Angel Face (Club Deluxe) by Stephen Sanchez: Transporting listeners back to the 50s

American singer-songwriter Stephen Sanchez opens up about his touring experiences and writing process in his new deluxe album Angel Face.

This April, Stephen Sanchez released Angel Face (Club Deluxe), an expanded version of his original 2023 record Angel Face. This album features six more tracks, giving Sanchez plenty of new songs to play live as he hits the road again on his 2024 tour. 

With romance at the heart of Sanchez’s work, he consistently elevates his music to new heights. Angel Face tells a story, diving into the lives of fictional characters inspired both by Sanchez’s personal experiences and imagination. He explained how the characters have their own mindsets, but they are his feelings that he writes from an exaggerated perspective. Some moments may be true to his exact thoughts, while others are more dramatized. Sanchez described how it is easier to tell his stories through metaphors and characters, and it also makes it more entertaining for his listeners. 

Sanchez uses the storyline of Angel Face to make his live shows a unique and memorable experience. During his 2023 tour, Sanchez portrayed himself as a “ghost haunting the venue,” embodying the spirit of Troubadour Sanchez, who’s story ends with his song “Death Of The Troubadour.” In his 2024 tour, however, Sanchez offers a fresh perspective. This tour transports fans back to the 1950s, where they can witness Troubadour Sanchez and Moon Crest perform live on a fictional talk show called the Connie Co Show. Sanchez and his crew fully immerse themselves in these personas, bringing the era to life.

Sanchez has already had a great start to his tour this year and even made an appearance in Japan. Sanchez reflected on the Japan show, saying how it was a “total energy shift but in the best way.” He described how it felt like fans were really listening to the songs, and he appreciated their respect, especially with the acoustic tracks. 

Sanchez and his crew go above and beyond with his shows, offering a nostalgic escape to the 21st century. Fans tend to match the energy, coming dressed up to fit the 50s to 60s vibes, adding to the fun of the experience. He reflected on his love for people’s reactions and involvement. To add to his act even more, Sanchez always throws in a few covers from iconic artists from back in the day. He explained how wants to put the crowd in a fictional world, but also include the artists of that time period. Whether it’s “Oh, Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison, or “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” by Paul Anka, Sanchez adds his own rock and roll twist to the songs which never fails to get the crowd hyped. 

Overall, it is clear that Sanchez uses his emotions and feelings to influence his work. He expressed his passion for touring and his dream of selling out shows and writing music that resonates with people. Throughout his career, Sanchez has achieved this, and it’s clear that many exciting things lie ahead for him.

I am a Dallas-based photographer who has an appreciation for both the arts and music! Besides photographing concerts, I also enjoy doing creative portraits and working in Photoshop. I spend my free time either playing the cello, guitar, or piano or collecting CDs and vinyls. I would say my top three favorite artists are Peter McPoland, The Beatles, and Harry Styles! I’m currently a senior in high school, but I plan to major in graphic design and one day turn concert photography into a career.