Steffen Hartleib

STEFFEN HARTLEIB grew up in the wrong Delta — east of the river Rhine, not east of the Mississippi — but he's been on his way home ever since. Steffen’s professional career began at the age of 22 when he landed a gig touring Europe as the guitarist in HAIR. He made the move to the US in 1992 and studied guitar at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. His musical education continued during his two year stint in Oxford Mississippi, where he immersed himself in the rich musical culture of the American South and played with (and documented the life of) Blues legend, Junior Kimbrough. He also worked with other notable talents that include Isabelle Boulay, Buddy Miles, Bobby Whitlock and Daryl Johnson. Steffen has performed extensively as a solo artist. In 1999 he released a solo album of his own songs, Steffen Hartley, on Star Records in Montreal. His song "Married by the Moon" was cut by Isabelle Boulays, and "Straying Angel" appeared in the Canadian short film, La Rage. In 2002 he earned an MBA while playing bars at night — subsequently landing a job at BMG that took him to New York. Steffen currently works for Sony Music Entertainment by day and writes songs at night. He's based in New York City.

PRESS:

A raw and raspy voice, very sensual...
-- Echos Vedettes, Montreal

The real deal... His imagination is fueled by the same bayou based folklore that informs the work of Daniel Lanois, Robbie Robertson, and John Hiatt....giving voice to some enviable lyrics, like in "God Lets It Rain", for example, where "There's nothing you can do/but grab you coat/and take a walk/in the tears he cries for you." That's one bit of magic, but everywhere from the manhunt tale of "Treetop" to the closing "Slide Order", Hartleib keeps you listening...
-- The Hour, Montreal

Hartleib nails it on "Treetop" and "Does Mama Know You're Here"... a talent to watch.
-- LeVoir, Montreal

He immediately took the audience's breath away...Steffen Hartleib delivers [his songs] with the intensitiy and sensitivity of a true blues man. He has achieved what many guitar players can only dream of...
-- Badische Neueste Nachrichten, Bruchsal

Hartleib sings the way he plays guitar, with emotion... a memorable adventure with a guy you should know.
-- La Presse, Montreal