Swooning Over Stephen Sanchez
Photographs by Eloise Beath
Following a hugely successful 2023 tour, Stephen Sanchez is back down under to take his audience back in time with his swoon-worthy performances and velvety vocals. In 2021, the Nashivlle-based Sanchez skyrocketed to fame with his track Until I Found You. The dreamy love song went viral on TikTok as it set the scene for thousands of sentimental videos of lovers and friends alike. Catapulting it to No.8 on the ARIA charts, gaining multi-platinum status and generating more than 2 BILLION streams across the globe.
In 2023, Sanchez released Angel Face, a fictional work about a forbidden love between Troubadour Sanchez and the girlfriend of a mob boss, leading to his untimely demise. Inspired by the music of the 1950s and ’60s, the album was hugely successful and even got him an invitation to join Elton John on stage at the iconic Glastonbury Festival.
At just 21 years of age, Stephen Sanchez has captured the hearts of people all over the world and I was lucky enough to see this Southern heartthrob in action at The Metro Theatre in Sydney over the weekend. The sold-out crowd piled into the theatre, and I mean piled in, like sardines. Every inch of the standing room from the barricade to the bar upstairs was packed tightly with fans of all ages, eager to escape reality for the night.
The lights dimmed and Earth Angel by The Penguins lulled the crowd before the host of ‘What Would Love Do’ Radio introduced Sanchez to the stage. Kicking off the set with Something About Her, a soft and sleepy love-at-first-sight ballad. A single white light casts a silhouette over Sanchez, the crowd completely immersed.
Sanchez knows exactly what he’s doing when it comes to playing the part of the lovelorn crooner. Cheekily introduced his cover of Pretty Woman by saying “Fellas, this one’s for your girls”, and even going as far as to channel Elvis Presley with the iconic line “Thankyou, thank you very much” with that southern twang of his.
I was unsure how the production of Angel Face would translate onto a live stage, however, Sanchez’s band shined, completely immersing the whole venue into the bygone era. Not only this but they were given space to shine individually on their respective instruments. We love a good drum or guitar solo, no matter the decade.
Be More was without a doubt my highlight of the evening. The track is a proclamation of and a pleading for love. Sanchez was entirely flawless throughout, utilising his upper register in the final chorus, sending goosebumps up spines and tears down cheeks and leaving the crowd completely spellbound.
Finally, it was time for the song that started it all. As soon as those first few notes of Until I Found You played, phones were high in the air and arms were around lovers. It should be mentioned that Sanchez told NPR that with the exception of this track, he has a distaste for writing about his own life and that almost everything in Angel Face is fabricated. Which is perhaps why it has struck a chord with so many listeners. I watched as couples of all ages slowly danced wherever they could find space.
Stephen Sanchez has already written the soundtrack to so many love stories. His charming and nostalgic discography engulfs his audience in another world where love is unwavering. His on-stage suave and silky vocals transcend decades. But with The Troubadour dead, what story will he tell next? Whatever it is, we’ll be listening.