Christian Stephen of Ecuador

Christian Stephen
Birth name	Christian Esteban Proaño
Born	(1978-04-14) April 14, 1978 Ibarra, Imbabura, Ecuador
Origin	Cotacachi, Imbabura, Ecuador
Genres	Alternative Metal, Rock, folk rock, Acoustic Metal, Trova, Trova metal, Trova Grunge, experimental rock, Progressive metal, Groove metal, Thrash metal, Power Ballad, Post grunge, grunge, Fusion, Blues, Rock and Roll
Occupation(s)	singer-songwriter, guitarrist, bassist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, Graphic Designer
Instruments	voice, bass, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, drums
Years active	1994 - Present
Labels	CS Pro Design & Music, Selva Mobile Studio
Associated acts	Calvario, Serpiente, Wizard, Mortuum, Dama Solitaria, Ricardo Williams, Bajo Sueños, Luis Rueda, Tercer Mundo, Barro, Promesas Temporales, Jaime Guevara, 5ta Avenida, Umbral, Sal y Mileto, Ente, Santo Grial, Kooma, Biokazar
Website

Christian Stephen or Chriss Stephen (born April 14, 1978 in Imbabura) is a guitarist and singer of Progressive Metal and Rock fusion Ecuadorian its beginnings were in the band Imbabureña Calvario (1994) until 1999, after Metal Covers, launches a solo proposal, in a local concert of experimental songwriters, musically mix urban trends trova with alternative metal features.

In its beginnings, after a year of being founder Calvario becomes guitarist and is viewed from the 2005 one of the best guitarists that have existed in the music city of Cotacachi, since then, his technique as a guitarist based on blues, metal, Rock and Roll composition based on autoctoned music, Latin, hard rock and its staging is to heritage of Hendrix playing with his teeth and back, to finally put it all together in two facets as a songwriter and vocalist of a band.

In 1988 to a petition of the public Chriss replace to a Calvario beginner vocalist in the scenario this give more This project coincidentally born at the height of the migration of Ecuadorians to Spain so it was the start the impetus to do music for Migrants and was extended with the global, its thematic was formed from the experiences in his career and recent experiences written from a book of poems, he always search more identity, as in his popular song for migrants and backpackers " Peregrinaje", loaded with elements Biblical order and metaphors, or the everyday environment and critic to the system " Conforme Rutina" the rebell and search independence in " Abreme las puertas". It is a story that tends to project sites, Ecuadorian symbols, multiculturalism, defense of diversity with social lyrical rebellious character, alluding to the environment, with a personality of constant change, it is more evolutionary than revolutionary, that gleaning forms expression from the verses, while singing is routed to the strategies of the human being as a determinant of survival.

As unconventional public figure, its staging in the beginning was up on stage with a backpack, pants batik wool coats otavaleños and slippers or just metalera dress and interleaving which is already a classic, and surrounded by an image Wanderer, as a musician I experience as Backpacking, both covers and the titles of his first productions: Irreverencia del Camino, Tribulación Caminante, Mochilero, Proyecto Caminantes Latinoamericanos visiting the diverse environment latitude 0, transmitted, sing this and from his situation of independent has to be a little unconventional musician facing the industry, launches its album, single or video s in concert or via the Internet, has been considered a cult musician within the National rock and reference for the new lyric urban in Ecuadorian rock and metal.

Stephen is his middle name translated into English but it is not there, the translation of "Step" into English means "step" which refers to "walk" because after being part of the Metal, its continuous experimentation him into the path of singing popular in the north cities of the country and people from the slopes of Cotacachi Volcano.^[1]

Timeline

His career started in 1994 to Calvary band which posed follow up that emerged several drawbacks to the continuity of this, since their separation in 1999 several situations occur outside their personal situation and are part of the Christian music career among the top call the following:

1998

• Christian starts to do recitals out of Cotacachi.^[2]
• Christian intends to officially launch as solo.^[3]

1999

• Separation of Calvario, comes time to leave the solo career.
• Christian debuts at Songwriters Concert "Un Sueño hecho Realidad" ^[4]

2000

• Songwriters Concert "A dream come true" and his participation in this and Mini Lp occurs.

2001

• Christian and Darwin Buitrón College appear in a theater event at the Polytechnic School of Quito.

2002

• Returns to live in Cotacachi after a stint as musical tour and backpacking.

It comes in the Cafe House of Culture opening a painting exhibition.

• Produces Irreverencia del Camino.^[5]
• Produces Tribulación Caminante.
• Assist in the Ecological Song contest and gets an honorable mention.

