Stephen Sanchez Talks the Success ofAngel Faceand Turning His New Tour into an 'Old '50s TV Show' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Stephen Sanchez in February 2024.Photo:Sergione Infuso - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Sergione Infuso - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Stephen Sanchez’sAngel Faceera isn’t over just yet.

Nearly a year since the 21-year-old musician’s debut album came out, the project has been certified gold, its hit single “Until I Found You” has gone four-times platinum and he’s still performing sold-out shows around the world in support of the full-length release.

Currently, Sanchez is in the midst of a tour that brings fans even further into the conceptual world ofAngel Face, which posits him as a famous ‘50s musician known as the Troubadour, who falls in love with a woman named Evangeline. Together, they must leave Los Angeles to escape her boyfriend Hunter, who ultimately kills the Troubadour.

Prior to the death that ends the story, however, the Troubadour and his Moon Crests backing band rise to fame through a series of performances onThe Connie Co Show, a fictional television program in the vein ofThe Ed Sullivan Show.

The “Be More” artist sat down with PEOPLE to discuss the success ofAngel Face, his recent performance withLana Del Rey, what fans can expect from this tour and the status of his next album.

Stephen Sanchez Tour Poster.Stephen Sanchez/Instagram

Stephen Sanchez/Instagram

Before this current tour kicked off in August, you popped up to sing “Until I Found You” with Lana Del Rey at her sold-out Fenway Park show in June. How did that come together?

Did you learn anything from singing alongside Lana?

She’s just very sweet. She’s a good-hearted woman, so passionate about the craft, and she’s just a really lovely, lovely human. I’m grateful we’ve gotten to connect and hang out, and I am sure we’ll share in more friendship as the years go.

How is your current tour different from the previousAngel Faceshows? You always have a big concept — what isThe Connie Co Show?

Stephen Sanchez ‘Angel Face’ Album Cover.Credit: Luke Rogers

Credit: Luke Rogers

SinceAngel Facecame out, your shows have gotten so much bigger, “Until I Found You” has gone four-times platinum and the album has been certified gold. How does it feel to have these milestone moments and growth on your first album?

It’s really cool thatAngel Facehas gone gold. I love this record so much. I put so much time and effort into it, and it felt really effortless when we were making it, too. There were songs that took some time, but it never felt like a strain. Every song was inspiring, and it just opened us up, each time we finished a song, to something new. I just loved the progress of it all. I loved the people I got to work with on it. To have these milestones just feels like, “Oh man, we did something really great, and there’s a little bit further evidence to show for it — and a relief internally. But I still haven’t got my gold plaque. I need that plaque.

Have you started working on what’s next?

It’s coming, for sure. I have a hard time writing on tour, but I think when the tour’s done, I think I’ll be in a better, more clear head space. Even when we started working onAngel Face, it was something we jumped into, and “Be More” was the first song that came out of that. So, I have a feeling when I get back in that space, music’s going to come, and it’s going to be great. It’ll be a lot different, for sure. What’s the point of doing the same thing twice?

Angel Faceobviously has so many love songs on it. Have you done any dating on the road that could provide inspiration for new music?

Oh gosh, I’m just chilling. I have decided that it is the smartest thing to act like I’m a celibate monk. I feel it’s the one thing that’s mine. So right now I’m just making music and touring. If love comes along, beautiful, but I’m in a great spot, and I’m happy.

Stephen Sanchez in August 2023.Rebecca Sapp/Getty

Rebecca Sapp/Getty

How do you approach performing differently at this point, now that the shows have grown so much, than you did whenAngel Facefirst came out?

There was a lot of pressure to make sure it did well, and social media is such a hard thing ‘cause it’s such an indicator of your success these days. I pressed too much into that, I think, and put a lot of pressure on myself. But what was exciting was a lot of what the boys and I would call “iconic” moves and moments from our show have remained. There’s the leg raised during “I Need You Most of All” and the slide during “Shake.” I’ve gone into this tour with the same mentality and less pressure. I’m just having way more fun this time around.

source: people.com