Stephen Mugford, a fresh voice in the music world, is set to make waves with his debut album, “Palooza Beach,” scheduled for a release.
A former business executive turned singer-songwriter, Mugford draws on over five decades of lived experience to craft songs that are as diverse and rich as his life story.After a successful multi-decade corporate career, Mugford made an unceremonious ‘left turn,’ leaving boardrooms behind to focus on his true passions: music and building communities . His songwriting, often delivered with a wink and a smile, relishes life’s quirky little bumps in an authentic and optimistic style.A student of literature and poetry, Mugford’s songs are marked by a passion for lyrical construction, vivid metaphors, and storytelling. Musically, he draws inspiration from the 70s and 80s soundtrack of his youth, influenced by legendary artists such as Sting, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, and Jack Johnson.
For his debut album, Mugford collaborates closely with GRAMMY and EMMY award-winning guitarist and composer Claudio Ragazzi (Berklee College of Music), along with Executive Producer John Escobar (Berklee College of Music). “Palooza Beach” features eight original songs, each offering a heartfelt glimpse into life through Mugford’s eyes. The emotions explored in the album are broad, ranging from love and loss to insecurity, the beauty in a child’s learning differences, and the raucous joy found in time spent with good friends.
Stylistically, the album covers a wide musical range. Simple acoustic arrangements sit alongside full funk bands, flamenco guitars, and raw rock motifs—creating a soul-affirming diversity of sound laced with exemplary musicianship. Many of the album’s songs were arranged in collaboration with Claudio Ragazzi, whose award-winning artistry adds just the right layers at just the right times.
John Escobar’s engineering and production skills bring together myriad contrasting elements and rhythms into a harmonious whole, making “Palooza Beach” a truly collaborative debut.Several singles from the album will be released in advance of the full album, giving listeners a taste of what’s to come. Each single promises to be a journey through one of life’s many facets as seen through the eyes of a man who has experienced over half a century on this planet and is now eager to share his stories with the world.
