About the Artist

Who Is Steve Lacy?

Steve Lacy has built a career by refusing to fit neatly into one genre. A singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Lacy is known for blending R&B, funk, rock, soul, jazz, and alternative music into a sound that feels distinctly his own. His willingness to experiment has made him one of the most influential artists of his generation while earning praise from critics, fellow musicians, and fans alike.

After years of contributing to groundbreaking records as both a performer and producer, Lacy emerged as a successful solo artist whose music balances intimate songwriting with innovative production. His breakout hit “Bad Habit” introduced him to a global audience, but his creative reputation had already been established long before it reached the top of the charts.

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Early Life

Steve Thomas Lacy-Moya was born on May 23, 1998, in Compton, California, to a Black American mother and a Filipino father. Raised in a sheltered household by his mother, who wanted to shield him and his sisters from the environment in Compton, Lacy had a largely absent relationship with his father, who passed away when Lacy was just ten years old.

Lacy first developed an interest in guitar at age seven, sparked by the video game Guitar Hero. He later joined his high school jazz band, where he met Jameel Bruner. Unable to afford a MacBook, he began producing music entirely on his iPhone using GarageBand and an iRig guitar plug-in, singing vocals directly into the built-in microphone. This unconventional, highly accessible workflow became a central part of his story, proving that raw creativity could easily outweigh costly equipment.

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The Internet

Lacy’s career accelerated in 2015 while he was still in high school, when he officially joined the Grammy-nominated Los Angeles band The Internet as their guitarist, producer, and songwriter.

His contributions to the band’s third studio album, Ego Death (which he began working on as early as 2013), helped establish him as one of the most promising young producers in contemporary R&B. Working alongside frontwoman Syd and the rest of the group, Lacy refined a style that blended live instrumentation with modern digital production, earning respect throughout the music industry.

His production work soon expanded far beyond the band, leading to high-profile collaborations with major artists including Kendrick Lamar, Solange, Vampire Weekend, Tyler, the Creator, J. Cole, and Calvin Harris.

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Solo Career

In 2017, Lacy released his debut solo project, Steve Lacy’s Demo. Recorded largely on his mobile iPhone setup, the project became a defining example of how DIY bedroom pop and R&B could achieve critical acclaim. That same year, Lacy came out publicly as bisexual, an open and fluid exploration of love and identity that would heavily inform the themes of his future songwriting.

The Ego Death nomination drew the attention of Nile Rodgers, who invited Lacy to lecture on technology and music at the 2017 TEDxTeen conference in New York City, calling him “innovation personified.”

His debut studio album, Apollo XXI, followed in 2019 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album.

Everything changed in 2022 with the release of Gemini Rights. The album showcased Lacy’s ability to move effortlessly between alternative rock, psychedelic soul, funk, and R&B while maintaining deeply personal songwriting. It received widespread critical acclaim and won the Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album. The album’s breakout single, “Bad Habit,” became Lacy’s first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, introducing millions of listeners to his signature sound.

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Oh Yeah? (2026)

Following a four-year gap between studio LPs, though only a three-year gap between singles, Steve Lacy returned with Oh Yeah?, released on July 17, 2026.

The album’s rollout was led by “Nice Shoes,” released on August 15, 2025, and followed by a second single, “the feeling,” on June 5, 2026. Lacy once again serves as the project’s primary songwriter and producer, continuing the hands-on approach that has defined his career.

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Musical Style

Steve Lacy’s music draws from a wide, fluid range of influences:

• Alternative R&B & Neo-soul
• Funk & Psychedelic rock
• Indie rock, Jazz, & Pop

Rather than following passing radio trends, Lacy blends vintage, analog-sounding influences with modern mobile production. His warm, textured guitar riffs remain one of his defining sonic characteristics, anchoring his tracks in a human element that sets him apart from mainstream, purely electronic R&B.

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Why Steve Lacy Matters

Steve Lacy represents a generation of artists who have completely redefined how music is made. By proving that chart-topping, professional-grade records can start on a smartphone, he dismantled traditional gatekeeping in music production and inspired countless bedroom producers to create with whatever tools they have.

Beyond his technical setups, Lacy has become an influential cultural icon. His bold fashion, creative direction, and open, genre-fluid artistic identity continue to push boundaries, helping reshape the landscape of contemporary music for the next generation.

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Quick Facts

• Full Name: Steve Thomas Lacy-Moya
• Born: May 23, 1998
• Hometown: Compton, California
• Genres: Alternative R&B, Neo-soul, Funk, Indie Rock, Psychedelic Soul
• Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Guitarist, Multi-instrumentalist
• Years Active: 2015–Present

Notable Albums:

• Steve Lacy’s Demo (2017)
• Apollo XXI (2019)
• Gemini Rights (2022)
• Oh Yeah? (2026)

Best Known Songs:

• “Bad Habit”
• “Dark Red”
• “Nice Shoes”
• “the feeling”
• “Static”
• “Mercury”
• “Helmet”
• “Sunshine” (with Fousheé)

Associated Acts: The Internet, Frank Ocean, Tyler, the Creator, Kendrick Lamar, Solange, Vampire Weekend, Kali Uchis, Thundercat, Ravyn Lenae, Mac Miller, J. Cole

Key Awards: Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album (Gemini Rights)

Quick Facts

Full Name

Steve Thomas Lacy-Moya

Birthday

May 23, 1998 (Age 28)

Stage Name

Steve Lacy

Hometown / Origin

Compton, CA

Professional Team

Public Relations

Paige Hall and Jamie Abzug at RCA Records (US); Ebi Sampson at August Agency (UK); Jen Appel at The Oriel Co. (US)

Booking Agency

Caroline Yim, Rick Ramage, Kevin Jergenson at United Talent Agency (UTA)

Artist information current as of July 2026. Details are subject to change.