Stephen "Static" Garrett (singer/songwriter/producer) comng for R. Kelly's crown!!!

    

 

 

 

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You may not realize it, but if you own a radio, you already know Static.

Maybe you consider your relationship issues when you hear Aaliyah's "We Need a Resolution." Or feel sultry and s*xy listening to Ginuwine's "Pony." Or dance to the contagious vocals of "Addictive" by Truth Hurts.

You can thank Static, aka Stephen Garrett, for all of that.

The 29-year-old Louisville singer/songwriter wrote those cuts and many, many others. Within the music industry, Static is already a superstar.

"He is one of the most sought-after songwriters in the game," says Shawn "Tubby" Holiday, creative manager at EMI Publishing in Santa Monica, Calif. "Everyone in the music industry — from producers, artists and A&R — call me looking to do a song with Static and have him write them a hit record."

Dr. Dre, Timbaland and Kanye West are just a few of music's renowned producers who call on Static's services. Artists like Brandy, Toni Braxton and Sunshine Anderson are recording some of his songs right now. Static can be seen singing the hook in David Banner's new video, "Crank It Up," now in heavy rotation on BET.

Jimmy Douglass, a producer/mixer/engineer for more than 30 years, calls Static's extensive musical contributions "potent and viable."

"When you mention the songs he's written, (industry people) all bow," says Douglass, who has worked with more than 80 artists from Aretha Franklin to Jay-Z to Justin Timberlake. "One of the things Static brings is his arrangement. His harmonies are different and introspective. He finds notes you don't even know exist in a harmony scheme."

A master behind the scenes, Static is finally about to put some music down for himself. His solo album, "Suppertime on the Feddy Side," is set to drop this spring on his label, Southernaire Entertainment/Universal.

"It's the coolest, smartest thing he could do," Douglass says.


Static electricity

Static plays some cuts from "Suppertime" while cruising around town in his pristine 2003 Bentley Armage R. His wide-ranging and velvety vocals melt over the tracks, which range from bouncy headnodders to sensual, soul-searching cuts. With lyrics that hearken back to old-school soul, one track plays out like a love letter set to music; another is laced with suggestive s*xual innuendo. A few include well-placed rap verses. All of them make you think.

"I'm coming with some OG music," Static says. "I walk a thin line between hip-hop and R & B."

This music is an odd juxtaposition to "Jeepers Creepers 2," the movie playing on three screens of Static's in-car theater system. The murderous rampage of the film's gruesome monster somehow ceases to be revolting when set to Static's heartfelt words.

"My new step is to establish myself as an artist," says Static, who admits he's going after R. Kelly's musical crown. "I know that will bring my songwriting more to the forefront. It's gonna be beautiful because people are gonna think I just popped up. But when they look at my résumé, they'll be like, `We been listening to this dude's work for so many years and didn't even know it.'"

Talking with laid-back Static is comfortable and easy. He speaks slowly and deliberately, occasionally adjusting the position of two diamond-encrusted watches on his left wrist, or fiddling with the diamond and platinum bracelets on his right. The diamond-and-platinum theme carries over to the Kentucky-shaped medallion hanging around his neck. He's wearing sunglasses, but you can sense his eyes sparkling as he discusses his music.

"This could be a long interview," he says, sipping an amaretto sour with three shots of Crown Royal. "I've got a lot of eras to get through."


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