Happily After Ever

Craig Steven’s latest album, “Happily After Ever,” unfolds as a mesmerizing series of indie pop singles, each adorned with quirky and irresistibly catchy melodies reminiscent of the 70s era. Drawing inspiration from the vocal stylings of 70s singer Andy Kim, Craig openly acknowledged his artistic influences in a candid 2019 interview, stating, “I was trying to write this kinda candy pop sound that I heard in seventies cartoons… you know the ones where you rode around in a van solving mysteries but still played in a band… I dunno, I guess my ears just got trapped in that time. So I had bought my first U87 and Avalon Tube pre. I hooked it up all wrong, which led to me burning up the pre, but that’s another story. However, I got a great vocal sound out of the thing for a few weeks. I was shooting for that Archies Sugar Sugar sound and missed the mark by a mile… but somehow stumbled into my sound… ya know.”

While we’ve only been treated to a glimpse of this release, it promises to carry the sunshiny essence characteristic of the parent label, SunSlice Records. The album showcases a delightful fusion of musical elements, featuring swirling synths, vintage guitar tones, and an overall sense of joyous songwriting that makes it a truly uplifting listening experience.

Offering his take on the album, Jay Woods of the J-Turns from Presscore Int expressed, “We have only heard a few tracks from this release, but it promised to have the sunshiny sound of the parent label SunSlice Records. The musicality of swirling synths, vintage guitar tones, and just overall fun songwriting have made this a joyful listening experience.”