Interview: Steve Bridgmon
Nashville based Country artist Steve Bridgmon just released his single 'If You Believe It', taken from his latest album 'Push Back'. Louder Than The Music chatted with Steve to find out how he got started, how his music impacts listeners, and what success really means to him.
For those who haven't heard of you before, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in making music?
My career spans a full 20 plus years in Gospel and Christian music. I spent 15 years as the lead singer for a quartet before recording my first solo album in 2015.
Tell us about your new single 'If You Believe It' and what the inspiration behind it was?
I like to call myself a “late bloomer”. One of the biggest misconceptions about the music business is you’re going to get “discovered” or that someone will knock on your door and sign you to a record deal. Nothing is really further from the truth. This song speaks about no matter where you come from, or how old your are, you can achieve anything you want in life as long as you have the Faith to believe it.
The song is taken from your latest album 'Push Back', tell us a bit more about the album.
Jeff Bates produced the Push Back album and we released it less than a year ago. The songs are all so eclectic that we feel like most of the songs are singles. I love recording an album that every song is releasable to radio. The title song Push Back is about going against the grain when others say you don’t belong. I’ve experienced some of that in the Inspirational Country genre and community. I believe in breaking the mold in any situation where people think you need to fit into what man has carved out.
What message would you like people to take from your music?
Recently I had a young man come to me at an event and tell me that my music has influenced him. This is exactly why I do this. I recently had someone text me and let me know they were attending a funeral and during the slide show, the family had one of my songs playing. I want my music to comfort people in the good times and the bad.
How would you describe your style of music and what are your influences?
Wow. I guess you could describe my music style as Bryan White meets Rascal Flatts meets Zack Williams.. I hope that makes sense! My influences growing up were Michael W Smith/Steven Curtis Chapman/Clint Black
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
I’ve met and worked with a lot of songwriters where I live in Nashville. I think the one I’d love to work with would be Neil Thrasher. He’s written so many hits for Rascal Flatts and Reba. He just gets what a real ballad sounds like.
How would you define success in your career as an artist?
Hang in there with me on this one .. I’ve won awards, I’ve had #1s, I’ve stood center court twice and sang the national anthem at two Lakers games at The Staples Center... but is that the definition of successful? Maybe to some, but success to me is the moment you really know your music or your performance touched someone and made a difference in their day or something they’ve been going through. You can’t really put a goal on success because I’ve seen people never be happy with what they have in life. I recently opened for a very popular young country singer. Someone asked me how it felt to open for a 20 year old. My answer was “anyone could have done it, but he asked me, I’m grateful for the opportunity and the thoughts of ego never crossed my mind”
What is your favorite album of all time?
My favorite album of all time ... that’s a huge question.. but the one album I have always gone back to is Michael W Smith’s “Go West Young Man” album, it just resonated with me about being there for each other and really going for your goals.
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your phone. What track is it?
How ironic this question is, I’m literally on a plane from Dallas to Chicago and my phone is close to dying! One track I would listen to would have to be “Better Man” by Clint Black.
What does the next year hold for you?
It looks like things may take a turn for me musically as we go in a little more of a contemporary direction. We’ve been working on some things and throwing some ideas around. I have such an amazing group of people with my management team and my producer, it’s just a recipe for creativity. I am absolutely blessed.
