One tune grabs attention fast. Not this one though. Todd Stephen’s latest song “Highway 31” slips in quiet instead. Driving rock and roll track with made for driving inside your head while scenery smudges past the glass.
Anyone new to Todd Stephen might assume he’s just starting out. Not true. He was born Todd Sclafani, grew up in Detroit, has roots in music that run deep. Long before going solo, he led groups – Hiding in Thailand first, then Subdivine, later Beating Reason. You hear those years when he plays. The past shapes how he moves through each song.
Maturity shows up quietly in “Highway 31.” Loose and unhurried, it’s a rock and roll track that moves like a long stretch of road under clear skies. The sound stays back instead of pushing forward.
Something about the way stories unfold grabs attention right away. Not flashy, yet never flat – Todd builds moments one detail at a time. Like finding photos tucked inside an old book, familiar but not trapped by what came before. Weighted, though never dragging.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Todd Stephen doesn’t chase flashy ideas. Instead, he finds strength in keeping things basic. A consistent rock and roll tune carries through, paired with words that feel real – then there’s that feeling lingering long after silence returns. Often, music works best when nothing more is added.
Somewhere past dusk, “Highway 31” slips into your thoughts like an old habit. Toss it on during rain-lit roads, find yourself still humming hours later. Todd Stephen doesn’t aim for perfection – just truth served quiet.
Listen to Highway 31 on Spotify
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