Interview with Pete Devine of Pete’s Rock News and Views (https://petesrocknewsandviews.com)
PD: How would you describe your music?
SM: I consider myself a singer songwriter that uses my imagination to create tunes that tell psychedelic stories that reflect my wonders and anxieties about the world. I aim to write catchy, melodic and uplifting music that inspires.
PD: Tell us the brief history of yourself?
SM: I’ve been active in the Manchester music scene for many years. I played in People in the Bassment back in the late nineties and noughties. Since then, I’ve fronted Manchester alt rock band Jesus Knievel. In 2024 I also had a brief stint on keys and vocals in Perspex Leslie. Along the way I’ve amassed a large catalogue of songs that I’m very proud of and I continue to write prolifically. In March 2025 I decided to finally launch my solo career so I could get more of my songs out there. I’ve been building up a following on YouTube and Instagram posting live shorts and reels every other day without fail. In June I started gigging with my band under the name Ste Morris & Slow Glass. We’ve done the first few gigs in the Manchester area over the past few months and they’ve gone great.
PD: Who are your musical and non-musical influences?
SM: Musical influences are diverse and vast in number. Some notable influences are Arthur Lee and Love, Nina Simone, Regina Spektor, Big Star, The Velvet Underground, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, English Teacher, Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead, Henge and Joni Mitchell
None-musical influences for me are often in the areas of Science and Philosophy. People like Sean Carrol, Max Tegmark, Bertrand Russel, Alex O’Connor, Liv Boree and The Skeptics Guide to the Universe can often be found in my reading list or podcast/YouTube feed.
I love good Sci-Fi and speculative fiction too. Douglas Adams, Rod Serling, Gene Rodenberry, Isaac Asimov and Charlie Brooker have been big influences on me.
Much of these influences often find their way into my music somehow.
PD: What are your dreams and goals?
SM: Like most musicians I’d love to be successful. Who wouldn’t want to play a packed 1000 capacity venue? But what I really want is to make great music and for the people who would love it to be able to find it. And of course I want to play great live shows. My immediate goals are to complete my first solo album, which I plan to do in 2026. I want to keep increasing my audience and play further afield to different people. My goal is for each new song I write to be more engaging than the last both for me and the audience. I want to develop my sound and try new ideas and I’m always trying to become a better player.
PD: Who writes your songs, what are they about?
SM: I write my songs. The themes range from concerns of a universal nature right down to everyday faffy minutia. I have a song about my favourite T-shirt, a song about science, and a song about one of the darkest times in my life. Sometimes I tackle some of the major things that are happening in our world today and sometimes I’m wandering through a wacky dreamscape…
PD: How do you promote your band and shows?
SM: Of late I’ve been focussing on live videos on social media (@stemorrismusic YouTube, Instagram, FB & TikTok). In my home studio I film each rehearsal I have with the band. Solo performances too. Often these are improvised pieces, sometimes song snippets. I edit and post my favourite clips. Whenever I have a show coming up, I create a short reel to promote it.
PD: What do you think about downloading music online?
SM: I’m a bit of a lifelong tech nerd so I was an early adopter of streaming music. It’s true to say we may have lost something from days when listening to a vinyl album was more of a sit down and take notice event. But I think the technological benefits out way the negative. While it’s a lot easier for independent artists to get their stuff out there now it’s true that artists are quite often unfairly paid for their streams. I think it’s important to be mindful of how things have changed and to sometime make a point of listening to an album from beginning to end and giving it your full attention. And of course it’s important to support your favourite artists by going to gigs and buying merch etc.
PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?
SM: “Somedays” by Regina Spektor because it’s achingly beautiful.
PD: What are some of your pet peeves?
SM: Overused autotune that’s laid on thick on vocals. Out of tune guitars – unless by 
design. Dull beats. AI slop.
PD: What have been your proudest moments in music?
SM: The release of my first solo EP – Foxtrot in a Pint Pot. A gig I did last year with Jesus Knievel at The Vale in Mossley to an absolutely buzzing local crowd. Also, I got to play The Trades in Hebden Bridge one of my favourite venues.
PD: So what are you working on at the moment?
SM: I’m currently making preparations to record my first solo album. Me and the band are practicing for this and we have gig supporting Year of the Dog at Gullivers in Manchester on 20th February that we’re really looking forward to.
PD: What music have you available online and where can we buy it from?
SM: My debut EP – Foxtrot in a Pint is available on all streaming platforms and can be bought from Bandcamp too:
https://stemorris.bandcamp.com/album/foxtrot-in-a-pint-pot
Ste Morris links:
Band/Artist location – Manchester UK
Facebook – You Tube – Soundcloud – Bandcamp – Instagram –
Apple – Spotify – Amazon – Deezer – Tidal – LinkTree – TikTok –
Check our page for Ste Morris
