Stephen Devassy
{{Short description|Indian musician (born 1981)}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Stephen Devassy
| image = Stephen Devassy 2018.jpg
| caption = Stephen Devassy
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age |df=yes|1981|2|23}}
| birth_place = Ottapalam, Kerala, India
| occupation = {{hlist|Pianist|Keytarist|Keyboardist|Composer|Arranger|Music Director}}
| years_active = 1998–present
| module = {{Infobox musical artist
|embed=yes
| genre = {{hlist|Hip-Hop|EDM|Electronic Music|Classical|World Music}}
| current_member_of = {{ubl|Solid Band|Rexband|The Yes Triangle|Seven}}
| website = {{url|stephendevassy.com}}
}}}}
Stephen Devassy (born 23 February 1981) is an Indian musician hailing from Palakkad, Kerala.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/musician-stephen-devassy-talks-about-his-project-70/article7329580.ece|title=Stephen Devassy: An orchestra by himself|last=Menon|first=Anasuya|date=2015-06-18|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-11-20|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}} He started his career at a very early age, and has performed on stage around the world. Stephen is the founder of Musik Lounge,{{Cite web|url=https://muzikloungeindia.com/|title=Muzik Lounge School of Audio Technology
|publisher=muzikloungeindia.com }} an audio technology school and studio in Chennai.
{{cite video |title=Music Lounge|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDctcEBbWPQ|accessdate=11 February 2019 |work=YouTube}}{{cite news |title=In surround sound |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/In-surround-sound/articleshow/14173563.cms |accessdate=10 December 2018 |work=The Times of India}}
Early life
Stephen did his schooling at Seventh Day Adventist school, Ottapalam. He went on to NSS College, Ottapalam for pursuing his Pre-Degree {{cite web|url=https://www.stephendevassy.com/biography.html|publisher=stephendevassy.com|title=about|accessdate=2017-01-29}}.And Stephen married Jesna Joy{{cite news |title=Star Singer: Wife Jesna's special Valentine's Day surprise leaves judge Stephen Devassy overwhelmed |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/malayalam/star-singer-wife-jesnas-special-valentines-day-surprise-leaves-judge-stephen-devassy-overwhelmed/articleshow/89668795.cms|accessdate=18 February 2022 |work=The Times of India}} on 16 November 2010.
Career
Stephen Devassy's first major break came when he was aged 18, through Johny Sagarika, for whom he did the music orchestration of six songs on the album Ishtamannu. He then went as an accompanying artist to play the keyboard for Hariharan on his European tour.
He has also accompanied the violin maestro L. Subramanian at the Lakshminarayana Global Music Festival.{{Cite news
|url= http://www.hindu.com/lf/2005/06/12/stories/2005061213120200.htm
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060715175934/http://www.hindu.com/lf/2005/06/12/stories/2005061213120200.htm
|url-status= dead
|archive-date= 15 July 2006
|title=Life Chennai : Village boy from Palakkad climbs the music ladder
|accessdate=2010-08-25
| location=Chennai, India
|work= The Hindu
| date=12 June 2005
}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/music/stephen-devassy-interview-on-music-journey-experience-with-ar-rahman-stage-performance-1.3833643|title=എ.ആര് റഹ്മാന്റെ ട്രൂപ്പില് നിന്ന് പിരിയാന് കാരണം; മനസ്സു തുറന്ന് സ്റ്റീഫന് ദേവസ്സി|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en|access-date=2019-11-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/events/hariharan-stephen-devassy-concert-live-from-kochi-mathrubhumi-com-solid-band-1.2101208|title=Hariharan, Stephen Devassy concert live from Kochi|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en|access-date=2019-11-20|archive-date=17 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017181659/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/events/hariharan-stephen-devassy-concert-live-from-kochi-mathrubhumi-com-solid-band-1.2101208|url-status=dead}}
At age 19, he started a music band called Seven, with singer Franco Simon and guitarist Sangeeth Pavithran. An Indian pop band, they released an album titled YehZindagani {{Cite web|url=https://mio.to/album/Franco/Yeh+Zindagani|title=Yeh Zindagani|publisher=MusicIndiaOnline|access-date=19 September 2022|archive-date=20 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171531/https://mio.to/album/Franco/Yeh+Zindagani|url-status=dead}}
Stephen, who started performing at a young age, has done the music arrangement for many films. Some of the films he scored were Majaa, Thambi, Nammal, Azhagiya Thamizh Magan, Hariharan's album, Waqt Par Bolna and so on.{{Cite news
| url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/08/15/stories/2009081553150700.htm
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825225622/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/08/15/stories/2009081553150700.htm
| url-status=dead
| archive-date=25 August 2009
|title=Key notes
|date=15 August 2009
|accessdate=2010-08-25
| work=The Hindu
| location=Chennai, India}}
Hariharan Pillai Happy Aanu (2003) was his debut music directorial venture in Malayalam. Lyrics were written by famous young lyricst Rajeev Alunkal. The film "KQ" {{Cite web|url=https://www.nowrunning.com/movie/11657/malayalam/kq/index.htm|title=KQ
|publisher=nowrunning.com }} (2013) by Baiju Johnson, a story of two hard working friends also had a touch of Stephen's music. He also composed the music for Neerali,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/sound-mixing-mohanlal-s-neerali-done-poland-81671|title=Neerali
|publisher=thenewsminute.com }} the survival thriller film released in 2018 and three songs for the 2023 neo-noir action thriller Pakalum Paathiravum.{{Cite news |date=2023-03-01 |title=‘Manamele Poovithalai’ song from ‘Pakalum Pathiravum’ out! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/music/manamele-poovithalai-song-from-pakalum-pathiravum-out/articleshow/98338494.cms |access-date=2024-10-16 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} In 2024, he composed a song for the Malayalam legal drama Gumasthan.https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/gumasthan-bibin-george-1.9896179
