Meet Steve N. Clair | Recording Artist, Filmmaker & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Steve N. Clair and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Steve, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Honestly, throughout my childhood and teenage years, i’ve dealt with change so much due to various circumstances, to the point where I grew a slight fear in the thought of it. As I got older is when I continued to understand more and more that change is one of the few things that is unavoidable in life, then I started to embrace it. After dealing with overcoming the transitioning of my father in 2021, is when I will say that I’ve completely let go of fearing the unknown. That is essentially why we fear the concept of taking a risk, because failure will require change, and when it comes to taking a risk, it is unknown whether we will fail or not. Taking risks has played a crucial role in my career, and life in general. To believe in yourself, take that risk, then receive the reward of taking that risk is an indescribable feeling.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I like to describe myself as an hybrid artist. I am a man of many hats. When it comes to the understanding of music, that is something that is embedded in my DNA. I come from a musical family, my grandma was an exceptional pianist, my father and mother had a passion for singing, and my older brother Klick Klack is literally the best multi instrumentalist that I personally know. I’ve dabbled in orchestra as a child, then transitioned to percussion in my teenage years, but eventually I discovered that my strongest suit is rapping/songwriting. That’s where my best friend Preston “Cue Coldblooded” Bradley came in to play. At age 13, we would freestyle on my brother’s tape deck, and actually make mixtapes on cassettes, fast forward to us forming “The Domino Effect”, a highly acclaimed hip hop group within St. Louis as well as the Midwest. Along with music, I was also a theatre kid in school, drama class was literally one of my favorite classes, and my first production was A horror film I created my senior year. When I left St. Louis to attend college at SIUC to study Cinema & Photography is when I received the opportunity to have unlimited access to equipment, and understand cameras even more, that is what deepened my love for film. That love led me to releasing a documentary that changed my life, titled CANFIELD, about the rising tensions of Ferguson, MO a day after Mike Brown Jr. was murdered by an officer. Leading me to starting “Fly Away Films”, a hub for Film and creative arts of various sorts. The road has definitely not been an easy one travelled, but the key is not to give up. If you think about it, you are closer to your goals, than where you started. Just keep going, do what you love, and love what you do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So I am a nature guy, so off top we are going to explore a few of these national parks around the way. Prior to moving to Atlanta, I had no idea how much of a nature city it is here. I love that aspect a lot. Im also a foodie, and although I don’t eat meat, I will have to take them out so they can expirence why this town is called the “wing capitol” lol and if they don’t eat meat as well, that’s even better because Ive been getting hip to plenty of vegan spots out here. As a black man, I feel like it is important that you visit Ebenezer Baptist Church, the MLK museum, as well has the historic home of MLK to soak in the rich history. The Atlanta Botanical Garden is a whole vibe, so they would have to see what that be like. Of course we will have to explore the many options that Atlanta nightlife has to offer as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Man where do I start haha. Off top I have to give a shoutout to the city that made and molded me, St. Louis, USA (if you know you know lol). I have to shoutout my hip hop group, The Domino Effect, my ColdBlooded family, I love each and every one of y’all dearly, My Chicago family that’s been rocking with me since day one, and all my folks from my alma mater, Southern Illinois University. Ive had many great people that I have met throughout my journey who I can call a mentor of mines, so I want to give a shoutout to each and every one of y’all. And last but not least, shoutout to this beautiful city of Atlanta, that has welcomed me with opened arms. This town has a very special place in my heart fasho.

Website: https://linktr.ee/steve_n_clair

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Steve_N_Clair/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Steve_N_Clair

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.n.clair.5

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBXDjU8q-eYQec5cLokI3mA

Image Credits
Photos by Martell Stepney