They took over the bathroom!

They all picked spots to try and blend in!

Made some phenomenal sloppy joes w/ some old bay curly fries!

Home sweet home!

Help me write a Song

I am writing a song for the HELLthiERs and I want YOUR help in creating it!

I am only taking lyric suggestions, beat suggestions, and overall composition suggestion if you are a part of the HELLthiERs though. So make sure you join my Facebook group at http://on.fb.me/SH-Fit and submit any suggestions there.

Mr. HELLthiER

Get fit with the HELLthiERs!

I have been a big fan of the 'Biggest Loser', the inspiration that the show gives to the "contestants" is not just about losing weight but is also about what in their lives they may need to change or face to help them move forward.

Personally, I have always had an issue going to the gym, the motivation to get there being the biggest deterrent. Just recently I have found "energy" to get myself there on a regular basis. I feel like that is a big issue for a lot of people. So I am starting a support group, where everyday we note what we have accomplished working out but also with eating healthy.

You can join the group on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/SH-Fit and if you want to help a greater cause you can join me Team, the HELLthiERs at http://www.pfpchallenge.com/Teams/default.aspx to pledge a pound of food for every pound you shed!

Nothing like 2 great motivators!

I'll also be releasing a song just for this so those involved can always have something there to help motivate them. Plus, those that join the group will receive some additional FREE songs.

I hope we can make atleast one person HELLthiER!

Much Love,
Stephen

Is she playing dead or exercising!?!

The kids got an early x-mas present!

Sleepy time at the Hellers!

R. Kelly's target practice...classic!

It looks like my niece is driving my sister around!

Mr. Heller...haha!

My Dad's now infamous cream of crab soup!

This is what happens when you fall asleep early at the Heller's house!

This is Marley the dog I'm watching!

Waiting in line for the faucet!

Drummer is getting a piggy back ride!

My producer Treble taking a break!

Miss Savannah passed out on me...prepping for Thanksgiving!

Enjoying this beautiful day!

My niece stopped by to drop off some packaged goods!

Wake up...lay?!

Miss Lyric going crazy!

Goodnight all you beautiful people!

Looking dapper! Thanks for helping me with that word, lol! http://bit.ly/SH-DL

A soldier's daughter!

Time passes fast!

Over the past 2 months I have moved, always fun (complete sarcasm), I have been helping friends/family move, had an addition to the family (my niece Alexia Bella), and started a business venture!

Here is my niece, oh yeah and God-daughter!!!, in the NICU. I am going to write about that in a whole other blog post so make sure you subscribe to my blog for all updates!

She is too damn cute!!!

Happy 2 months Alexia!

Love,
Stephen

When "Baby Making" is like the NHL!

Over the last few years I have had people ask me if I ever grew out my beard and I always said "No, it gets to a point and just starts itching and I can't stand it." Well, recently my girl ask me to grow it out because "she thinks I look more like a man!"

I said "no" but then I thought maybe if there was a reason for me to grow it out she could get what she wanted and there would be a purpose for me! Since my sister was in the process of having a child I decided to grow my beard until Alexia was born! Same thing they do in the playoffs of the NHL, lol!

Here is when I started to grow my beard 8/15/2010!

In this pic (8/25/10) I cheated a little bit and trimmed my beard because it was bothering me!

This picture was taken 9/2/10.

This picture was actually taken 9/30/10 even though Alexia was born 9/9/10 I have another blog being posted about the reasons why so, subscribe to my BLOG updates and check back!

Much Love,
Stephen

Can you tell what's going on here!?

We are Expanding!

For those who love music and want to be a part of the entertainment business!

We have been in the process of putting together a band, right now we currently have a drummer and we are auditioning bassists, lead guitarists, and keyboard players. Send me an email, management@myhellermusic.com, if you are interested or forward to someone that you know who maybe interested!

We are also in the process of starting our own entertainment business, Heller Ent., and we are currently looking for interns for 4 positions. The general job descriptions are below and the positions will eventually be paid positions! Send me an email if you are interested in any of these, management@myhellermusic.com.

Booking Manager: this position entails calling venues we have worked with and new venues to set up shows for our clients with a few additional duties.

