World United Music: Steafan Hanvey

BIO: Steafan Hanvey

Steafan Hanvey and The HoneyMoon Junkies was released in 2006 in Ireland to critical acclaim.
Steafan Hanvey, originally hails from Downpatrick, Co. Down, in Northern Ireland. A child progeny of traditional musicians (his parents having recorded two albums during the seventies) his exposure to all kinds of music began in utero. Citing influences today from his formative years as being everything from Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Soundgarden, Simon & Garfunkel to Luke Kelly, Willie Nelson, The Johnstons, Paul Brady and Johnny Cash, perhaps the most important of all was the household itself, renowned at the time for its legendary sessions and where it wasn't long before the young Steafan was called upon for a tune or two himself.

In primary school too, his teachers would have him sing to his classmates. It was as a teenager though that Steafan began to explore realms of music other than ballads of immigration, love lost, and blooming heather.

At the age of 16, Steafan formed 50/50, a heavy rock outfit with childhood friends Kenny & Carl Papenfus of Relish. After three years of fronting the band and co-writing the material, sniffs of interest from CBS in Dublin and much frustration with the northern music scene, or apparent lack of, in those days, and indeed lack of venues for original rock bands, Steafan opted to take time out to continue his studies at university.

His third year took him to Seattle where he took the opportunity to study sound engineering. Immersed in the music of the time, producing demos for local bands as part of his course, he was able to witness at close quarters the rise and demise of grunge, culminating in the untimely death of Kurt Cobain. Although an enriching experience at the mixing desk, a certain amount of fatigue set in with the amount of Pearl Jam wannabees on the scene, and the realization hit that he missed what was going on at the other side of the window with the musicians. In the summer of 1995, love and univeristy brought him to Helsinki. Not long into his stay in Helsinki, Steafan began to host his own radio show introducing fresh Irish acts to Finnish ears. (Irkku-aika/Lahi radio)
The mini-album 'Sole' was recorded in November 2000-March 2001, where Steafan finally got to work with Janne Viksten, one of Finland's finest recording engineers, who at the time worked at The Sibelius Music Academy.

Sole, dealt with everyday dilemmas, falling in love, falling on your ass, picking yourself back up, fears, apportioning blame- the usual stuff not in the usual manner. After much gigging in Helsinki and around Finland, Steafan relocated to Dublin.

He got busy recording his forthcoming debut album "Steafan Hanvey and The HoneyMoon Junkies". This saw him team up with old Downpatrick bandmates the Papenfus brothers from Relish. The album was started in Dublin and was finished with sessions in between at studios in Newry, London and Helsinki.

Steafan teamed up with Kieran Lynch to mix the record. Kieran has worked on U2's "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" has also co-produced Elvis Costello's "When I Was Cruel", in other words, he's really very good!

In 2004 Steafan visited NYC and Montreal to get a feel for different audiences. Back in Europe he opened for The Hothouse Flowers in Barcelona in March 2004, played the BelfEst music festival in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and opened for John Spillane, Eleanor McEvoy (Woman's Heart) and The Devlins amongst others at different shows throughout Ireland.

He was 1 of 6 Irish acts invited to play at Boston's NEMO music festival in 2005.
He has recorded 3 in-studio sessions at the BBC and has spent the last 6 years playing all over Ireland, Scandinavia and the USA, laying the groundwork for his debut album release which met with critical acclaim in 2006.

National television and radio appearances followed. The singles 'A Hundred Days of Snow' and 'My Woman' received strong airplay in Finland and in Ireland, making many national radio playlists. A national tour of Ireland followed.

Steafan is gearing up to release his sophomore album entitled "Nuclear Family"- mixed by Swedish producer Tore Johansson, who has also worked with the likes of Martha Wainwright/The Cardigans/New Order and Franz Ferdinand. The record was mastered by Mandy Parnell and features guest appearances by Liam Ó Maonolaí [Hothouse Flowers], Bertrand Belin & Papenfus brothers, Carl & Ken of Relish.

Fuse On Demand, a free Video on Demand service in the USA, that is part of Fuse Music Network and Madison Square Garden Media have recently committed to airing the first single from ‘Nuclear Family’ entitled: ‘Secrets & Lies’ (See below). The song will air later in the year.

Contact: management@steafanhanvey.com