2003

• Produces Mochilero.
• Attaches Interview for "Airplane" program on Radio Latina FM Quito.

2004

Produces his first CD Proyecto Caminantes Latinoamericanos directioned to the Alternative Metal and presents for the first time at festivals: Day and Birthday of Che Guevara.

2005

• Produce Canciones que se pierden en la Luna CD.
• Presented for the first time at the "Pasarela Internacional del Cuero Cotacachi."
• Meets with Robert Carcelén and produce mini LP of Calvario "Sacrificio Divino".

2006

Produces his first DVD "Alternativo".^[6]

• Produces its third CD Covers in a compilation of English called: " Songs of the Route Covers I".
• Gives an interview to the newspaper "Extra" about his musical production.
• Chriss Organize the Festival Diablocalle Fest.^[7]

2007

Is presented for the first time in the "Wampra Raymi" Cotacachi.

2008

• Produces its fourth CD compilation of the continued Covers this time in Spanish called " Canciones del Camino Covers II".
• Do a recital in the event, "Legends of Rock" Tribute to Classic Rock.

2010

• Calvario appears in the journal of Cuenca "La Gazeta del Rock" a interview with Christian Stephen and participates in the compiled of the magazine with the theme "Sacrificio Divino".
• Christian Stephen and Alvaro Reyes are contacted again and decide to return to the Calvario Music Band.
• Launches a compiled: The best of Christian Stephen.

2012

Gives an interview to the Ecuadorian newspaper La Hora which has recognized the path of Calvario as the pioneers of Grunge in Ecuador.^[8]

2013

• A new interview with Christian is given to the newspaper La Hora Ecuador in which the theme is the influence of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana in Ecuadorian bands.^[9]

Discography

Albums with Calvary

• Metal Covers (1999)
• Sacrificio Divino (2005) Mini LP

Demos as Soloist

• Irreverencia del Camino (2002)
• Tribulación Caminante (2002)
• Mochilero (2003)

Solo Studio albums

• Proyecto Caminantes Latinoamericanos (2004)
• Canciones que se pierden en la Luna (2005)
• Songs From the Route Covers I (2006)
• Canciones del Camino Covers I (2008)
• Strategia (2013)

Live Albums

• Concierto de Cantautores "Un Sueño hecho Realidad" (1999) Collective Album.

Compiled

• Participacion en el Concierto de Cantautores "Un Sueño hecho Realidad” (2000)
• Lo Mejor de Christian Stephen (2010)

His bands

In the Beginnings Christian is the frontman of Calvario and continues actually and is a parallel Project with the solo career.

(first formation: 1994-1995).

• Christian Stephen: Bass
• Darwin Buitrón: Voice
• César Alvear: guitar
• Aníbal Osnayo: Electric bass
• Alvaro Reyes: Drums

Guest Musician:

• Andrés Montero: Bass (replacement Stephen in a show)

(second creation: 1996-1997).

• Christian Stephen: Guitar
• Darwin Buitrón: Voice
• Aníbal Osnayo: Drums

Guest Musician:

• Lenin Alvear: bass and vocals

(third creation: 1998).

• Christian Stephen: (multi-instrumentalist) Guitar and Voice
• Darwin Buitrón: Voice
• Roberth Carcelén: Bass
• Aníbal Osnayo: (multi-instrumentalist) Drums

(fourth training: 1999).

• Christian Stephen: (multi-instrumentalist) Guitar and Voice
• Roberth Carcelén: Bass
• Aníbal Osnayo: (multi-instrumentalist) Battery

(Meeting: 2005).

• Christian Stephen: (multi-instrumentalist) Guitar, Voice, programming
• Roberth Carcelén: Bass

(Sesión: 2010-2011).

• Christian Stephen: (multi-instrumentalist) Guitar and Voice
• Andrés Montero: Bass
• Alvaro Reyes: Drums

Musicians accompanying Christian Stephen

Christian Stephen bands has integrated support with a variety of musicians and former members of Calvario. Among them are:

The Post-grunge Alterlatino Band (2004-2006).

• Christian Stephen: guitar, vocals, programming
• Marcelo Haro: Bass
• Lenin Almeida: Drums

The Beginnings and Alter Metal Band (2006-2009).

• Christian Stephen: guitar, vocals, programming
• Robert Carcelén: Bass
• Gunter Carcelén: Drums

The Chriss Stephen & Calvary Band (2012–present).

• Christian Stephen: guitar, vocals, programming
• Luis Fueres: Bass
• Alvaro Reyes: Drums

Notes

References