A Taste:

Journey, India.Arie, Missy Elliott, Styx

“Lyrics grab me first and foremost,” says Stephanie J. Block with a smile.

Listening to Stephanie’s brand new album, This Place I Know, there’s the perfect balance between lyrical depth and epic vocal delivery. Stephanie’s a Broadway veteran having starred in productions ranging from The Boy from Oz and Wicked to 9 to 5: The Musical. The “show” element also remains important to her on Place. She elaborates, “I want people to stop and have a cinematic visual of what the song is saying.”

Stephanie’s playlist is quite surprising. She’s more likely to be cranking Journey than Cats, and that’s part of what makes her such a vibrant performer.

She laughs, “My playlist is so wild. Very rarely will I listen to musical theater, there are a few soundtracks that really touch me, but my playlist is kind of crazy.”

Check out Stephanie’s playlist below and pick up This Place I Know.

Stephanie J. Block’s Playlist:

1. Journey

I love Journey! I think they’re genius. Steve Perry’s voice knocks me out. Every time I listen to their albums, I notice something new—whether it’s the bass line or a really cool guitar solo. It all goes back to Journey for me. As a kid, I had a babysitter named Michelle and I thought she was the ultimate in cool. She had tight jeans and long-feathered hair. She was awesome! She wore white lightning nail polish, and I will never forget her. She always would play Journey. When you’re that age, I thought I was being babysat by the coolest girl in the world. She couldn’t be more glamorous popular and hip, so that music she listened to always sticks with me. It was always Journey and Styx. 25 years later, it’s still the greatest music!

2. Styx

Certain music takes me to a real place in my past. Bands like Styx were my gateway into music and I have some of the coolest memories are attached to those bands.

3. Annie — Soundtrack

When I turned 11, I really discovered musical theater and I picked up every album I could—from Annie to The Sound of Music and The King and I. That really resonated with me. As a musical theater artist, I very rarely will put on a Sondheim or Gershwin album. I think a lot of musical theater people tend to go for that. I love to perform and live that music, but when it comes time for me to listen to something else. I really go to different genres.

4. James Taylor

5. India.Arie

I dig India.Arie. I think she’s really wonderful. She draws from her family, personal experiences and what she’s been through. Her music truly takes me to a place where I’m like, “I can do that!” It’s genius, but it’s accessible. That’s something I could really do—sit on the subway transit, notice people and jot things down. I realize I could create a great song just by being aware of what’s going on around me. India Arie does that. She’s really special. I feel like society could learn so much from what this woman has to say and I wish she could be on every radio station and playing everywhere.

6. Missy Elliott

If it’s time to get up, my playlist immediately goes to Missy Elliott or something that’s going to get the blood pumping and flowing and get me rallying for the day.

7. Pink

She’s a great storyteller. All of her music is very personal; she’s trying to tell the listener something and I really respect her for that. I’m all over the board when it comes to music!

—Rick Florino
06.21.09