Steve Lacy (guitarist)

Steve Thomas Lacy-Moya (born May 23, 1998), better known as Steve Lacy, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was born in Compton, California and gained recognition as a member of the Grammy-nominated R&B band The Internet in 2015.[5][6] In 2017, Lacy released his debut EP, a song-series,[2] titled Steve Lacy's Demo. His debut album, Apollo XXI, was released in May 2019.[7][8][9]

This article is about the musician born 1998. For the musician born 1934, see Steve Lacy (saxophonist).

Steve Lacy
Lacy in 2019
Background information
Birth nameSteve Thomas Lacy-Moya
Born (1998-05-23) May 23, 1998
Compton, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
Years active2013–present[1][2]
Labels
Associated acts

Early life

Steve Lacy was born on May 23, 1998, in Compton, California.[6] His mother, Valerie, is African-American and his father was Filipino.[10] Steve did not really know him and said that he only came around for special occasions, such as birthdays; he died when Steve was ten years old.[10][11][12] Steve attended private school for most of his childhood and has said that he grew up sheltered, a result of his mother wanting to shield himself and his sisters from the environment at the time in Compton.[12]

Career

Steve first gained an interest in the guitar at age seven through the video game Guitar Hero, but soon wanted to learn how to play on an actual guitar.[12] He met former band member of The Internet, Jameel Bruner, while in the jazz band at the high school they both attended.[2][10] Steve got his start producing by making beats on his iPhone, creating his first songs on the device, using a plug-in piece for his guitar, called an iRig.[13][14][15]

In 2013, he began producing on what would become The Internet's third studio album, Ego Death.[2] Contributing on the production of 8 tracks, Ego Death was nominated at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Urban Contemporary Album.[5]

Steve appeared on Matt Martians' The Drum Chord Theory and Syd's Fin after it was announced that The Internet members would release solo projects.[16] He also began producing songs for Twenty88, Denzel Curry, Isaiah Rashad, J. Cole, GoldLink, Kendrick Lamar, producing the song "Pride" on Kendrick's Grammy Award-winning album Damn,[17] and gaining two features on the 2019 Vampire Weekend album Father of the Bride.[5][18][19] On February 17, 2017, Steve Lacy's Demo was released, with Steve having created most of the song-series on his iPhone, producing the guitar and bass arrangements and singing his vocals right into its built-in microphone.[20][21] He also programmed the drum patterns in Ableton.[22][23]

In 2017, he co-wrote and produced Ravyn Lenae's entire EP Crush, which was released in February 2018.[24] After he and his Internet bandmates released solo projects in 2017, they worked on their 2018 follow-up, Hive Mind, released in July of that year.[25][26] Lacy went on to produce for Solange,[27][28] Kali Uchis, on her debut album, Isolation,[29][30][31][32] Mac Miller, on his 2018 album, Swimming,[33] and was featured on Dev Hynes' Blood Orange album, Negro Swan.[34][35][36][37]

Lacy revealed in 2018 that he produced for fellow Compton native, rapper YG, and that he was now using devices, other than his phone, to produce music.[11] In March 2019, Lacy was credited for producing on two tracks off of Solange's When I Get Home album.[38][39][40] He was also featured on the song and video for Vampire Weekend's "Sunflower" that same month.[41] In April, Steve released the debut single, "N Side", off of his debut album, Apollo XXI.[42][43][44] He announced the release date of Apollo XXI to be on May 24, 2019.[12][45][46] In the week of his album debut, he released two more singles, "Playground" and "Hate CD".[47][48][49] The album would later be nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, Lacy's first Grammy nomination as a solo artist.[50]