Marketing Director: help in developing a marketing plan, be able to write and deliver press releases to appropriate media as well as help w/ direct promotions

Media Design Director: this position takes on the part of photographer, videographer, graphic design, and website designer. The MDD can work with the street team to fill all needed rolls.

Social Media/Street Team Leader: this position will oversee the street team and present a monthly contest. They will also be in charge of making sure the day to day tasks are taken care of online.

Much Love,
Stephen
http://StephenHellerMusic.com

A week late but here is my costume. Thanks Carrie!

We were rehearsing for 'Drumline 2'

My Drummer being Interviewed!

This is the drummer in my band, Margaret Smith lol, being interviewed at the Ravens stadium.

The Good Ol' Days

Back when baseball was still enjoyable!

Football's anthem!

You can check out my song 'For My City' being featured as the Football anthem in various venues of the DMV by various DJs!

Whether you are watching the Skins or the Ravens make sure YOU listen for it and you can grab your own copy in the STORE section, http://stephenhellermusic.com/store.cfm, of my site!

I appreciate everyone's support this wouldn't have happened without you!

Much love,
Stephen

When are YOU too Old!?!

Here is a great article I came across about being too old to make it in the music industry! Never give up on YOUR dreams.


Are You Too Old to Make It?

by Scott James on June 28, 2010

Most musicians I know hold a dream to someday ‘make it’ in the music business. To play in front of huge crowds and live a lifestyle that they can only imagine. Many of us believe that we’ll someday get there. Unfortunately most of us find ourselves growing older with an ever increasing fear that we’re missing the boat.

We’re conditioned to believe that if we’re going to make it then we have to do it at a young age. I had already started to have this feeling when I was in my early 20′s. I felt like I was slacking because I hadn’t ‘made it’ yet.

So how old is too old? Well, I think what we need to look at is the fundamental equation the whole business boils down to. It’s a value exchange between the audience and the artist. The audience pays money for the value they get from the artist. So ask yourself: how old would a performer have to be before you stopped receiving value from them? Would you not pay for a great artist who was 65 years old? I would. One of the best performances I’ve ever seen was a rock and roll band of men who were all in their 80′s!

So if people are willing to pay for good music then what’s standing in your way?

I saw an artist last night who didn’t mention her name once. There were no visual cues to let me know who she was. She never mentioned anything about CDs or merch for sale. No website. No mailing list. Nothing. When the show was over, she walked off the stage and into the dressing room.

It’s easy to look at her and see what she did wrong. What’s more difficult to see is that to one degree or another, most of us are making similar mistakes. A lot of musicians fall into the trap of thinking that either they’re going to be ‘discovered’ or nothing is going to happen at all, so there’s no real need or urgency to actually do the right things to grow an audience and a career.

So I urge you, instead of having your head in the imaginary future all the time, to take an honest look at where you are now. You have positive things going for you right now. It’s time you capitalize on those things and make the most of what you’ve got in front of you. Success is created in the present, not the future. You may never get to play Wembley Stadium or sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, but you can absolutely have more and more fans coming to your shows. You can have a room full of people screaming your name. It may not be a 60,000 seat venue, but believe me, it will feel good.

What you need to do is let go of the belief that someday someone is going to make it easy for you and instead take 100% responsibility for your career. Have CDs and merch for sale and take responsibility for learning how to sell them. Have a mailing list and learn how to get people on it and how to use it. Take responsibility for letting people know who you are and how they can stay connected to you. Good things will happen in the real world when you step up to the plate, and believe me it will feel even better than when they happen in your imagination, no matter how old you are.

Article by Scott James of The Independent Rockstar Blog.

Read more: Are You Too Old to Make It? — Echoes - Insight for Independent Artists http://blog.discmakers.com/2010/06/are-you-too-old-to-make-it/#ixzz0yJw4wuZw

'For My City' just RELEASED!

I just RELEASED the single 'For My City', a song with a sound you have never heard from me before!

This song was ultimate culmination of what brought me and Subwolfaa, from Green Room Studios, together. It has the signature guitar in there but also has that straight pop-anthem beat. The song is possibly going to be played in an arena and stadium in the area! We are still in talks but not enough information to go further in-depth on that.

You can pick up 'For My City' RIGHT HERE where you name YOUR own PRICE!

