With the release of her new single and music video for “Cry Baby Cry,” NYC singer Stephanie June delivers a pop ballad that’s “just in time for summer,” capturing the feeling of catharsis, about taking a break from seeking answers, and giving yourself the thing you want most. Filmed at the annual “Dance Walk” in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the video captures New York in this singular moment in time as it experiences a rebirth, channeling the energy of the summer into “a breezy pop experience.” We sat down with the passionate and talented Stephanie June to chat about her eagerly-awaited release of “Cry Baby Cry,” how the pandemic affected her song writing, and the energy of New York City.
What reaction are you expecting when “Cry Baby Cry” is released?
I think this song is going to make people really happy. I wrote it as an emotional ballad, but then my producers, Daniel Alvarez and Jordan Dunn-Pilz, and I turned it into an upbeat summer pop song. So the energy is high, but once you peel away that layer, the lyrics bring you to a different place. I imagine people listening to it in the car with the top down, screaming the lyrics uncontrollably. I think people will hear it and think – ‘I’ve felt that, I’ve been there.’
What are you most excited about concerning the release of your new single?
I’m excited to bring some much needed good energy to this world. All of my friends are ready to be free and live their lives this summer. I can’t wait to get to sing this song live. Writing music makes me so happy, but at a certain point you’ve been with a song long enough, and it’s time to give it wings. I hoarded my music for way too long, which I honestly now feel is pretty selfish. So I’m just excited to share it with people and let them love it as much as I do.
Can you speak about why your music video was chosen to be filmed at the “Dance Walk” in Williamsburg, Brooklyn?
I asked my friend Seth Hagenstein, a brilliant director, if he’d be up for making this video. We got to brainstorming and thought it would be amazing to capture the energy of New York at this particular moment in time–the city revived and the excitement on the streets palpable. He wanted to mirror the complicated feelings in the song with the layered experience of going back into the world fully. He had his friend Gilaad Amir organize a “Dance Walk” for 100 friends. It was seriously one of the coolest things I’ve ever been a part of. People were joining from off the street. It didn’t feel like a video shoot – Seth just captured the joy everyone was experiencing in the moment. So ultimately the video feels really organic and spontaneous, which I love. He created a really beautiful piece of art that elevates the song.
What message do you want “Cry Baby Cry” to convey to fans?
I want fans to hear this song and be empowered to own their experiences. I wrote it at the height of Covid/quarantine, when it felt like the world was ending. It’s about having very intense feelings for someone and giving over to those feelings for a moment. I wrote it stream-of-consciousness style, so it takes you on a journey. Ultimately I think the listener will feel some cognitive dissonance between the lyrics and the upbeat vibe. This is intentional. Not every relationship is straightforward and simple, but even the “wrong relationship” can have a place in our life story.
What was your transition from theater to songwriting like?
I’ve been writing songs since I was a kid, but planned to spend my life singing in theater and immersing myself in fascinating characters. All through acting classes, a teacher would say something and it would inspire a lyric. I’d come home at night to my piano and write songs – that was my happy place. A big lesson you get in acting class is – don’t create a picture in your head of what the scene will look like. Let it happen and be completely in the moment, let the moment change you. There were actors in my classes who were living and breathing theater. That made me realize music has always been like breathing for me. So ultimately I took that lesson, and it brought me back to my first love.
Who would be your dream music collaborator to work with?
Ohh this is a tough one. So many incredible artists I’d love to work with. Mark Ronson would be a total dream. I met him on the street once and was completely starstruck. He created some timeless magic with Amy Winehouse, one of the greatest to ever do it. And he’s built a diverse body of work. He doesn’t impose too much of his own style – he lets true artistry shine through. And he’s a die hard New Yorker, which we share.
How has the pandemic affected/changed your songwriting processes?
The pandemic has majorly changed my process. It’s given me the time and space to really hear my thoughts. I’ve been writing completely for myself. The uninterrupted, guilt-free sessions were just unheard of before the pandemic. And this time has made me realize that there is never a dull moment in life – there is always something going on internally to write about. You know those movies where nothing significant is really happening but everything is happening, like “Lost in Translation?” Some of what I’ve been writing feels like that. It’s the little in between moments that are interesting to me.
There’s also a more selfless nature to writing these days. I think more about how people will relate, how to change their day. I wrote my first single, “They Say New York Is Dead,” when I had Covid. It poured out over two days and I recorded it in my apartment. I shared it because I knew a lot of people were feeling what I was feeling. There’s been so much boiling under the surface for everyone. So to get to unearth all of it and write about it has been fun.
Can you share any other exciting releases you have coming up in 2021?
I plan to release an EP of 6 songs in October, which I’m super excited about. I’ve written a lot over the last couple years, so I’m still figuring out what will be on there. It’ll be stylistically diverse for sure. Can’t wait for you guys to hear.
