Stephen Christian

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Stephen Christian
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Background information
Birth name Stephen Christian Arnold
Born Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
Genres Alternative rock, acoustic rock, pop punk, Christian rock
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Instruments Vocals, keyboards
Years active 1998–present
Associated acts Anberlin, Anchor & Braille, SaGoh 24/7

Stephen Christian is an American singer and songwriter best known as the former lead vocalist of the alternative rock band Anberlin, as well as the vocalist of his acoustic side-project Anchor & Braille. He and his bandmates started Anberlin in 2002, after the demise of their previous group, known as SaGoh 24/7. He is one of the main songwriters for Anberlin along with Joseph Milligan, and with the band has released seven albums, the final being in 2014. Many of the albums in the Anberlin discography have peaked in the top ten on various Billboard charts.

He founded the non-profit and humanitarian-oriented band Faceless International, and is the founder of Wood Water Records, the home of Anchor & Braille. Christian wrote and self-published the memoir The Orphaned Anything's (2008). Christian also started the solo project Anchor & Braille in 2007, and their debut album Felt, produced by Aaron Marsh of Copeland, was released in 2009. Felt debuted at number 30 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.[1] They released a second album, The Quiet Life, in 2012, with Christian again handling vocals and songwriting. A reviewer on Absolutepunk called The Quiet Life "a chaotic beauty of an album as well as [Christian's] most personal and eloquent effort to date."[2]

Early life and education

Performing with Anberlin in Las Cruces, NM at the 2007 Warped Tour

Stephen Christian was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan July 28, 1976.[3]

Christian attended Winter Haven High School along with bandmates Deon Rexroat and Joseph Milligan.[4] During high school, the three formed the punk band SaGoh 24/7 with Joey Bruce, which eventually transformed into Anberlin. Christian's younger brother Paul was an influence on some of the band's music.[4] They released two albums, Servants After God's Own Heart (1999), and Then I Corrupt Youth (2001), with Christian singing lead vocals on both.

Christian is a graduate from University of Central Florida and the Florida State University College of Law,[4] with a bachelor's degree in Psychology.[5] He attended college to study non-profits, with plans to work for Habitat for Humanity or UNICEF, but Anberlin was signed a month after he graduated.[6]

Music career

2002-14: Anberlin

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Main article: Anberlin

Following the signing of Anberlin, Christian wrote many of the band's albums. Anberlin has released seven albums: Blueprints for the Black Market, Never Take Friendship Personal, Cities, New Surrender, and Dark is the Way, Light is a Place, Vital, and Lowborn. Anberlin has also released a compilation album, Lost Songs. They released their final album in 2014.

Christian wrote a memoir, The Orphaned Anything's, which was self-published via iUniverse in early 2008.

2007-14: Anchor and Braille, Wood Water Records

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Main articles: Anchor & Braille and Wood Water Records

He is also the founder of Wood Water Records which is also the home of Anchor & Braille. He founded the acoustic group Anchor & Braille, and they released a 7" single in 2007. He wrote all songs and performed vocals on their 2009 album Felt, which was recorded in 2008. The album was released through Christian's own label Wood Water Records and Federal Distribution on August 4, 2009 and was produced, engineered and mixed by Aaron Marsh from fellow Florida-based band Copeland.[7][8] Felt debuted at number 30 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.[1]

His 2012 album with Anchor and Braille titled The Quiet Life was well received by critics, with most of the praise directed at Christian's songwriting. Of "Goes Without Saying", Artist Direct called it "One of the most brilliant and beautiful entries into Christian's catalog, and it's the perfect prelude to the sonic majesty contained in The Quiet Life."[9]

Style and influences

File:Anberlin @ Club Capitol (26 8 2011) (6105957390).jpg
Christian with Anberlin in 2011.

Christian has stated that his interest in humanitarian efforts has influenced the themes of several of Anberlin's songs.[citation needed]

Publishing history

Books

Discography

With SaGoh 24/7

Studio albums
  • 1999: Servants After God's Own Heart - lead vocals
  • 2001: Then I Corrupt Youth - lead vocals

With Anberlin

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Main article: Anberlin discography
Studio albums

With Anchor & Braille

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Main article: Anchor & Braille § Discography
Albums by Anchor & Braille
Year Album title Release details Chart peaks
US Heat
2009 Felt
  • Released: August 4, 2009
  • Label: Tooth & Nail
  • Format: CD, digital
 30
2012 The Quiet Life
  • Released: July 31, 2012
  • Label: Tooth & Nail
  • Format: CD, digital
 11
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Collaborations

The following is an incomplete list of songs that have Stephen Christian featured as either a vocalist or songwriter:

  • 2008: The Human Flight Committee - Oh, When the Animals Unionize (guest vocalist on the song "Russian We're Barely Moving")
  • 2009: Craig Owens - With Love EP (featured vocalist on the song "Products of Poverty")
  • 2011: Hyland - "The One That Got Away" (featuring Stephen Christian during the chorus)
  • 2015: Fireflight - "Safety" (featuring Stephen Christian) on Innova
  • 2015: Battledrums Worship- "The War is Over (featured vocalist on the song "By Your Stripes")
  • Horsell Common - "I'm Dead" (featuring Stephen Christian)
  • Esteban - "Follow" (featuring Stephen Christian)
  • Greek Fire - "I'm Afraid of Americans" (featuring Stephen Christian)

See also

Further reading

References

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  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
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  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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