You can also check out the lyrics and meaning behind the song on my BLOG post HERE!

Much Love,
Stephen

Stephen Heller is Building Bridges by Serf

A couple of years back we did an interview with Indie pop artist Stephen Heller who proved to be as much a business man as a musician. We gravitated to this young artist because we quickly recognized his passion for the job in every way. Reading BandChi! interviews there's no way to escape the fact that our underlying theme is, 'what makes Indie Artists successful'.

While five thousand new artists have become casualties over the past two years (probably a lot more), Stephen Heller has kept his mind on business and continued to move his agenda forward. His most recent work, Burning Bridges, is set to release August 31st. Singles are being released weekly in a strategic effort to drive awareness for the full release. Another great marketing tool employed by a smart Independent musician.

He gets up early and stays up late promoting and contacting fans. He earned the title "Man for His Fans" while recording at Green Room Studios, Waldorf, Maryland. Back in the summer of 2008 Stephen set out on an aggressive East Coast Tour. He had a handful of songs and a strong acoustic show that he booked in strategic locations up and down the coast. We put him up for a couple of days on his pass through Florida. If he didn't have a show booked, he worked all day to find one. On a couple of occasions he even played open mics in the area to continue building his exposure. We witnessed first hand how aggressive this guy really is and how he genuinely works for a living.

Any artist that has done a self supporting tour knows how challenging and stressful the experience can be. After several months of performances, he settled back into his home near Annapolis, Maryland. There his sister, Casey Heller Curcio, a talented R&B singer, encouraged him to pitch in at the studio where she had been recording. They decided to work up one of his songs and in about three hours managed to lay the foundation for his first track. It was the first time he had worked with a professional producer, Adolph Wright III, known as Subwolfaa, and the results were impressive.

This wouldn't be the first time Stephen had worked with family. His father recorded tracks with him on his first solo effort, From East to West back in 2007. Those tracks, just like these new ones, are filled with great stories around the experience. What is most important to note is that Stephen comes from a background of professional musicians who are not only talented but understand the lifestyle. Stephen will be the first to tell you that being a successful Indie artist is not a 9-5 job; it's a never ending parade of tasks and efforts working to move one step closer to success. Plus, having his sister's awesome voice on this album is a special treat for fans and a little more assurance his music will find broader appeal.

Stephen spent several months practically living at the studio, pitching in to help on other projects while working feverishly to get his own material ready for release. What quickly became apparent was the diversity in these tracks. Who could imagine recording acoustic pop at an R&B and HipHop studio without coming away with some distinct influences? While most artists flee the idea of diversity in their music, Stephen is wise enough to know that the diversity is his best marketing angle.

The title track Burning Bridges, which was released as a single June 22nd, is a quick reminder of the old Stephen Heller, only this time around with the quality of production his music aptly deserves. What was once a smooth acoustic feel has given way to strong backing vocals and accentuated percussion sections that really make the song come to life. Moving through the album we hear Stephen's impressive vocals, creative arrangements and touching lyrics that drive home his passion for the craft.

The album in total has a really strong pop appeal with a nice blend of R&B and HipHop production that brings the sound into the mainstream of modern music. By releasing the tracks as singles Stephen is able to take advantage of the breadth of markets these songs can penetrate. Rearview, with backing vocals by Casey, has strong pop appeal while You Said to Me, dropping as a single August 10th, could end up topping out on Americana charts. All of that while For My City, a distinctively HipHop track to be released August 24th, has already gained positive attention; though an obvious departure from the Stephen Heller style. Burning Bridges, due August 31st, is a reward for long time Heller fans in some cases and a paradigm shift in others. Regardless, the guy is smart, talented, industrious and diligent. We expect to see Stephen go a long way.

Stephen Heller will be touring again this fall in support of Burning Bridges. Watch for concert dates and check out the pre-release clips on his web site at www.stephenhellermusic.com

Pre-sale just announced

Download YOUR copy of the album this Friday.

Join the mailing list @ http://stephenhellermusic.com to get the details emailed directly to YOU!

