IN CONVERSATION WITH STEPHEN SANCHEZ

interview by JANA LETONJA

Breakout singer-songwriter Stephen Sanchez has quickly become one of pop’s most distinctive young voices, blending timeless romance with a vintage-inspired sound that echoes the great love songs of the 20th century. His meteoric rise began with the multi-platinum hit Until I Found You, which earned praise from icons including Elton John and Lana Del Rey, and introduced his nostalgic songwriting to a global audience. Now, Stephen enters a new creative chapter with his sophomore album Love, Love, Love, which came out on 8th May. The album is led by the single Sweet Love, a swooning tribute to classic love songs that arrives alongside a heartfelt music video featuring his grandparents. With his cinematic storytelling, retro aesthetic, and a rapidly growing fan base, Stephen continues to craft a musical world where old-school romance meets modern pop sensibility.

Your new album Love, Love, Love feels steeped in romance and nostalgia. What inspired the emotional and sonic direction of this project?

I don’t feel like there was any particular north star to go off of; we just went to the studio with some amazing pop producers, brought the sounds that I love into their world, and made something that feels nostalgic and modern at the same time.

What does the title Love, Love, Love represent for you at this stage in your life and career?

I feel like I’m learning to love myself, and I’m learning how to love others. I’m in the presence of so much love in my friendships and relationships, and this record embodies all of that in its songs and in its message. It creates a really nice throughline of all the ways you can receive love.

tank DOLCE & GABBANA
jacket & pants CUSTOM BESPOKE
boots YSL
bracelet UNO DE 50

How does this album expand on the world you began building with your previous music?

I don’t think story-wise it necessarily builds off Angel Face, but I think it brings those retro sounds into a pop space that feels a bit fresher, while still pulling from roots that feel very old school.

Sweet Love beautifully captures the feeling of classic love songs. What story were you hoping to tell with this track?

I was just telling my own. I wasn’t very in love at the time I wrote the song, and I just wanted to capture the kind of love that I wanted to experience for myself. Something sweet that pulls me out of my own slump into something beautiful. And now I have that, which is so great.

suit and shoes GUCCI
shirt BESPOKE CUSTOM
watch ROLEX

The music video features your grandparents, which adds a deeply personal layer. How did that idea come about?

I really wanted to make a record that wasn’t entirely focused on myself. I’m not an expert on love, and I think having real stories anchoring this record makes it about something more. It was great to highlight the people who taught me how to love. That’s the most important part.

What does seeing their love story reflected in your art mean to you?

It really just means so much. It reflects love that I either learned or experienced from watching theirs, and it’s just wonderful. What I know from love I put in those songs.

Until I Found You became a global hit almost overnight. How did that moment change your life as an artist?

It’s the source of this moment of incredible gratitude for me. That gave me the freedom to explore creatively, it gave me access to new people, places, and sounds, so that I can continue to make more music.

suit GUCCI
shirt KING & TUCKFIELD
boots YSL

When Elton John invited you to perform the song during his final Glastonbury show, what was that experience like for you?

It was pretty surreal. It’s one of those stories that everyone thinks is a lie when you tell it at a dinner party. It was such a special moment, everything leading up to it - rehearsals at Wembley, spending time together singing the song, and getting to see people enjoy the song, including legends like Paul McCartney.

Your music often feels like it could belong to another era. What draws you to that vintage-inspired sound?

I think that period of music is so special because they didn’t have access to ensuring that the melodies they had in their head would be captured immediately. They couldn’t use voice memos; they really had to stew on the melody and work out the kinks before they had a chance to get to the studio and record it. There was so much intentionality behind music back then, and it’s really beautiful. The goal was to bring people together and foster community.

top BESPOKE CUSTOM
pants KING & TUCKFIELD
boots YSL
watch ROLEX

Your style plays a big role in your artistic identity. How does fashion help you expand the world of your music?

I’ve always loved a great suit and vintage fashion. Those are things I’ve gotten to explore in different ways over these two albums. Angel Face was lots of velvet, rich colour, and silky/satin tones. This album is, at its core, a celebration, which allowed me to make some exciting and very intentional choices with my wardrobe. I’ve been able to play around with an entirely new colour palette and incorporate beautiful, vivid colours into my looks. We’ve sourced and created some really stunning pieces for this record, and I’m so excited to wear them on the road.

What do you hope listeners feel when they hear Love, Love, Love for the first time?

I hope they feel excited about love and want to be around love. Love is such a beautiful thing, and it feels so good to be loved and grow with that. I want everyone to experience that, and if this music helps, then I’ve done my job.

top GUCCI
pants CUSTOM BESPOKE
watch CARTIER

TEAM CREDITS

talent STEPHEN SANCHEZ
photography BENJO ARWAS
styling JAI SIMMONS
make up & hair NICOLE CHEW AT ART DEPARTMENT
photography assistant MAXINE B
studio LENUR STUDIO
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director & interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN