STEPHEN MCCAFFERTY
‘QUIET DREAM’
NEW SINGLE OUT NOW
Photo credit: Bas Van Tuijl
Stephen McCafferty‘s musical journey began with his gran’s old stereo and his mum’s vinyl and cassette collection. Influenced by artists like David Bowie, The Cranberries, Eurythmics, and The Beatles, Stephen developed a love for music that laid the foundation for his future song-writing. Combining introspective lyrics with anthemic choruses, Stephen draws inspiration from classic 20th-century song-writing, adding depth with existential themes influenced by literature and pop culture.
Stephen’s path was marked by resilience. In his late teens and early twenties, he led a nomadic life across Scotland, sofa-surfing, sleeping in cars, wheelbarrows, and even a digger. His pivotal decision to move to Edinburgh and declare himself homeless led to a transformative year in a shelter, where he wrote songs that would gain national attention and three XFM Breakout tracks of the week with his band, Return To The Sun.
Performing extensively with bands like Beautiful By Design and Return To The Sun, Stephen graced stages at festivals such as The Isle of Wight and received airplay on BBC Introducing. After taking a break to reflect and refocus, Stephen returned to his musical roots with a renewed vision, channelling his diverse influences into crafting songs that truly resonate with him. With three singles already released in 2024, his upcoming single, ‘Quiet Dream’ set for release on August 9th, marks his fourth. After a year of intensive studio sessions, there is much more to come from this dedicated artist.
New single ‘Quiet Dream”
is out NOW across all platforms!
“This song explores the emotional fallout of a significant relationship that has ended. It captures the internal conflict of holding onto memories while grappling with the need to let go and move on. The lyrics reflect on moments of nostalgia and the pain of unfulfilled dreams couples share with one another in a relationship, juxtaposed with the quiet hope and solace found in our individual dreams. For me, the “quiet dream” represents my love for writing songs and making music—no matter what happens in life, the people that come and go, I always have that. This song is about acknowledging the impact of past relationships, feeling the weight of what was lost, and finding comfort in the constant presence of a creative pursuit, which can carry you through the highs and lows of life” – Stephen McCafferty
LINKTREE HERE