Much Love,
Stephen

'For My City' Lyrics and Meaning

I wrote 'For My City' about my drive to make it in the music industry and made the analogy with the military and their drive to complete their objectives. I have family members in all branches and have nothing but great respect for anyone in the military so I felt like I needed a song to show my appreciation for what they do!

For My City

I said my soul's for the city,

And I march left right left to its heartbeat,

And its cadence is pounding my chest in,

Cuz if I don't make it than this will never happen,

I do it for the love, it's my passion,

Any other way I couldn't even imagine,

I got a destination in mind,

If you feel inspired shout your battle cry,

It's too late, I'm too proud,

To stop now, to shut 'em down,

And I'm tired of patiently waiting,

So now it's my time to rock the nation,

I go hard for my city,

I won't let you down if you're rolling with me,

We're gonna fly go zero to sixty,

Push the pedal to the metal get lifted,

We're coming right for ya,

True champions we take over,

We run this I told ya,

We are soldiers, we take over

This is our pride our blood our sweat and tears,

We put our lives on the line so there's nothing to fear,

We lay 'em down in the trenches,

Only thing between us is dirt and inches,

Because we're bad as we want to be,

Especially when we're gonna be,

Take our oaths and fighting for our country,

Butterfly sting like bee, we're gonna make it or die trying,

And it's been too long, I'm too strong,

To stop now, to 'em down,

And I'm tired of patiently waiting,

So now it's my time to rock the nations,

I go hard for my city,

I won't let you down if you're rolling with me,

We're gonna fly go zero to sixty,

Push the pedal to the metal get lifted,

We're coming right for ya,

True champions we take over,

We run this I told ya,

We are soldiers, we take over

'You Said to Me' Lyrics

This song is written about the love of my life and the girl that I am engaged to! The lyrics are written about things that actually happened and words that were said to one another. Enjoy!

You Said to Me
Never seen a smile on a face,
As wide as the one I saw yesterday,

When I told you "I love you"

You said to me, "I get butterflies,"

When I look deep into your eyes,

And with these words my heart skips a beat,

            I feel the warmth of your skin,

            And the touch of your lips,

            Just never thought I fall in love again,
            And with you at my fingertips,

Never seemed to care about the time,

With your body laying next to mine,

I know the words you left unsaid,

You said to me, "The glow of the sun just past by the horizon,"
And now the world comes to life again,

            I feel the warmth of your skin,

            And the touch of your lips,

            Just never thought I fall in love again,
            And with you at my fingertips,

I feel the wind blowing,

The city streets below me,

With you my world moves slowly,

Followed by silence,

            I feel the warmth of your skin,

            And the touch of your lips,

            Just never thought I fall in love again,
            And with you at my fingertips,

I knew that  I'd fall in love!

'You Said to Me' Single Release

The song 'You Said to Me' (album version) is released TODAY!

Stop by the website and pick it up at http://StephenHellerMusic.com.

YOU CHOOSE the PRICE!!!

Much Love,
Stephen

CD Release Party Announced!

The CD Release Party has been scheduled for Castlebay in downtown Annapolis, MD at 9pm on Aug. 27th!

I am so excited for the release of this album. It has been a long time in the making.

For those on the mailing list you will be able to download an early release of the album that same day!

I hope you are all as excited as I am.

Much love,
Stephen

MySpace contest Top 5!

I want to thank everyone who voted in the "Rock the Space"!

Unfortunately we didn't get the most votes but we did get in the Top 5 of the some 3000+ bands that entered!

Again, I greatly appreciate the support.

Much Love,
Stephen

Review of a show!!!

Everyone has them, bands and musicians that have requested to be your friend on Facebook or MySpace.  Requests accepted to increase your numbers or because you like the idea of being friends with so many musicians and the cool points that you may earn in the realm of the online social network.  I'm one of those people.  I genuinely know a bunch of the bands that I have friended, having attended and photographed shows, but too I have added numerous artists under the guise of listening to their music based upon something as superficial as the way that they looked on their page.  In other words, I added them as a friend because they were visually appealing (insert HOT here) and not on the merits of their craft, i.e. music.  Admittedly this is the reason that I added Stephen Heller as a friend on MySpace.  (He is easy on the eyes.)  This, however, is not why he will remain on my friends list.

