Today we’d like to introduce you to Stepwise.
Stepwise, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Stepwise Band started as a socially distanced Jam in the 2020’s. Liam Lewis and Olivia Breidenthal quickly realized the potential of their musical chemistry and got to work putting fiddle tunes and folk songs together as prepared sets. The moment they had an opportunity to perform publicly, they jumped at the chance-playing multiple residencies at irish pubs and breweries in the Los Angeles area to develop their sound and refine their performances. James Yoshizawa was swiftly folded into the group as a previous collaborator and bandmate of Liam’s. Since then the Trio has traveled the country and the world playing festivals, concerts, folk dances and everything in between.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a full time band in Los Angeles comes with plenty of challenges but Stepwise is a group of close friends that thankfully shares a lot of the same humor and work ethic. Everyone is a full time musician working in various projects and ventures so rehearsal time/recording sessions are precious-we always make the most of our time on and off stage.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Stepwise specializes in traditional Irish music but our musical tastes collectively bring us into different spheres of folk music. Our first record is entirely original compositions inspired by bluegrass, Cape Breton, contemporary folk, and Americana. Aside from performing the music well onstage, we pride ourselves on our candid relationship with our audiences-we like to be vulnerable and have fun during our shows, letting each performance take us on a unique journey. Recently we applied to perform on the Gig Rig (mainstage) in Ireland for the 2025 Fleadh Cheoil, the world’s biggest Irish festival. Out of over 500 applicants, Stepwise was selected to perform for an audience of thousands in County Wexford.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Over the years we have discussed what our image is and how it presents to an audience. Lately we are continuing to lean into our individual strengths and musical interests, rather than trying to fit the mold of a “trad irish band”. Experimenting with our instrumentation, gear that we use onstage, and genre bending feels the most rewarding when we just let it come naturally.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stepwiseband.com/
- Instagram: @stepwise_band
- Facebook: @stepwiseduo
- Youtube: @stepwiseband4518
