Stevi Daft knew about Throb before I did. A little over a year ago, I was at a party where she was doing tarot card readings, and I thought, why not see what the cards had in store for me? I felt drawn to Stevi’s cozy little tarot nook, like I needed a reading. My life was very much in flux at the time, and I figured some divine guidance couldn’t hurt. I was toying with finally starting this magazine, but trepidatious to make the leap. She didn’t pull any punches. “You have something inside you that the world needs to hear,” she said after laying out my spread. “Something creative. You haven’t started, but now is the time. Do you write?” Her words left me stunned. That chance reading became the spark that ignited Throb, and I knew there was no way I could launch this without including Stevi.
The energy I sensed from Stevi in that brief tarot reading would prove to be her defining quality when we reconnected for this profile. She embodies the spirit of a rockstar – passionate, introspective, and unapologetically authentic. When Stevi shows up for our interview over brunch, her infectious energy fills the room. I spend the next couple of hours enchanted as she paints a vivid picture of a life dedicated to the pursuit of creative expression.
Stevi’s love for the arts began young, blossoming with piano lessons at seven and oboe at ten. “I’ve just kind of always been a musician and a singer,” she says with a smile. This led her to theater school, where she honed her craft in regional productions like Grease and Thoroughly Modern Millie. “I love using my whole body to do my art. Not just singing and acting, but pulling it all together,” Stevi explains, emphasizing the importance of the theatrical element in her live shows.
Eventually, Stevi would become the frontwoman of a rock band, but a turning point would force her to forge a new path. “I came out [as gay] to them, and one member wasn’t cool about it, so I left,” she reveals. “I needed to express myself, and I didn’t have my band anymore, so I was like, I’m just gonna put music out as me and hopefully find a band along the way.”
She found her band, and a community. “I have amazing people that I play with now. I’ve got my friend and colleague Mike Torres on bass. He toured with Macy Gray and Selena Gomez and wanted to put roots back in LA instead of the touring life. Will Gorin is our phenomenal drummer and a fantastic music director for the band. He’s also in the band Slothrust. My guitarist Claire is incredible. She has her own project called Paper Citizen. It’s just a really amazing group of people now. It feels like I finally found my footing with a live band, and it feels so good. It’s been a big journey. I’ve come out of like a phoenix from the ashes.”
When asked about her musical influences, Stevi’s eyes light up. “I love Janis Joplin. Her raw power and expression feel otherworldly to me,” she says. “How she was just fully embodying herself on stage. She was absolutely channeling up there.”
Stevi also cites Patti Smith as a major inspiration, admiring her multifaceted career as a wordsmith, musician, and activist. “I love artists who are crafting their lives as art. I just really admire the way that she’s moved through life. I’d love to have a career that spans what hers does, with music, writing, political activism, all these aspects. You can see the way that she’s crafted her life is her art,” Stevi muses.
“I also love PJ Harvey. PJ Harvey’s my queen,” she says. “I really admire her whole career and how she’s kept evolving. I feel like she’s always pushing herself. If you look at her first record that came out when she was 19 years old, and then her music now, it’s a wild transformation. I love artists like her that keep evolving.”
While Stevi’s musical journey is fascinating, her career in sync is equally impressive. Stevi started as a coordinator at Position Music, quickly rising through the ranks from part-time to full-time. Now, as the Senior Director of Creative Sync for Trailers & Promos at Position Music, Stevi plays a crucial role in pairing music with high-profile projects. “It’s my job to know all the songs in our catalog,” she explains. “Sync is so amazing and creative. I feel like I can finally use my music skills in something other than just making music. I never knew I could have a job I enjoyed before this.”
Stevi’s musical background proves invaluable in her sync work. “Honestly, being a musician is so helpful for this job,” she admits. “A lot of the times, a brief comes in, and one song immediately comes to mind. If they’re looking for a pulsing, driving, electronic vibe, I’ll know exactly where to look. So much of my job is just intuition.”
Her success speaks for itself, with placements in major projects like the Lord of the Rings series, the Matrix 4 trailer, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. “I’ve been part of so many huge projects that it’s just mind-blowing to me. Like, whoa, if my high school self could see me now,” Stevi marvels. “It’s crazy because I’ve never been so good at something. It feels like the sky is the limit.”
Beyond music, Stevi’s spirituality plays a significant role in her life and creative process. “I’ve always kind of been a mystical person,” she confesses. “As a kid, the framework I had for a higher power was God. Now, I think of it more as the universe and a divine energy. If I had to subscribe to something, I’d probably say it’s more like the Force in Star Wars. I think there’s this cosmic kind of force here that we can harness and alchemize.”
As a kid, she gravitated towards astrology, a fascination that continued into adulthood. “I always looked forward to the horoscope column in the Sunday newspaper. At the time, it was my only line into astrology. I’m a triple Taurus, and I felt like every time I read the Taurus horoscope, it was spot on.”
Stevi’s journey into tarot began as she sought to expand her spiritual practice. She dove headfirst into the world of tarot, journaling her readings and noticing the synchronicities unfold. “I saw it so clearly. I started out doing past, present, and future readings. I would notice that the future cards would move to the present and then to the past. I could tell something magical was happening,” she recalls.
