Stevie D Interview with Tejano Nation
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Award-winning and charismatic Tejano vocalist Stevie D released his latest single on Freddie Records, “Adónde Me Llevas.” The track from his upcoming fourth album features the lovelorn lyrics and passionate vocals for which the talented artist is known, accompanied by his signature high-quality musical production.
However, the song’s meaning changes drastically once you’ve learned the major struggle that Stevie D has battled for more than a year, and which he’ll likely face for the rest of his life, according to singer in an exclusive interview with Tejano Nation
“Another part of the reason why it took me so long for this fourth album was because I kind of met a little bit of a battle with an illness, and it kind of knocked me out with a lot of depression and mental illness, which is a real, real thing,” Stevie D said. “And, you don’t know it, until it hits you.”
Stevie D has traveled an unorthodox and even, painful, path to his current success in the Tejano music industry, leaving music for more than a decade before his return in 2017.
Stevie D Leaves Music Behind
“It didn’t pay,” Stevie D said, about why he left music. “So, I would not get paid and… they were trying to pay me with things other than money. I went through a repo, I lost a very, very nice vehicle, just a bunch of stuff happened.”
At the time he left the scene, Stevie D had joined with Joe Lopez Y La Nueva Imagen Mazz after the hugely popular and successful Grupo Mazz split. Eventually, Stevie D earned his place as back-up vocalist.
Stevie D remembers the date, even that the weather was rainy, on that significant day of July 4, 2003, when he finally removed himself from the music industry after several “detrimental” events had occurred. “I had had enough,” he said. “It was Fourth of July. We played with David Lee Garza on the island. It rained. We had maybe about 60 people there.”
The next morning, he drove away over the causeway connecting Port Isabel to South Padre Island and swore he was done with music forever. “I vowed never to do it again,” he said.
Despite the disappointment and heartache he may have felt at the time, Stevie D looks at the situation now as part of his unique journey. “But in the end, the man upstairs has a plan, and it’s never the way we want it to be,” he said. “It’s always the way he wants it to be.”
He admits that, at the time, he was likely not prepared for stardom or the role of a solo artist.
Stevie D then moved to Austin and worked as a financial commodities broker until another fateful day of which he also remembers the exact date: October 13, 2017. This is when he resigned from his longtime position in the finance industry and did what he said he’d never do. He returned to the music world.
A Return To Music as Solo Artist
Throughout his time away from music, Stevie D had several opportunities that called him back to music, including a reunion of La Nueva Imagen Mazz and other projects, yet he stayed away until the time felt right for him. The experience was not easy. “I guess the best way I could describe it is lonely,” he said. “I didn’t know I missed it so much.”
Once he broke the news to his wife, Stevie D then began preparations for his musical comeback. First, he contacted his longtime friend, Brando Mireles, a longtime member of Mazz, who told Stevie D: “Let’s do it. It’s your turn. It’s time.”
Stevie D’s comeback single, “Como Fue,” hit radio with the help of Austin radio host and Tejano voice-over legend, Joe Morales. “One thing led to the next, and before I knew it, I had five songs on the radio,” he said. “So I had to release an album. So, my first album had five good, solid hits.”
His debut solo album, “De Repente,” was then followed by “Ahora Sigo Yo.” In 2018, Stevie D won “Best New Male Artist” at the Tejano Music Awards, which would be followed in 2020 by “Song of the Year,” for “Ahora Sigo Yo,” and “Video of the Year,” for “El Primer Tonto.” In 2021, Stevie D was named “Male Vocalist of the Year.”
Joining Legendary Record Label
He signed with Freddie Records in 2020 just before the COVID pandemic hit. For this reason and his battle with depression, Stevie D has faced delays in releasing his fourth album. However, Stevie D said he is focused and motivated for the challenges that lay ahead. “I’m very focused and very in tune to what I want to do next,” he said.
Among those priorities is to add more tour dates to his calendar.
Mental Health Awareness With Latest Single
Stevie D plans to write about his difficult struggle with depression and mental health issues, and his latest single release, “Adonde Me Llevas,” already does that in a way. “The song is more than what it seems to be,” he said. “‘Adonde Me Llevas’ on the surface it’s very easy to understand…It was me asking my heart, ‘What am I going to do?’ For a minute there, for about a year, I thought I was done.”
He describes the experience of traveling to Corpus Christi to meet with the head of Freddie Records, Freddie Martinez, to explain his situation, and discuss the incorporation of his struggles into his music.
“It needs to be released, because that’s my form of communication to the masses,” he said. “I could make a post and talk about the Dallas Cowboys and how they lose every year. I can use my platform for that. Or I could use my platform to get messages across and try to better somebody, and try to better myself, first. Because if you can’t help yourself, you can’t help anybody else.”
Stevie D — Adonde Me Llevas (Official Vide)
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Watch the interview for the complete story, some emotional moments, and lots of laughs.
Stevie D did want to recognize his band, The All-Star Cast, who have been submitted as nominees for the Texas Country Music Awards this fall. They include: Bobby Dominguez, Aaron Holler, Mario Ortiz, and himself. Nominees will be announced July 1, 2024, online voting begins that day.
Follow Stevie D on Facebook at Stevie D and The All Star Cast.
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