Artistry

In an interview with The Fader, Steve Lacy cited Thundercat, Erykah Badu, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Pharrell Williams and The Neptunes as some of his biggest influences, as well as mentioning Prince as his dream collaborator.[5] Makeda Sandford of Saint Heron described his sound as "an electrifying yet smooth... playful depiction of beachy funk, rock 'n roll-sprinkled soul."[13] Jonah Bromwich of Pitchfork said he "sparkles with classic Southern California funk and soul."[51] He has also stated that one of his biggest influences, in regard to production, is Mac Demarco.[52] Lacy has said that he is most comfortable writing about topics regarding love and dating, and describes his musical sound to be like the tartan fabric 'plaid'.[10][53]

Personal life

Steve identifies as bisexual, stating that although he was always attracted to women, he repressed his attraction to men, feeling that he was committing sin as a Christian.[10] After a male friend came on to/flirted with him on New Years 2017, he finally decided to embrace his bisexuality and is currently exploring his same-sex attraction.[10]

Discography

Albums

Extended plays (Song Series)

With The Internet
See also: The Internet (band) § Discography

Collaboration albums and EPs

With Ravyn Lenae

With Blood Orange

With Vampire Weekend

Awards and Nominations
See also: The Internet (band) § Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2018 Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. Best Rap Album (as Producer and Songwriter)[54][55][56] Won
2020 Apollo XXI Best Urban Contemporary Album [50] Nominated
gollark: They aren't Obama any more than a computer screen displaying bees is bees.
gollark: ... it does, that's how dreams work.
gollark: You can't be Obama, [ANTIMEMETIC BEES EXPUNGED] *and* Venus.
gollark: That doesn't make much sense. The lasers also created/caused (the impression of) [REDACTED], several cults, [ANTIMEMETIC BEES EXPUNGED], and Venus.
gollark: No, the hologram was a hallucination created by orbital mind control lasers.