Tarot became integral to her life, influencing her music and guiding her path. “My first EP is called Empress because that card really pulled me in. The Empress was really encouraging me around the time when I was recording,” she explains. Stevi began reading tarot for friends, doing house blessings, and eventually landed a gig at the queer party Gay Asstrology. “I never expected to be a Tarot reader. That is not where I thought my life was going by any means, but it’s been so cool to be able to marry the two – my love for spirituality and tarot plus my music,” she beams.
Stevi’s creative process is deeply personal and introspective. She believes in the power of music to touch listeners on an emotional level. “When I listen to music, I want to be empowered. I also want that for my audience, and I want my music to let them touch a part of themselves that they may not allow themselves to fully go to otherwise. I really want to touch an emotional part of people. My music is visceral. I want the people to feel it with everything,” she explains.
Her upcoming release, “Come Down,” is a testament to this philosophy. The song, which Stevi started writing a couple of years ago, explores the highs and lows of life and relationships. “It’s about my demons, honestly. That feeling of being on top of the world and then knowing that it’s not going to last and what that come down experience is like,” she reveals.
The song’s evolution mirrored the breakdown of her marriage. “I was supposed to record it, but things kept coming up. Then the pandemic happened. When I finally recorded it, it was after my separation from my wife. I realized later it was actually about our relationship coming apart, but I didn’t realize it until after it had already happened. That’s why the song wasn’t finished. Because that closure needed to happen,” she confesses. “It feels really amazing to finally put this song out. I’ve been playing it live for a couple years, and it feels so cathartic. I can’t wait to put it out.”
Stevi emphasizes the importance of diversifying one’s skills and interests for aspiring musicians. “Have your hands in as many things as you can. While it’s great to commit, I wonder if the days of doing this one thing are kind of done,” she ponders. “It’s okay to have a lot of different genres that you can do. In fact, it makes you more of a well-rounded writer. For instance, I’m working on a pop song right now. I have some soul covers. I’m doing my grungy thing with Come Down. I’m working on some more electronic-y kind of rock. I just feel like it’s great for your spirit to do those things. Maybe one of those things pops off. Maybe two of those things pop off,” she says optimistically.
Above all, Stevi stresses the importance of staying true to oneself and creating art that resonates on a personal level. “Do what you think is cool. If you think it’s cool, then you can stand by it. That’s all you need. Stand by your art, no matter what anyone thinks. Sometimes, we get stuck in our own expectations of what we feel like people want from us. I feel like as soon as artists stop being true to themselves, that’s when they lose their luster. People can feel that your heart isn’t in it,” she asserts.
Inspiration can strike Stevi at any moment, whether she’s watching documentaries, taking a walk, or simply being in a meditative state. “I feel like inspiration is everywhere. I’m inspired by everything,” she muses. Sometimes, it’s as simple as taking a walk. I’ll hear something in the rhythm of my feet, and I’ll start chanting some words.”
Stevi also finds solace and creative fuel in nature, particularly the ocean. “I’ve definitely had some times where I couldn’t figure out a song, and I went to the beach, and on the way home, I’ll work it out. Being in nature is so healing for me,” she shares.
As our conversation draws to a close, I ask Stevi about her dreams for the future. Her eyes sparkle with possibility as she envisions touring with her heroes, like Jack White, and immersing herself in the studio. “I’d love to be able to play more often, and I’d love to play every night, honestly. Like, I love performing, I love singing, and so for me, the dream would be solely making a living off my music, off my voice,” she declares.
Stevi’s dedication to her craft is palpable, and her determination to forge her own path is inspiring. “I truly just want to sing,” she says with a smile. I’ve also been trying to spend more time with people who are doing that as a career to show myself it’s possible because I think we all kind of have these limiting beliefs that we take from our childhood and bring into our adulthood.”
As I leave our interview, I can’t help but feel energized by Stevi’s spirit. A few days later at the Position Music 25th anniversary party, her magnetic presence is on full display. Stevi floats through the room like a champagne bubble, radiating an effervescent energy that draws people into her orbit. As I mingle with the other guests, I’m struck by the universal adoration for Stevi. Her name comes up in nearly every conversation, accompanied by a smile and glowing praise. “She’s an absolute best,” one colleague confides. “The whole vibe changes when Stevi walks in – the room gets cooler just because she’s in it.” Throughout the evening, I hear story after story attesting to Stevi’s immense talent, generous heart, and extraordinary energy. While the superlatives could veer into hyperbole, the sincerity behind each compliment is undeniable.
As the celebration winds down, it becomes apparent that Stevi is more than a musician or mystic; she’s a force of nature. Seemingly, every life she touches is a little brighter because she’s in it. Stevi’s impact on those around her is unmistakable.
With her unique blend of musical prowess, spiritual depth, and unapologetic authenticity, Stevi Daft is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. She reminds us to embrace our most authentic selves, to stand boldly in our creativity, and to never stop evolving. With her star firmly on the rise, one thing is certain: the world could use more of Stevi’s magic.
Connect with Stevi: Instagram: @stevidaft Spotify: Stevi Daft Website: www.stevidaft.com
Pre-save her upcoming cover of Hot Stuff, dropping 6/21 – Hot Stuff
