Jon Stevens has returned with Shimmer, his first full-length studio album since 2017’s Starlight, marking the longest gap between albums in his career. Speaking with Noise11’s Paul Cashmere, Stevens reflects on the years of relentless touring that delayed the record, the unique way he chose to release it, and the deeply personal stories behind some of its songs.
Since 2018, Stevens has been on the road almost non-stop, fronting countless Red Hot Summer shows and major festivals. But in late 2023, he began work on Shimmer with Rod Stewart’s longtime collaborator Kevin Savigar, and Stewart’s guitarist Emerson Swinford. What began as jam sessions while battling pneumonia in Los Angeles grew into a collection of songs that Stevens calls “made for the stage.”
Rather than following the traditional model of dropping a single or two before the album, Stevens has been releasing Shimmer one track at a time, week by week, complete with striking digital artwork. The idea, which he credits to his son Levi, allows fans to grow with the record and know the songs before they hear them live.
The album also carries profound emotional weight. The song Paradise came together quickly in co-writing sessions with Savigar, but its meaning deepened days later when a close friend lost a child. Stevens says he realised the lyrics were a gift: “This song’s for you. It’s not for me.”
Across the interview, Stevens looks back at collaborations with Slash and The Dead Daisies, explains how he balances writing with an endless touring schedule, and previews the extensive rehearsals planned for his upcoming shows. With Shimmer, Jon Stevens has created an album that blends raw rock energy with life’s most heartfelt stories — a project built not only to be heard, but to be felt live.
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