--- title: "Steven Marjerison: Pursuing Artistic Excellence Requires Defying External Doubts and Trusting Your Creative Instincts" url: "https://authoritymag.co/articles/steven-marjerison-pursuing-artistic-excellence-requires-defying-external-doubts-and-trusting-you" publisher: "Authority Magazine" author: "Tavares Beverly" authorUrl: "https://authoritymag.co/authors/tavares-beverly" interviewee: "Steven Marjerison" category: "Pop Culture" datePublished: "2026-11-14T13:30:06.689Z" dateModified: "2026-11-14T13:38:06.859Z" tags: "Pop Culture" --- # Steven Marjerison: Pursuing Artistic Excellence Requires Defying External Doubts and Trusting Your Creative Instincts *Independent recording artist and worship pastor Steven Marjerison shares his journey through decades of ministry, artistic hiatuses, and crafting meaningful collaborative music projects.* > When pursuing something we love, it always comes with risk, and following a dream to become a musical artist is no exception to that. --- *As a part of our interview series with leaders, stars, and rising stars in the music industry, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Steven Marjerison.* *Steven Marjerison is an Independent recording artist and worship Pastor whose work spans a broad musical vocabulary: Contemporary Christian music, gospel, jazz, and the American songbook, which includes his full-length album Wishing on a Dream, exploring jazz-influenced arrangements and Disney-inspired storytelling, reflecting Steven’s belief that music can create meaningful points of connection beyond traditional church settings. The project includes a collaboration with Voctave Soprano and fomer Diseny vocalist Tiffany Coburn on “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” Steven later released the original gospel single “Always Been There,” arranged by Dove Award–nominated Marquise Brown, which received national airplay and reached the top of the Chicago chart on BMS Radio Network in 2025. Steven is currently developing a multi-year Christmas recording project created in collaboration with arranger and producer Cody McVey. The project brings together a growing collection of musicians and vocal artists, including Grammy Award-winning Wes Hampton of The Gaither Vocal Band, and represents Steven’s continuing interest in creating music that combines artistic excellence, collaboration, nostalgia, and faith. Whether leading worship, recording in the studio, or developing new creative projects, Steven’s work remains rooted in a desire to serve faithfully, create meaningful music, and use the opportunities entrusted to him well.* --- **Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit about your “origin story”. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?** I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and raised in a musical family. Growing up, my parents were worship directors at the Catholic Church that we attended, and for the better part of my life, I can remember always wanting to be a musician. Singing was normal for me. When school would have a talent event, or a musical, or an opportunity to sing the National Anthem, there I was. Even at an elementary age, I remember teachers and even friends wanting me to sign an autograph because “one day I’ll be famous”. I’ve definitely never sought out fame, nor do I particularly desire it, but looking back at those small instances, it reminds me just how far I’ve come in my musical career since my childhood days. **What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did your journey begin?** Originally, I grew up wanting to be a Worship Pastor. Church music was something that brought both of my parents joy each week, and I had already felt a calling at a young age to devote my life to full-time Christian service. It really wasn’t until I was in my early 20s that I began to feel more of a desire to branch out from just doing worship ministries and working towards a dream that I had buried away since childhood. My journey as a musical artist actually began because of a childhood friend who knew my dream. I remember receiving a call from him one night, telling me, “Steven, when are you going to cut an album?” He not only believed in that dream before I ever did, but he helped me start the entire process by writing original songs with me and helping me with my first release, “City of Surrender”. I owe that project to Jacob Hattler. **Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?** After the release of City of Surrender, I really had given up on my dream and refocused my life on ministry as a worship Pastor. I took a position in Somerset, Kentucky, where I spent almost a decade ministering through music. I had taken a 10-year hiatus after City of Surrender, and during that time, I had begun making a small name for myself in that community. I even became a partner and the lead vocalist of our town’s local jazz group, The Somerset Big Band. It wasn’t until around early 2023 that the desire to release music resurged in me once more, but this time, if I was going to do a new release, I wanted it to capture my love for jazz and the inspiration of Disney and showtune music, and in 2024, after that 10-year hiatus, I released Wishing on a Dream. **It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?