Geelong singer/songwriter Stefan West is officially a K rock All Star after being the top-voted artist on the local radio station’s Great Ocean Odes All Stars competition this week.
Great Ocean Odes, a weekly program celebrating local artists and local shows around the greater Geelong and Surf Coast regions, kicked the year off with an All Stars competition, listing 60 artists that they’d played on air across 2024 and inviting people to vote for their favourite.
Stefan West received the most votes and has won a $5000 worth of promotional airtime on the radio station.
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“The thing that felt the best and most exciting was how many people reached out and rallied around me over those three days.” – Stefan West
“It felt like I was part of a big team or crew and, as a solo artist, that’s something I do miss about playing in a band.
“I felt so supported and felt so much love from people who have been following what I do or just loved the music.
“To have it played through K rock, a station I grew up listening to felt amazing.
“I can remember recording ads for my dad there when I was 10, so it was quite surreal.
“I think it’s so important for our local artists to be celebrated and showcased, and they do an incredible job of that at the station.
“Everyone talks about Melbourne as the place to go for music, and I understand that, but there is so much happening here!”
West spoke to Forte about his upcoming debut album; Just Another Sunflower Searching for the Sun, which is set to be released in late May this year.
“It’s so exciting, it’s been in the works for almost three years now and it’s a real mixed bag.”
“Across the 16 tracks theres some straight rock and roll, a bunch of folky tunes and some that lean more into punk rock territory which was my favourite genre growing up.
“Most songs were written during lockdown and the theme across the album is that constant search for light.
“Trying to figure out what it means to make choices that feel right for me and the situations that happen around those choices. What it means to be human, at least in that particular time of my life.”
West is still playing live gigs around Geelong and surrounds, but the second half of the year will focus on his own music and building a backing band.
“I’ve got three more singles coming out before the album is released, and there’s already six from the album out now.”
“It’s been a beautiful journey of patience, I can’t wait for people to hear it.”
West’s next single Get What You Give will be out on 27 February.