After nearly eight years, Little Steve & the Big Beat are back with ‚Circles,‘ an album that delves deeper both musically and thematically than ever before. The highly anticipated follow-up to ‘Another Man’ (2016) builds on the success of their previous work, which was praised by critics and fans alike.
„On our new album, I’ve focused more on writing from my own experiences; my life and emotions are embedded in every track,“ explains singer/guitarist Steven van der Nat. And although he had never previously written with a political message, he felt compelled to do so this time. The title track, ‚Circles,‘ addresses how humanity’s short-sighted focus on self-interest is slowly destroying both ourselves and the planet. „It deeply affects me how we neglect the planet and ourselves. I felt I had to express this in the title track.“
The 11 new tracks on the album are all original, with 10 songs written by Steven van der Nat (Little Steve) himself, and one instrumental track by saxophonist Martijn van Toor. The album is marked by the infectious Little Steve & the Big Beat sound—a unique blend of Blues and Rhythm & Blues with a contemporary twist.
Each track on ‚Circles‘ offers its own distinct atmosphere, creating a diverse musical journey. The alternation between slow blues and energetic Rhythm & Blues keeps the listener engaged, highlighting the versatility of Little Steve & the Big Beat.
The band collaborated with several guest musicians on ‚Circles‘; the backing vocals of American singer Kat Riggins can be heard on ‚Only Got Eyes For You,‘ Pascal Haverkate plays trumpet on the title track ‘Circles,’ and Bas Janssen contributes keyboards on ’99 LBS,‘ ‚The Shame Is On You,‘ and ‚Tired Of Moaning.‘
The album was recorded at Tub Thumper Records, a barn in bassist Bird Stevens‘ backyard, transformed into a recording studio filled with vintage recording equipment and microphones. The warm, spacious, analog sound is evident throughout the album, without sounding outdated. The combination of modern production and vintage gear has resulted in a sound that is both fresh and timeless. Steven and Bird produced the album themselves, with mastering done by Wessel Oltheten (DeWolff, Michael Jackson, among others).
Over the past 10 years, Little Steve & the Big Beat have built an excellent live reputation, performing at venues such as Moulin Blues, Blues Peer (BE), Zwarte Cross, North Sea Jazz Club, Nuit Du Blues (FR), Malta Blues Festival (MT), Breda Jazz Festival, Blues in Grolloo, among others. During this time, the band has received nominations from the Dutch Blues Awards for “Best Band,” “Best Vocalist,” and “Best Drummer.”
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