** When pursuing something we love, it always comes with risk, and following a dream to become a musical artist is no exception to that. I have to be honest, although I had a lot of people who showed me their support and believed in me, I also had several who didn’t. Some were leaders, some were friends, and some were even family. After releasing City of Surrender, I allowed those negative voices to infiltrate my decisions, and it cost me 10 years. Even though I was able to accomplish so much in my ministry during that time, I still wonder what life would have been like if I hadn’t taken a hiatus and continued my dream. Since then, I’ve learned to listen to my gut and not to other people’s opinions, and it is something that I would encourage every up-and-coming artist to remember: “Not everyone is your friend. Not everyone wants the best for you. You have to worry about your dreams. Go, make them a reality!” **None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?** I will always be thankful to God for giving me such supportive and loving parents. They have walked with me through the ups and downs, the financial highs and lows, the moments of self-doubt and depression, and yes, those moments are very real. However, there are two other individuals who have tremendously helped me: my friends Landon Beene and TaRanda Greene Beene. I originally met them both in 2019 while singing backup in a choir at Christ Church Nashville, where Greene was performing with the GRAMMY Award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Since then, they have introduced me to numerous individuals in the industry, including Wes Hampton, whom I now consider friends, and through Greene’s personal generosity and the support of StowTown Records, I was granted permission to use Greene’s original instrumentation to record my own adaptation of the Christmas track “Who Would Imagine A King.” **What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?** I am currently working on a major Christmas music project slated for 2026 and 2027. It is designed to bring together classic holiday music, Christ-centered selections, and rich arrangements from Cody McVey alongside Nashville Studio Engineer Scott Williamson. The project features several prominent Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) and Southern Gospel artists, including GRAMMY Award-Winning Wes Hampton (of the Gaither Vocal Band). I’m excited to roll out my initial single release, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” with Wes Hampton during the 2026 holiday season. The full-length album is anticipated for the 2027 holiday season. I’m truly excited to be working with each one of these amazing individuals, and I can’t wait for you to hear all the wonderful and lush arrangements that McVey has in store. **We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in music, film, and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?** First and foremost, diversity allows people to actually see themselves represented. For example: When the world sees musical artists, actors, and theatrical performers share experiences, it can encourage others to pursue their dreams and believe the impossible into a reality. Secondly, Diversity encourages creative and artistic excellence. As someone who has explored many genres of music, each one has allowed me to explore unique musical traditions, histories, influences, and even artistic approaches. Even in my own career, I’ve explored Christian/Gospel Music, Jazz, Orchestral arrangements, Disney-inspired music, and even the American songbook. Finally, Diversity creates understanding and deep connection. As a true Disney fan, there’s something exhilarating about stepping into an experience or a story that may be different from my own. Songs and films help the viewer and listener understand and often relate to circumstances that they have or currently are enduring. These experiences encourage our listeners with empathy, challenge stereotypes, forgiveness, and courage to pursue a dream. **As a successful music star, you’ve likely faced challenges along the way. How do you stay motivated? How do you overcome obstacles in your career?** As a believer, my initial answer has been and will always be to lean on God, but I would also encourage every up-and-coming artist to remember that challenges are inevitable. You will always run into situations, people who will hurt you, regrettable mistakes, lack of funds, and lack of support. The key is to NOT GIVE UP! Your dream was given to you for a purpose. A star was created to shine and burn bright, so do just that, through your music, through your words, through your interactions with people, and through your empathy for others. One thing that I still don’t consider myself to be is a musical star. In my heart, I’ve been given a gift to share with the world, and that’s what I intend to do. **What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.** **1. Don’t wait for the right opportunity before starting, because it will never come.** Following a dream is about taking risks and believing so strongly in yourself that you pursue that dream with rigor. If you don’t believe in yourself, how do you expect others to believe in you? **2. Don’t let your head get too large!** So many up-and-coming artists allow themselves to become caught up in the idea of fame and develop a braggadocious spirit before ever earning their seat at the table. It is so easy to become prideful in this line of work. Be proud of yourself and what you’re accomplishing, yes, but don’t allow yourself to become arrogant. No one wants to work with a person like that. Don’t be a diva! **3. Learn when to say no!