It’s Sunday afternoon, and I have just ejected a late-summer butterfly from the room, got myself a cup of tea and grabbed the headphones.
This afternoon I am having a listen to the new single from Ste Stetson, a UK-based country singer-songwriter and producer from the West Midlands who blends elements of rock and hip-hop into his musical mix. In earlier releases, Ste has worked with producer Jake Angel Beats, and he seems to be an artist who is happy to experiment, rather than allowing himself to be constrained by a box marked ‘genre’.
I will also note that Ste is active on YouTube, where he produces a range of tutorials and help guides for aspiring musicians, which I will link here.
Although he is often referred to as an ‘emerging artist’, Ste has been releasing material for a couple of years, with singles including “Look What I’ve Done” (2026), “Sex, Drugs & Country Music” (2025), and “Working For The Weekend” (2024). He has also indicated that there are a few more releases coming over the following months.
My Review
“X2” was released on September 4, 2026, and it kicks off the cowboy boots, grabs a drink and settles into some laid-back country.
I found myself quickly hooked into the track, from fish and chip shops to the girl he used to dance with. The song has the melody and country twang in the guitar that make it one I could imagine commercial country radio picking up and playing.
Considering this was the first time I had listened to Ste’s music, I was overall impressed and moved along to hear a few more.
Which leads me to:
“Sex, Drugs & Country Music” is a strong number. It took me to that lonely southern road, a truck, whisky and the Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell! It is quite a dark country number, playing with rock influences alongside a heavier rhythm section. It is less immediately commercial than “X2”, but it is a neat piece of songwriting, and the vocal performance is gritty and nails the mood of the song.
“All My Nights” takes us to a night under the stars and has a little more of the campfire about it. It is a gentle sway-along song, retaining the intimacy of the moment. There is a touch of romance in the lyric and an easy sing-along chorus.
In Summary
Ste Stetson is clearly an artist who isn’t interested in putting himself into one neat musical box. “X2” is the most immediately accessible of the three tracks I listened to, with a relaxed country feel and a melody that could sit comfortably alongside commercial country radio. But it was “Sex, Drugs & Country Music” that perhaps showed me more of what Ste can do as a songwriter, with its darker atmosphere and rockier edge.
For a first introduction to an artist I hadn’t previously listened to, this was an enjoyable Sunday-afternoon discovery. There is a willingness to experiment here, but without losing sight of the storytelling that sits at the heart of country music.
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Stream music from Ste Stetson here
By Stevie Ritson
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