Steven Thad (Stephen Leslie, Jr.) has always been a musical individual. As a kid growing up in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) area, he and his sisters developed their love for music while accompanying their parents to many choir rehearsals. They would pick up on harmonies and proceed to conduct their own a cappella sessions once they returned home. Because of their musical upbringing and the support of their dedicated parents, he and his sisters, Sierra and Shanté, were able to garner success as the Billboard-charting gospel group, Trilogy. Now, Steven’s passion for singing is stronger than ever as he uses his songwriting abilities to forge his own path as a solo artist.

Steven’s solo musical journey began when he left for college back in 2014. He started to develop his own musical identity for the first time by listening to his friends’ music instead of solely the gospel music his parents would play for him and his siblings as kids. As he expanded his musical library, he also began subconsciously developing his own sound. By the time he graduated and started navigating the real world, he was ready to lay the groundwork for his own music career. In 2018, Steven took it upon himself to start releasing a cappella cover songs and freestyles on SoundCloud, and during this period, he also spent a lot of time shadowing Grammy-nominated producer, Dana Soréy. The many lessons he learned from Dana gave him the confidence to start making his own beats for the music he wanted to put out. He spent years perfecting his sound by releasing albums and EPs of cover tunes until it was time for him to put out a body of work mostly comprised of his original material, and that’s what he finally did in 2022.

In October of 2022, Steven took it upon himself to pay tribute to the style of music that he most resonates with, and that is indeed R&B. The lushious harmonies and memorable melodies in songs like “RNB,” “Do You Remember?,” and “Goodbye, Farewell” off of his first project, “Love, R&B,” truly showcased the warmth and love that he has for this genre. Not to mention, he recorded, mixed, and produced this entire album by himself in his bedroom!

With the help of Dana Soréy, Steven was able to release “Love, R&B (Deluxe)” in 2023. This venture took his original material to a higher level with live renditions that added new colors to the meanings behind each song, thus creating a truly unique R&B experience you can listen to (and watch) over and over again.

And now, Steven’s R&B journey continues with his latest single, “Smile.” Leaning into a more mature soulful sound, he soars to the highest emotions with his smooth falsetto, letting his lover know that he’ll do anything to help her smile again. 

As Steven navigates life, his music continues to evolve, and this is just the beginning of his journey.