A talented solo artist from Newcastle, England, Steve Ather has been writing songs for the past five years, creating a layered indie sound that is shaped by elements of classic punk and modern alternative rock. While music has always been a passion for Steve, it’s only recently that he has been able to release his music to the world, sharing his first EP and a string of singles throughout 2023.
Stitched together from both studio and live recordings, Steve’s growing discography has already been earning him a steady following, along with a slew of accolades, including having five singles entering the top ten indie charts in the UK. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on one of his highest charting and most instantly captivating singles to date, the raucous and relentlessly entertaining ‘Queen Diva’.
A live recording that perfectly balances Steve’s passionate songwriting with raw, live energy, ‘Queen Diva’ is a classic indie rock anthem about the highs and lows of the music industry. Traversing the classic trails of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, the single is a massive single backed by a full band and plenty of grit.
Speaking with us about the live recording, Steve explained, “‘Queen Diva’ was written about the highs and lows of making it in the music industry, starting out at open mic nights and coming across some of the less savoury characters along the way. It's got a full band behind it, and was recorded live by our lead guitarist Sunny, after hearing the finished product, we had to use that audio as it sounded great!”
Influences by some classic alt-rock titans like Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, The Foo Fighters, The Verve, along with many of his childhood bands, Steve’s sound is steeped in emotion and personal experiences, capturing an iconic sound that he effortlessly twists into his own creative. Built to be felt, it’s a sound that hits in an instant.
Speaking about his music, Steve continued, “I unfortunately experienced a lot of mental health problems in my life that nearly killed me, but I came back fighting fit, and all of my releases tell my story. I grew up with a guitar in my hand, writing the pain away with it.”
Connect with Steve Ather,
