Discussions in Percussion

Excited to announce that I’m the featured guest on the Discussions in Percussion podcast episode 174! It was a pleasure to meet Damon Grant and Marcos Torres; and so much fun to speak with them about drumming, songwriting, gig life, touring, studying with Billy Martin, mentoring with Leon Parker, growing up in New Jersey, moving to Memphis, and more!! Check it out…
discussionsinpercussion.com/home/2020/4/29/174-stephen-chopek-drummer-for-charlie-hunter-john-mayer-jesse-malin-mike-doughty-amp-more

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Fireworks Collage Project

20+ years ago a bunch of likeminded friends and I started a musical ruckus called The Fireworks Collage Project. Birthed from a conversation under the fireworks on a hot 4th of July evening in 1999 at a rooftop party in New York City’s lower east side, FCP got together for the first time the next day with hopes to rage noise and explore the subtleties of untamed musical ideas and expression. The ensemble lasted for a little over a year before we all moved on, but we recorded (almost) everything. Stephen Connolly recently uploaded everything to Bandcamp for free streaming!

Fireworks Collage Project is Mustafa Bhagat (guitar), Stephen Chopek (drums / percussion), Stephen Connolly (electronics / engineer), and Brian Wilson (keyboards / percussion). Featuring special guests Daniel Carter (saxophone), Marcos Garcia (guitar), Karel Ruzicka (saxophone), Jamie Zillitto (bass), and Scott Zillitto (saxophone). Listen here…

fireworkscollageproject.bandcamp.com

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No Foolin'

I recently had the honor of appearing in Southern Bride Magazine! The photos were from a wedding gig I played with Mighty Souls Brass Band at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, TN. Pics below and more about the event HERE.

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Music Video Monday

Big thanks to The Memphis Flyer for featuring my new single “Cherokee Arms” in today’s Music Video Monday! Check it out HERE.

Having lived in Memphis for six years, I was finally ready to write a song about living in Midtown. Cherokee Arms is an apartment building on Madison Avenue that looks how Midtown Memphis feels to me: rough around the edges with strong character, understated with a solid presence, attitude with class. This video is all about getting there. The footage was collected from some of the places that I've passed through while on tour: Richmond, El Paso, Oklahoma City, Madison, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Queens. Dallas / Fort Worth, and of course Memphis. 

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New song - CHEROKEE ARMS

My latest single Cherokee Arms is now available everywhere!

Links below or click HERE to listen or head over to the MUSIC page.

I grew up in New Jersey and moved to Memphis in 2014. After being here for six years, I was ready to write a song about living in Midtown. Cherokee Arms is an apartment building on Madison Avenue that looks how Midtown Memphis feels to me: rough around the edges with strong character, understated with a solid presence, attitude with class.

Written, performed, recorded, mixed by me at The Perch.
Mastered by Matt Qualls at Young Avenue Sound.

Spotify
Apple
YouTube
Bandcamp
SoundCloud
Amazon

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Survey for Pace U

For my fellow working musicians. Since we all seem to have some extra time on our hands, I was wondering if you could help out my friend Paul Ziek. He's working on an academic paper with a colleague at Pace University, and is looking for musicians to complete an online survey. It's anonymous and only take s a few minutes to complete. He'd greatly appreciate your input. Please feel free to forward the link along to other musicians as well. Click HERE for survey. Many thanks in advance for your time!

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Erin go Shane

For your St. Patrick’s Day soundtrack, please be sure to add my Songs of Shane EP to the playlist. Released this time last year, featuring some of my favorite music from Shane MacGowan and his work with The Pogues and The Popes. Listen on the MUSIC page or on SPOTIFY. Enjoy!

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