* En anglais uniquement
Singer/songwriter
Stefan Murphy made his name as frontman with Dublin, Ireland, pop-punk group the Subtonics, a group that made headlines more often than it made the charts, eventually disbanding in 2005. However,
Murphy had jumped ship (an appropriate metaphor, as it goes) a year earlier to pursue a solo career under the moniker
the Mighty Stef.
Stef's music is far removed from that of his former band's, sharing the stripped-down, D.I.Y. ethos but little in the way of loud guitars or sugary-sweet melodies. The Mighty Stef takes inspiration from artists ranging from
Johnny Cash and
Elvis Presley to
Muddy Waters and
the Rolling Stones, while styles including garage rock, gospel, sea shanties, and traditional Irish music --
the Pogues'
Shane MacGowan is a particularly notable influence -- are more subtly represented.
Murphy began performing as a solo artist during the summer of 2002 while the Subtonics were on an enforced hiatus from performing live in order to write material for what was hoped to become the group's debut album. As the Subtonics produced a steady flow of reggae-infused power pop,
Murphy found an outlet for his earthier compositions: proud, lyric-centered confessionals of the life of sin he'd led and wishful tales of the sins he'd like to commit. He began opening for fellow Dubliners
Republic of Loose and
the Things at gigs around the capital and in the north of Ireland, and it was one such trip to Belfast with
the Things in early 2003 that graced
Murphy with his future stage name. Until then, he'd been performing under his given name; however, a mixup in communications led a confused promoter to christen him
the Mighty Stef -- and the name stuck. As
Stef's reputation grew and the Subtonics lost momentum, recording a body of work but failing to release any of it, the singer broke from the group and became a full-time solo artist.
Stef issued his first single in late 2005, entitled "Prayer for the Broken Hearted," and made his first appearance at the South by Southwest Festival in Texas. He traveled to Montreal, Canada, in early 2006 to record his debut album, the low-budget and lo-fi The Sins of Sainte Catherine -- the Gallic history of the city possibly informing the Francophone choice of spelling. Released in September of 2006 in Ireland and November in the U.K., the album was followed by two successful tours of the U.S., one to coincide with the the South by Southwest Festival and the second as the support act to
Flogging Molly. ~ Dave Donnelly