** Oftentimes, when we are in the early stages of our musical journey, we take every single gig available to us. Really pay close attention to what is going to elevate your career and what will cost you everything. Don’t be too hasty to say yes to everything that is offered to you. You never know how it will affect your future opportunities. **4. Keep your peace!** Learn to remove people from your inner circle and be okay with it. Not everyone is your friend. I’ve had many people over the years who didn’t believe in me and/or even tried to sabotage me, and once I began to elevate in my career, they re-appeared. Keep your circle tight and discern who you can trust, and who truly supports you and your dreams. **5. Don’t forget where you came from.** A lot of times, artists get big and famous and tend to forget their roots. Dolly Parton inspired everyone she met, but she never once pretended that her past and her upbringing never existed. Don’t forget where you came from; it will keep you humble. **Can you share some insights into your creative process? How do you approach songwriting? How do you approach musical collaborations?** For me, I will honestly say that I am not the best at songwriting. I thoroughly enjoy arranging. To be able to express myself through a written score with lush orchestral parts written on paper is exhilarating. As far as my collaborations, I told myself many years ago to take chances, meet people, and get to know them. So many industry stars are just like you and me. **Your music has resonated with so many fans worldwide. What do you believe sets your music apart?** I truly believe that my diversity in genre has helped me resonate with people. To some, I am a worship Pastor, while to others, I am a musical artist. It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that I am able to accomplish both without being held to one solid genre, and I believe that I am able to make a much larger impact because of it. **How do you connect with your audience?** I enjoy LIVE shows, but more than anything, one of the quickest ways to connect with my audience is through my social media platforms. I have found that creating stories helps people engage with me and lets them into my world for a moment during the week. It definitely can be special and even meaningful. **With your busy schedule and demanding performances, how do you prioritize self-care and maintain a balance between your personal life and career in the music industry?** My answer to this question has changed for me in the past year. I took a year off from touring and LIVE shows to focus on new music and to build community with my audience. I recently moved to Phoenix, Arizona, this past summer after helping my mother retire. Taking a year off to focus on family, reflect on the next steps in my career, and begin the demanding process of new music, all while beginning a new ministry assignment in Arizona, has been a lot, but you make time for the things that matter most. I make sure to take days off to sleep in, enjoy nature, and spend time with family and friends over the dinner table. **You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)** Be a good person! Do unto others as you would have them do unto you! It really is that simple. And above all, learn to forgive, even if it is forgiving yourself, because forgiveness brings peace, and peace is power! **Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)** Honestly, Barbra Streisand or Sandy Patti. Both of these women have been inspiring sounds for many years. I grew up listening to both of these iconic women, and it would truly be a humbling moment and a privilege to break bread with either of them! **How can our readers continue to follow your work online?** They can follow my upcoming projects by visiting my website [https://marjerisonmusic.com/](https://marjerisonmusic.com/) or by following me on social media via Facebook or Instagram @StevenMarjerison **This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!** --- ***About The Interviewer:****Tavares Beverly (*[www.tavaresbeverly.com](http://www.tavaresbeverly.com)*) is the Founder and CEO of Beverly Boy Productions, a national video production company that has helped organizations tell their stories through video for more than two decades. Over the course of his career, he has worked with everyone from Fortune 500 executives and healthcare professionals to politicians, nonprofit leaders, educators, and artists, gaining a unique perspective on the role communication plays in leadership, business, and human connection. A frequent contributor on topics including communication, entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal development, Tavares believes that the ability to communicate effectively is one of the most valuable skills a person can develop. His work is driven by a passion for helping organizations connect with their audiences and helping individuals unlock their potential through mentorship, perseverance, and meaningful relationships. To learn more, connect with Tavares on LinkedIn or visit*[www.BeverlyBoy.com](http://www.BeverlyBoy.com)*. If you’re interested in using the power of storytelling and communication to grow your organization, strengthen your brand, or inspire your audience, he welcomes the opportunity to connect.* --- Source: https://authoritymag.co/articles/steven-marjerison-pursuing-artistic-excellence-requires-defying-external-doubts-and-trusting-you (Authority Magazine, Pop Culture). Interviewee answers are first-person statements of the guest. Index of all pages: https://authoritymag.co/llms.txt