Last night I went to check out a show that Stephen was playing in Annapolis at the Sly Fox Pub.  I arrived a little before show time to meet with and discuss some items that he and I had previously discussed via email.  I found him very sweet and a joy to interact with and was hopeful that his demeanor would carry over to the stage.  I was not disappointed.  He pours himself into every song he sings, projecting to each and every person in the audience.  I am still in awe of the sound and performance that this one man delivers using only his voice and a guitar.  The word "amazing" does not due the experience justice, though addictive is more accurate.  Performing renditions of songs that I never thought I hear coming from a "white guy with a guitar", I was instantly mesmerized by "Heartless" (Kanye West) and "Baby Got Back" (Sir Mix-a-Lot).  I thought they were just going to be teasers to re-engage a potentially waning interest from the audience, the tunes were performed as part of the show and I will never hear them the same again.  His original music is heartfelt and poignant, stories and situations that everyone can relate to.  He sings of "Burning Bridges" and all I can think is that burning bridges has never sounded so good or been such an enjoyable experience.

Stephen Heller is mesmerizing behind the microphone but he is equally as impressive in the crowd; talking with anyone who wants to say hello, taking pictures with fans and making the time for those that are helping to live his dream of writing and performing music.  I would encourage anyone I know to check out his live show, bring some friends and have a blast.  You will not be disappointed in the least and will be counting the days until the next performance.

Pick a song, any song!

Pick a song, any song, and I will learn it, add some original flavor to it and then post a video of it!

I am trying to do one a week...so let me know!

Much love,
Stephen

Rock the Space II

I need YOU!

If you have a MySpace profile PLEASE stop by and vote for Burning Bridges HERE!

There are only 16 days left, as you can see below!

When you are there you can SHARE it with YOUR friends also!

Much Love,
Stephen

Heller's Heroes

Everyday I will be posting a picture of someone that has shown support and love for my music!

They could have either been from a show, someone that I've chatted with online, or a street team member. Another way to be a part is to send me a pic with some Heller love, (i.e. "I Love Stephen Heller" or "Stephen Heller's #1 Fan") and I will post it!

This should be fun and I hope to see you on there soon.

Much Love,
Stephen

New Publicist on the Heller Team!

I am now working with a publicist, Neil, based out of Atlantic City.

Neil has a bunch of big name clients but some you may recognize are Cindy Margolis from the show 'Seducing Cindy' and Jenna Morasca from 'Survivor'. He also works with many more great people.

For media inquiries and interviews contact Neil Cirucci PR at neilciruccipr@aol.com or http://StephenHellerMusic.com/contact.cfm.

Much Love,
Stephen
http://StephenHellerMusic.com

Hooked up w/ a NEW venue

I just booked multiple shows at Mike's Crab House in Edgewater, MD for this summer!

You can check out the dates at http://StephenHellerMusic.com/events.cfm and I hope to see you at one of them.

Much Love,
Stephen
http://StephenHellerMusic.com

Listening Party On the Radio 8pm TONIGHT!

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up you can check out the entire album tonight, 8pm est, as I am doing my interview at http://bit.ly/SHRadio!

You can also email in questions to the dj at dj@artistfirst.com!

I hope to hear from you.

Much Love,
Stephen
http://StephenHellerMusic.com

Release dates ANNOUNCED!

We have just released the single 'Burning Bridges' this past Tuesday and now we have dates for the rest of the releases!

'You Said to Me', the Acoustic/Pop single will be released on Aug. 10th.  This is a different version than the one that has been given away for free!

'For My City', the early word is everyone LOVES this song, will be released 2 weeks later on Aug. 24th!

And FINALLY...one week after that the long awaited album 'Burning Bridges' will be released!

We will be touring soon after the release of the album! I can't wait to see you on the road and if you have any venues you would like us to play at, send me info to stephen@myhellermusic.com or leave a comment on my guestbook at http://StephenHellerMusic.com!

Much Love,
Stephen
http://StephenHellerMusic.com

Burning Bridges release!

I have some great news!

Tonight at midnight, June 22nd 2010, the NEW HIT single 'Burning Bridges' will be released...yeah!

You can get it for FREE by joining the mailing list and I will be emailing everyone a download code to pick it!

Much Love,
Stephen
http://StephenHellerMusic.com