Band: The Stifftones: Shaun and Rachel Stief: vocals and guitars
Single: ‘MidWestern Town’
Putting everything on the line for both their career and each other is a powerful motivation in the creative process for many musicians who play together. That intertwining personal and professional inspiration is even more intense for spouses who play emotional songs as a band, and offer intimate details into their lives through their lyrics. That’s certainly the case for husband and wife team, Shaun and Rachel Stief, who formed the two-piece acoustic group, The Stifftones, in their hometown of Greenville, Illinois. They’re offering their listeners an intimate view into their experiences admiring, and at times resenting, their city in their latest country-folk rock single, ‘Midwestern Town,’ which was written by Shaun. Both members of the newly formed Americana duo provide vocals and play the guitar on the song, which explores how the Stifftones met and their relationship grew, as well as their feelings of coming from the title mid-western town.
‘Midwestern Town’ effortlessly flows between Shaun and Rachel’s individual and united voices, which are supported by simple, yet enthralling, acoustic guitar rhythms. The singers’ dynamic vocals, stunning harmonies and personal lyrics offer an organic and reflective insight into how it’s often easy for people to turn away from the town that raised them. But they also admit that there will always be certain elements of home in the area that can never truly be found anywhere else.
Shaun’s relatable, engaging and thoughtful lyrics offer a genuine insight into how his hometown has influenced his job and personal connections. The emotionally captivating track chronicles how fate intervened in his life when he was considering leaving his Midwestern hometown, which he believes at times impedes people’s dreams. But due to his newfound connection with Rachel, he finally realizes that he doesn’t have to completely let go of his connection to his hometown while he pursues his goal of expanding his career through traveling.
Putting everything on the line for both their career and each other is a prominent incentive in the creative process for many musicians who play together. That intertwining personal and professional inspiration is even more fierce for spouses who play emotional songs together as a band, and offer intimate details into their lives through their lyrics. That’s certainly the case for Shaun and Rachel, who record and perform together as The Stifftones. The musicians are offering their listeners an intimate view into their lives in ‘Midwestern Town,’ which is a passionate and relatable exploration into the reasons why people admire, and at times resent, their hometown.
For more information on The Stifftones, visit the band’s official website, as well as its Bandcamp, ReverbNation, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
