Stephanie McCourt grew up in Finsbury Park, North London for the best part of her early life, born to her Zambian Mother and Irish Father. From a young age, Stephanie found comfort in music. Singing became her outlet, a calming force during a hyperactive childhood. 90’s Divas played on repeat, setting the stage for a lifelong love affair with music.
Stephanie’s first independent release WOMAN is 15 years in the making, a true full circle moment, the very first song she ever wrote!
WOMAN describes the journey of letting go of your inhibitions, not caring what people think! It speaks to the power in being vulnerable laying bare everything you are and want to be, your authentic self.
Available to stream on all streaming platforms.
At 9 years old with guidance from her Mother, Stephanie was introduced to renowned singing teacher, Tona de Brett (Seal, Lily Allen, Dido, Duffy) which provided her with great escapism from the daily school bullying she had to endure. Singing became a secret super power they couldn't take away! After many years spent perfecting her craft with Tona, it was time for Stephanie to expand her horizons and enrol at BIMM music college in Brighton (George Ezra, Tom Odell, Mimi Webb), where she went onto be discovered by founders Kevin Nixon and Sarah Clayman. These years would be integral in shaping her musical foundations.
More turbulent times would come leaving Stephanie wanting a new way to express herself, and so her songwriting journey began with fellow student Benjamin Rogers. Writing became her new haven, a kind of therapy. Stephanie was not just a singer anymore, but was now also a storyteller. A soul singer at heart, her eclectic taste spans over many genres. From soul legends Aretha Franklin and Etta James to the rebellious spirit’s of Janis Joplin and Christina Aguilera, these are just some of the influences that shaped her unique musical identity.
Stephanie has supported famous acts including Naughty Boy and has performed at some of Londons most iconic venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, The SSE arena, O2 Islington, and The Jazz Cafe, where she headlined her first EP Stripped Back.
Stephanie’s TV debut’s came in 2015 first appearing on London Live and more notably The X Factor, where she caught the attention of Simon Cowell and Rita Ora. It was during this time Stephanie was spotted by F Block Music, (Sam Smith, Emeli Sande and Naughty Boy).
Under the direction of Hank Hughes founder of F Block Music, Stephanie collaborated with Drum and Bass duo Loadstar, on record Lifeless in 2017 written by Becky Hill, which had notable success gaining over 1.3 million streams on Spotify. After years of writing and collaborating on retro styled songs at F Block Music, she finally felt like it was the right time to release her second EP Wings, unbeknownst to the awaiting pandemic. Despite the difficult times her resilience remained. Some success, Wings received ample air play, gained support from BBC Introducing as their One To Watch, with single Walked On, all as part of their Woman’s International Week.
After challenging years of indie labels and a lack of direction, Stephanie decided it was high time she started her own record label and took control of her fate. Thus Ladybird Records was born, finally liberation! From composing strings to marketing strategies, every aspect of Stephanie's career is now her own. Her first independent release is 15 years in the making, a true full circle moment, the very first song she ever wrote WOMAN released February 23rd 2024.