References
  1. "EP 91: Steve Lacy Interview" (audio). Apple Music. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  2. Bromwich, Jonah. "Steve Lacy: Steve Lacy's Demo Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  3. "Some – Single by Steve Lacy on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  4. "C U Girl – Single by Steve Lacy on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  5. Musoni, Malcolm. "Steve Lacy Produced A Grammy Nominated Album, Now He's Ready To Graduate High School". The FADER. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  6. Monaé, Ashley. "Meet All Six Members of the Internet (Video)". Vibe. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  7. Bundy, Will. "Steve Lacy's Solo Debut, Steve Lacy's Demo, Is Here". The FADER. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  8. Price, Joe. "The Internet's Steve Lacy Shares New Song "Dark Red"". Pigeons & Planes. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  9. "Apollo XXI by Steve Lacy on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  10. Frank, Alex. "Men: Steve Lacy — FANTASTIC MAN". Fantastic Man. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  11. Andrews-Duve, Myles. "Steve Lacy: Predicting The Future". Carhartt WIP. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  12. White, Ryan. "Steve Lacy discusses his debut album, life and love – i-D". iD. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  13. Sandford, Makeda. "INTERVIEW: STEVE LACY IS THE WUNDERKIND CHALLENGING MUSICAL NORMS". Saint Heron. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  14. Leswing, Kif. "One of Kendrick Lamar's producers makes beats on his iPhone – but he has a problem with the iPhone 7". Business Insider. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  15. Pierce, David. "The Hot New Hip-Hop Producer Who Does Everything on His iPhone". WIRED. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  16. Strauss, Matthew. "The Internet's Syd and Matt Martians Announce Solo Albums | Pitchfork". Pitchfork.
  17. Pierce, David (April 14, 2017). "The Guy Who Produced Kendrick Lamar's Best New Track Did It All on His iPhone". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  18. Renshaw, David. "Vampire Weekend are working with Steve Lacy on their new album". FADER.
  19. Renshaw, David. "Watch Vampire Weekend debut a new song featuring Steve Lacy". FADER.
  20. "Steve Lacy: Steve Lacy's Demo Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
  21. Roberts, Randall. "California Sounds: Chuck Prophet honors Bobby Fuller; Steve Lacy goes "Dark Red"; Ty Segall sings a trippy ballad". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  22. Webster, McKenzii. "Steve Lacy's song series 'Steve Lacy's Demo' gives short but sweet vibes". Earmilk. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  23. Williams, Rhiannon. "Musician Steve Lacy releases EP recorded entirely on an iPhone". iNews. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  24. Rindner, Grant. "Ravyn Lenae's Steve Lacy-Produced EP 'Crush' Is Here". Pigeons and Planes.
  25. Daramola, Israel (May 30, 2018). "The Internet Detail New Album Hive Mind, Release "Come Over"". Spin. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  26. Kaye, Ben (May 31, 2018). "The Internet announce new album, Hive Mind, share "Come Over": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  27. St. Félix, Doreen. "Solange on New Music & Why She's 'Not Interested in Entertainment at This Moment'". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  28. Douze, Khalila. "Steve Lacy's Yellow Brick Road | SSENSE". SSENSE.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  29. Hussein, Wandera. "Here are the full album credits for Kali Uchis's Isolation". FADER. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  30. Darville, Jordan. "Kali Uchis shares 'Just A Stranger' video featuring Steve Lacy | The FADER". The FADER. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  31. Johnson, Zoe. "Kali Uchis' "Just A Stranger" Video: Watch Now". VIBE. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  32. Isolation (CD liner notes). Kali Uchis. Virgin Records. 2018.CS1 maint: others (link)
  33. "Mac Miller – Swimming Album Credits and Stream". iStandard Producers. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  34. "Blood Orange on Instagram: "Negro Swan Tracklist. August 24th."". August 11, 2018. Archived from the original on August 11, 2018.
  35. "Pigeons and Planes on Twitter: "The new Blood Orange album will feature ASAP Rocky, Steve Lacy, Puff Daddy, and more 👀". Twitter. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  36. "Puff Daddy, A$AP Rocky and more feature on Blood Orange's new album". Dazed. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  37. Torres, Eric. "Blood Orange's Dev Hynes Breaks Down Every Song on His New Album, Negro Swan | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  38. "When I Get Home / Solange". Tidal. March 1, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  39. Minsker, Evan (March 1, 2019). "Solange's New Album When I Get Home Full Credits: Panda Bear, Earl, Tyler, Gucci Mane, More". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  40. Arcand, Rob (March 1, 2019). "Solange's When I Get Home Credits Earl Sweatshirt, Panda Bear, Pharrell, More". Spin. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  41. "Vampire Weekend set release date for Father of the Bride, premiere two new songs: Stream". Consequence of Sound. March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  42. "Steve Lacy – N Side -Single". iTunes Store. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  43. Pierre, Alphonse. "The Internet's Steve Lacy Shares New Song "N Side": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  44. Gore, Sydney. "Steve Lacy Officially Reveals the Title of His Debut Solo Album". High Snobiety. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  45. Aubrey, Elizabeth. "The Internet's Steve Lacy shares details of a new solo album". NME. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  46. Renshaw, David. "Steve Lacy confirms upcoming solo album in i-D interview | The FADER". The FADER. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  47. Zidel, Alex. "Steve Lacy Hits The "Playground" For Another New Song". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  48. Darville, Jordan. "Steve Lacy enters his 'Prince phase' in new song "Playground"". FADER. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  49. Rettig, James. "Steve Lacy – "Hate CD"". Stereogum. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  50. Grammy.com, 22 November 2019
  51. Bromwich, Jonah. "Steve Lacy: Steve Lacy's Demo Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  52. "The Internet: Favorite Producers of All Time [S2 Ep. 4] – Beats1 (Apple Music)". Retrieved August 11, 2018 – via YouTube.
  53. Dwyer, Vincent. "There's a reason everybody loves Steve Lacy – Acclaim Magazine". Acclaim. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  54. Ganz, Jacob. "2018 Grammy Awards: The Full List Of Winners : The Two-Way : NPR". NPR. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  55. Chow, Andrew R. "Grammy 2018 Winners: Full List – The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  56. Atkinson, Katie. "Grammys 2018 Winners: List in Full | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
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