File:Stephen Devassy on stage BNC.jpg
He is one of the regular band members in Rexband,{{Cite web|url=https://www.rexband.org/|title=Rex Band
|publisher=rexband.org }} a Christian contemporary band singing gospel fusion, a musical outreach of the Jesus Youth Movement. He performed with the band before Pope John Paul II during World Youth Day performance in 2002 at Canada. At the time, it was the only catholic band invited from India. Stephen has orchestrated an instrumental version of the popular Rexband melodies called Different Vibes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reverbnation.com/stephendevassy/song/9869216-rex-band-track-4|title=Different Vibes
|publisher=Reverbnation }}
In association with [http://kosmicmusic.blogspot.in/ Kosmic Music],{{Cite web|url=http://kosmicmusic.blogspot.in/|title=Kosmic Music}} Stephen has also set to tune to a background of Western music, Sanskrit slokas, mantras and verses from the Upanishads, called Sacred Chants of Kosmic Music, and albums of holy chants on Ganesha, Shiva and Vishnu.{{Cite news
| url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/05/12/stories/2006051200890300.htm
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028113348/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/05/12/stories/2006051200890300.htm
| url-status=dead
| archive-date=28 October 2007
|title=The right keys to success
|date=12 May 2006
|accessdate=2010-08-25
| work=The Hindu
| location=Chennai, India}}
He has released his album Romanza, which was a mix of world music sprinkled with the flavor of piano. Indian ragas have been treated with the rich use of contemporary piano. Hariharan, Ouseppachan and a Russian vocalist appeared as guest artists on the album.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/loop-what-stephen-devassy-listening-right-now-671906|title=On Loop: What is Stephen Devassy listening to right now?|work=International Business Times|date=2016-03-25|language=english|access-date=2019-11-20}}
Stephen's solo stage shows have propelled him to the top league of onstage performers.{{Cite web
|url= http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/citytimes/2008/January/citytimes_January125.xml§ion=citytimes&col=
|title=My efforts are to change the colour of music
|work=khaleejtimes.com
|last=Rasheed
|first=PMA
|date=14 January 2008
|accessdate=2010-08-25
}}
Stephen did the role of an ideal judge in Amrita TV show Superstar Junior (2016),{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/new-season-of-super-star-junior-on-amrita-tv/article8360908.ece?homepage=true|title=On Loop: Tune in to the singing stars|work=The Hindu|date=2016-03-17|language=english|access-date=2016-03-17}} Top Singer (2018-2019) of Flowers channel and Star Singer on Asianet.
Achievements
Featured on 5Talents Magazine Cover Page With His Life Story – 2013{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/5talents/docs/july_2013_final|publisher=issuu.com|title=5Talents Magazine Issue 10 July 2013 by 5Talents Magazine – issuu|accessdate=2017-01-29}}
The Icon of Inspiration Music – Behindwoods Gold Mic Award – 2019{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/winners-at-the-behindwoods-gold-mic-music-awards-2019/stephen-devassy-wins-icon-of-inspiration-music.html|title=Stephen Devassy {{!}} Behindwoods Gold Mic Music Awards – Winners who bagged laurels!|date=2019-10-07|website=Behindwoods|access-date=2019-11-20}}
Discography
Television
| class="wikitable" | ||||
| Programme Name | Year | TV Channel | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Star Season 1 | 2006 | Amrita T V | Malayalam | Guest/Arranger/Judge/Performer |
| Super Singer Season 1 | 2008 | STAR Vijay | Tamil | Guest |
| Top Singer | 2018–2019 | Flowers | Malayalam | Judge |
| Indian Idol Season 12 | 2020–2021 | Sony TV | Hindi | Guest |
| Star Singer | 2021–2023 | Asianet | Malayalam | Judge |
| Super Singer Season 8 | 2021 | STAR Vijay | Tamil | Guest |
| Super Singer Junior 8
|2022 |Tamil |Guest |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Stephen Devassy}}
- {{Official Website |url=https://www.stephendevassy.com/}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMjxTVx31KU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/cMjxTVx31KU |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|via=YouTube|title=Stephen (Amrita TV) on Keyboard – a musical magician – YouTube|accessdate=2017-01-29}}{{cbignore}}
- {{cite web|url=http://team1dubai.blogspot.com/2008/01/interview-with-stephen-devassy-my.html|publisher=team1dubai.blogspot.com|title=Team 1 Dubai : Your e-Home for TQM & Positive Thinking: Interview with Stephen Devassy – My efforts are to change the color of music|date=14 January 2008|accessdate=2017-01-29}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/02/24/stories/2009022450170600.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227083920/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/02/24/stories/2009022450170600.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-02-27|work=The Hindu|title=Archive News|date=2009-02-24|accessdate=2017-01-29}}
- [http://www.malayalasangeetham.info/php/displayProfile.php?category=musician&artist=Stephen%20Devassy Stephen Devassy at MSI]
- {{cite web|url=http://stephendevassy.blogspot.in/|publisher=stephendevassy.blogspot.in|title=StEpHeN dEvAsSy "The Muzikal Mozart"|accessdate=2017-01-29}}
- {{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/new-season-of-super-star-junior-on-amrita-tv/article8360908.ece?homepage=true|title=Tune in to the singing stars"|newspaper=The Hindu |date=17 March 2016 |accessdate=2016-03-17|last1=M |first1=Athira }}
{{Music of Kerala}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devassy, Stephen}}
Category:Malayalam film score composers
Category:Musicians from Palakkad
Category:People from Ottapalam