of their creative son. After joining his high school choir, Marcellus quickly caught the attention of his peers, coming out of the shadows to shine on
stage. After graduating from Bowie State University in 2012 with a degree in child and adolescent studies, Stephan Marcellus continued to broaden the scope on his music career.
He is currently flourishing under the management of Shavree Washington and Steven Muhammad, who has worked with talents such as Kelly Price, Big Boy, Q from Day 26, and Janelle Monae. After taking a Master class with Ledisi, Marcellus had the honor of singing for the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the president of Bowie State University. His incredible voice has been showcased at the Fillmore for the DMV Brand Experience, and in 2014 he had the opportunity to open for Baltimore artist Mahogany Fame and Brave Williams. He’s also performed at the 2014 New York Oktober Fest and was the winner of the 2015 Gifted and Talented showcase in New York City.
Stephan Marcellus hopes to spread hope with his music. “The common theme in my work is hope…[My songs] start form a place of the realization of brokenness but each have a tint of hope, which I believe inspires the choice to believe that things can and will be better.” - Courtesy of SM/SW Management.