On his latest EP The Universal Me, West Virginia–born singer-songwriter Stephen Thomas refuses to be boxed in. Blending R&B, pop, country, hip-hop, and alt-rock, he crafts a sound he calls the Universal genre — fluid, boundary-breaking, and rooted in lived experience. The result is a five-track collection that radiates both vulnerability and self-assurance.
“Every song on this EP is a reflection of something I’ve felt, survived, or dreamed of,” Thomas explains. “Whether it’s pain, passion, or power, I let it out through hip-hop, R&B, country, or even alt-rock energy. Music isn’t about fitting in — it’s about being free enough to tell your story, your way.”
That philosophy resonates throughout. Opener “Breaking Hearts” sets the tone with jagged alt-rock guitars wrapped around a driving rhythm, as Thomas confronts the hard truths of leaving toxic relationships behind. His impassioned vocals capture both the sting of separation and the liberation that follows.
A standout track, “Feening For Love”, slides into smooth R&B territory. Its swaying groove and wistful lyrics explore the ache of a relationship stalled by imbalance — intimacy promised but never shared. Thomas’ voice, equal parts tender and urgent, gives the song its emotional weight.
Switching gears, “Come Home to Me” leans into country-tinged warmth with subtle R&B inflections. Light guitars and understated percussion frame a vocal performance that dips into a lower, more textured register. Layered harmonies shimmer above, adding depth to the track’s yearning mood.
Elsewhere, Thomas continues to showcase his versatility — a quality that has already earned him recognition as an Artist to Watch in 2025. His recent single and video “Back Home” amassed over 100,000 streams in just 12 hours, broke into MTV rotation, and climbed into the Top 60 of the Active Rock Radio charts — a testament to his wide appeal across genres.
Chameleon-like yet cohesive, The Universal Me underlines Thomas’ strengths as both a writer and performer. Each song feels distinct, yet together they form a portrait of an artist intent on telling his story his way — melodic, lustrous, and refreshingly unconfined.
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