Stella Prince Owns the Folk Scene for a New Generation
While many young and talented musical artists think, ‘Someday I’ll make it,’ folk artist Stella Prince believes that with hard work, dedication, and forging your own path, the time to succeed is now. As a rising artist, she has already achieved a #1 single in the folk genre with her hit, ‘Dear Future Me.’ Stella has toured internationally, including Europe, and performed to sold-out crowds at Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Cafe. A rising star in the Nashville music scene, she describes her sound as ‘Gen-Z Folk.’ It’s thrilling to bring our readers at Social The Lifestyle an exclusive interview with Ms. Stella Prince.
Ms. Meghan Forte: Could you describe your musical style?
Ms. Stella Prince: I grew up in Woodstock, NY, which is the capital of folk music and was everywhere where I grew up. So when it came time to write my own songs they were really folky, but then I was also obsessed with 2010’s pop so it was really like ‘folk pop.’ So I came up with the idea of my music being like gen-z folk which is basically like folk music for my generation.
Ms. Meghan Forte: What does it mean to you to represent Gen-Z and that generation of folk music?
Ms. Stella Prince: My goal is to bring folk music to a new generation, meaning my generation. It’s the perfect timing and perfect generation to do this. Everyone my age is obsessed with Joni Mitchell and really into 70’s music and all of that. Times have changed so much, so artists like Noah Kahan, Kasey Musgraves, and all of these amazing artists are paving the way, just making it the perfect time to have this music be so popular.
Ms. Meghan Forte: What does it mean to you to also represent women in folk music?
Ms. Stella Prince: That’s a great question. So in Nashville, a little over a year ago, I ended up starting a monthly showcase specifically for women in folk music. There are different showcases all around Nashville for country and other genres, but there aren’t many for folk. So, I really wanted to give a platform for young women in folk. It’s been really exciting. It was part of Americanafest last year and this year. We just started doing panels with women on the business side of music. It’s really been the craziest thing!
Ms. Meghan Forte: What does it mean to you to know you’ve outsold some pretty notable venues such as the Bluebird Cafe? How did you feel after selling out at The Bluebird Cafe?
Ms. Stella Prince: Oh my gosh! I remember when I was fourteen and I first came to Nashville, I played an open mic night there and I remember thinking someday I’m going to play a real show here. This year I had the chance to do that and it was really such a pinch me moment.
Ms. Meghan Forte: I can imagine that it must be so cool to see a dream of yours come into action. It’s amazing to see your aspirations coming true for you. How old were you when you first started getting involved with music?
Ms. Stella Prince: I was 4! My parents would probably argue that it was earlier, because It was really something I was just born with. I’ve been completely obsessed with music since I was a baby. When I was one, I could identify a tune within a second of hearing it. When I was around 4 I started taking voice lessons and I came to my parents and told them I wanted management and I wanted to be famous now! Ever since then I’ve been working towards this goal.
Ms. Meghan Forte: You’ve written songs with some notable songwriters such as Steve Dean, Lynn Chater, and Brent Baxter. What does it mean to you to have written with some of these songwriters?
Ms. Stella Prince: That was really special. Co-writing is something that is so popular in Nashville. Coming from Woodstock, I had never co-written before and I was really nervous about it. Some of these co-writers have written for every incredible artist there is and they’ve all been so supportive. I’ve learned so much from just being around them and that’s been a real highlight.
Ms. Meghan Forte: What are some of your favorite songs that you’ve written?
Ms. Stella Prince: I think one of my favorites that’s released is called “What’s Mine?” I wrote it because you don’t have to let anyone take away from you what’s rightfully yours. It’s kind of an empowerment song. Which is very personal to me. Another personal song is called “Closing Doors” which I released a little over a year ago. That kind of talks about as an artist or anyone who’s creative just facing so much rejection all the time. That was really one of the hardest things as I was getting started. Everyone was supportive, but I didn’t find the right people until just this year. It was hard in the beginning to find the right people, and to find the right fit.
Ms. Meghan Forte: What advice would you give to other young folk artists inspiring you to enter the music industry?
Ms. Stella Prince: I definitely say the first five years of your career you can develop and do most things yourself. I think people don’t realize that, and they think they have to wait around for a manager or an agent. But that’s really not true. From the age of fifteen to twenty I did everything myself. I booked over a thousand shows, did all of the routing, and booked dozens of tours. I literally did everything! I grew my social media, and made the graphic design, and I think that that is something that anyone can do if they work hard enough.
