Thank you for talking with us Stephanie! For newer fans, how did your passion for music and career come about? My passion for music came to me at a young age. After dealing with self-esteem issues in my early childhood, nervous and shy, I somehow got the courage to step up to the mic at my dad’s band rehearsal (he was a drummer for an Elvis impersonator) and my parents realized that I could sing. Very soon after, they bought me a little karaoke machine and some cassette tapes to go with it, and I began singing in my bedroom after school every day. When I got recognized for my talent in the school chorus, and soon after realized that my singing and the songs I sang had a positive impact on others, I knew music was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life! It also helped that I had a natural ear for harmony and could stay on rhythm! I just loved music for as long as I can remember!
You recently released your new single, "You Did a Number on Me" off your new album “My Time Now. ”Tell us about the writing process and where the idea came from. “You Did a Number on Me” written based on a story from a few years back when I fell very hard and fast for a guy who was basically already over it with me within just a few months! I was all about this guy and he just tossed me aside like yesterday’s leftovers. He did a number on me emotionally. So, I brought that idea to the co-writers, Justine Blazer and Becca Rae Greene, and we worked on the concept of using numbers to describe the story, with the chorus summing it all up. The first line is one night I met you over two shots of whiskey, three weeks later I was in too deep and it goes on from there. I was so happy with how it turned out! I love creative lyrics, and I thought we did a good job with that on this song!
How was it filming the video for your recent holiday hit "Christmas Memories?" This song marked my first ever music video shoot back in November. It was a cool experience! It was mostly a performance video, but there were two other types of scenes - one where I was looking through a photo album and framed photos, and the other where I was doing some twirling. Man, that one was rough! I had to do many takes of twirling and I felt so nauseous and woozy by the end of that shoot! My equilibrium took a couple days to go back to normal! Ha! But the video turned out beautiful, and the song is such a heartfelt one! Also available on all streaming platforms and the video is on YouTube!
How was the last year for you? What were your highlights? The last year has been so dedicated to creating this album! We started writing in July and stopped in November. We wrote 18 songs. I was initially going to do a ten song album, but was having such a hard time narrowing down, that I decided to make it eleven! It was an emotional year going back in my mind to get stories to turn into songs, almost reliving some things in a way, but it was worth it! A highlight would be when I got to hear the completed music for the first time! I literally got chills and even a few tears hearing my songs truly come to life!
Who have been some of your biggest musical influences growing up and do the same artists currently continue to influence you now? Growing up, my biggest influences were Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, and especially, my number one idol…Martina McBride! I also looked up to artists from other genres like Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, and Pat Benatar. I have the same influences now, but added to the list are also Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Swift! Kelly and Carrie are amazing vocalists and artists in general! Taylor is an all-around fabulous artist as well, in terms of songwriting, stage presence, fan interaction, and even as a business women! They are all still very big inspirations to me!
Was there ever music playing in the kitchen growing up? Yes! In my very young years, I remember mom playing a lot of records like Lionel Richie, Laura Branigan, Beach Boys, etc. A couple years later, it was Amy Grant’s gospel music, and then when I was about 11 or 12, it was Garth Brooks, Brooks and Dunn, Reba, Martina McBride etc.!
What is your favorite wine? My favorite wine is Moscato. I also love fruit flavored wines! Only sweet wines for me…no dry ones!
Best food that’s deep fried? The best food deep-fried is chicken, of course! It is definitely one of my favorite splurge food choices when I allow myself a “cheat meal!”
What should every kitchen be stocked with? Every kitchen should be stocked with a large variety of herbs and spices! Seasoning can make or break a dish! Variety is key!
Finally, if you could be sponsored by one food/drink brand who would it be and why? Fireball Whisky. That is my favorite shot and my band’s shot, and I even mention it in one of my songs called “Buying Time, Living Now.”
Website: www.stephanierabus.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stephanielrabus
Instagram: www.instagram.com/stephanierabus
Twitter: www.twitter.com/stephanierabus
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/songbirdslr81
Stephanie Rabus is a singer/songwriter in Nashville, TN. She started singing at the age of 11. At that time, her dad Jerry was the drummer for their next-door neighbor who was an Elvis impersonator. One night while they were having a get together playing music, she asked to borrow the microphone and belted out a song from the movie 'The Little Mermaid' a cappella! Being impressed by what they heard, her parents quickly bought her a karaoke machine and some cassette tapes to go with it, and the rest was history. Stephanie was a self-conscious child, having a cross-eye that was later corrected with surgery at age 15 and open heart surgery years before that at age 11 for a severe heart murmur. She struggled with low self-esteem believing she was overweight, comparing herself to her three thin siblings. It was discovering her talent of music, and getting complimented for it that she started to find her confidence and feel like she had found her place in the world. Noticing the effect that the songs she sang had on people, and how it would make them feel good, emotional or even understood, she knew that music was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life!
With years of singing in cover bands under her belt, covering songs by artists ranging from Martina McBride and Shania Twain to Whitney Houston and Celine Dion, as well as Pat Benatar and Heart, and later Pink and Kelly Clarkson, she developed a unique style combining country, soul, pop and rock, which is very apparent in her upcoming album release 'My Time Now'!
Stephanie currently travels to the St. Louis Mo/Southern Illinois area to perform as the lead singer of the popular St. Louis based band Borderline. They regularly play big fairs and festivals in the summer months and some of the most popular music clubs and venues in the area all year around. They have had the honor of opening for many major artists such as Little Texas, Bryan White, Lee Brice, Cassadee Pope, Tyler Farr, Jarod Niemann, Lindsay Ell, Confederate Railroad, Mark Wills and more! She also performs in Nashville at popular honky-tonks on Broadway.
Stephanie's new album 'My Time Now' comes out April 12th on all streaming platforms and physical CD and features a wide variety of sub-genres in the country music space! It features different tempos, emotions, and storylines as well! Her hope is to have a song for everyone!