Stephen Sanchez made waves all over social media in early 2022 when he debuted his hit single “Until I Found You.” In the ballad, which was reminiscent of ‘50s and ‘60s-style love songs, Sanchez gave listeners a glimpse of what he was capable of within the musical world. Sanchez has now been on countless tours and has made an even bigger splash in the music industry by performing alongside Elton John earlier this year.
Sanchez specializes in music that radiates an old-school sound, and he primarily takes inspiration from artists like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Jerry Lee Lewis. Sanchez goes so far as to mimic Elvis Presley’s dances and movements while he’s on stage and even sings a few of the songs that Elvis is typically associated with, such as “Unchained Melody.” In addition to this, a track from Sanchez’s debut album “Angel Face” titled “Shake” is a direct tribute to the sound and feel of Elvis’s jazz-inspired rock-and-roll.
After “Until I Found You” reached No. 1 on Billboard charts, Sanchez’s name and voice became more recognizable, and in 2023, he released more singles such as “Evangeline” and “Only Girl.” Little did his fans know that these singles would later come together in a tragic love story in his debut album “Angel Face.”
“Angel Face” tells the story of singer Troubadour Sanchez as he falls in love with a mob boss’s girlfriend, Evangeline. They go through a series of romantic events that are expressed lyrically throughout the album. After learning about the affair, the mob boss, Hunter, guns Sanchez down, and the story ends with a mourning Evangeline hovering over his body. The album wraps up with “Send My Heart With a Kiss,” which tells the aftermath of the story and sends off the character of Troubadour Sanchez. Over the course of the album, we experience the exhilarating highs of romance with Sanchez’s enchanting vocals and the lows of this tragic outcome with his haunting ballads.
Fans have been waiting in anticipation for this album for months since Sanchez announced it, and for fans of ‘50s-style music, it was outstanding. In addition to the four songs that were already released prior to the album, “Evangeline,” “Only Girl,” “Be More” and “Until I Found You,” the rest of the tracks fit in perfectly and filled in more context to the story. “Angel Face” is a beautiful yet heart-breaking story about the experiences of love, but there is something in the album that everyone can appreciate.
For anyone who is looking for new music to add to their playlist this month, “Angel Face” offers a wide range of songs that sound completely different while still maintaining the illusion of that old-school era. The album is a love letter to music, and what makes it so great is the engaging lyrics, powerful storytelling and sounds that emit pure emotion.