Ms. Meghan Forte: What is your creative process for your songwriting? Do you have a certain routine to help get your creative juices flowing?
Ms. Stella Prince: I think my favorite thing is writing by myself in my room with the door closed, just me and my guitar. It is such a personal thing for me, and so I need it to be an isolating experience. I almost always come up with the melody first. Never the lyrics. I don’t have a list of hooks or titles or anything like that. I just come up with this tune and I feel like every tune has its own personality. So, I have no idea what the song is going to be about until the melody is set. So, a lot of it is just sitting in my room figuring out what melody I like, and what I don’t.
Ms. Meghan Forte: Do you find inspiration through some of your favorite artists or would you say it’s something that naturally comes to you?
Ms. Stella Prince: I would say it’s definitely something that just comes. I literally am just playing around with my guitar and suddenly out comes this melody. It’s very random and really strange. With my inspirations I have three singers who are my all-time favorites and they are: Patsy Cline, Judy Garland, and Karen Carpenter. Most people are really surprised by that, but the three of them I’ve had photos of on my wall since I was like seven years old. I have been so inspired by them and I listen to them literally every day.
Ms. Meghan Forte: You began your journey as an independent artist. Can you share how you managed to promote your music so effectively on your own?
Ms. Stella Prince: It was really hard. The hardest thing now as an artist is that there is no real rulebook. There is no straight thing to do, no straight path, it’s a lot of just kind of figuring it out. That’s the hardest thing. It was really just trying to learn from other people, meet as many people as I could, take everyone out for coffee, and just unbelievable hard work, that’s really what it is.
Ms. Meghan Forte: Since folk music has such a rich history, you’re trying to bring your own spin to it. How do you balance keeping the traditional folk elements with adding your modern twist?
Ms. Stella Prince: So, I think a lot of my production, and then my voice of course! It’s really kind of a throwback from the sixties and seventies folk sound. My songwriting is a lot catchier and hookier than some of the older folk songs. Which I do on purpose, because it’s important for me to have those catchy melodies. So, I think it’s kind of a mix of both.
Ms. Meghan Forte: Do you ever get stage fright or do you have a certain process you follow to calm any nerves you might get?
Ms. Stella Prince: When I was much younger, I would definitely get very nervous. I’d have that sort of pit in my stomach all day, but then when I’d get up there on the stage I just loved being up there and performing. Now, I certainly have worries, and I am definitely nervous during the day. Then right before I go on, I cannot wait to go on and I really just enjoy it so much once I am on the stage.
Ms. Meghan Forte: What did it mean for you to be one of the youngest performers at Tin Pan South and AmericanaFest?
Those are, in my opinion, Nashville’s greatest festivals. The whole city just kind of takes over and it’s really cool. At AmericanaFest I performed and then I also hosted a panel which I was very nervous for. It was eight industry women all kind of talking about their experiences in music and that was really cool. Tin Pan South was one of the only all-female rounds that we did that I put on. Both were incredibly special to be a part of.
Ms. Meghan Forte: What was it like for you to participate in Song Suffragettes and travel for shows to places like England and Ireland? Did that have a special meaning for you?
Ms. Stella Prince: Oh, yes! Song Suffragettes is an amazing all female showcase in Nashville. They are an incredible organization that I’ve really been wanting to be a part of for a while. I just started performing in their showcases this year and I’ve loved it. Getting to perform internationally was amazing. I played a month-long tour in the UK and Europe and it was just unbelievable.
Ms. Meghan Forte: What are your goals for yourself for the near future?
Ms. Stella Prince: I have a long list of goals. I think next year I really just want to do a lot of things that I haven’t done yet. You know I’d really like to be opening for bigger artists or play a venue I haven’t played yet. That sort of thing. Just really get to the next level.
Wow, Stella, thank you for sharing your inspirational journey and advice to other aspiring artists. We appreciate the behind-the-scenes look at your process.
Readers, you can see Stella Prince perform live at a show near you by checking out her tour schedule available on her website. She will be coming to Holmdel, New Jersey’s Holmdel Theater Company November 20, 2024.
For more information:
Stella Prince:
Professional Website
Tour Schedule
Stella Prince’s Instagram Profile
Stella Prince’s Facebook Profile
Stella Prince’s Spotify Profile
Stella Prince’s YouTube Profile
Stella Prince’s Apple Music Profile
Photo Credits to: John Jo
John Jo’s Professional Instagram Profile