Stephen Sanchez is bringing old-school back to the mainstream like no other. Blending a soulful falsetto, heart-aching lyrics and a dose of ‘50s and ’60s nostalgia, Sanchez’s ascension to stardom should come as no surprise. In support of the release of his debut album “Angel Face,” he came to Eugene on October 29 at the McDonald Theater.

Sanchez’s debut release makes one hell of a statement. Coated in a crooner-style longing for love with sprinkles of Sanchez’s devastating, spine-chilling falsetto teleport you back to the 1950s, slow dancing with the love of your life in front of that iconic jukebox. This retro style of pop music is exactly what makes Sanchez such an invigorating presence in the pop sphere — he fully embodies music’s most powerful moments.

Rooted in Northern California, Sanchez knew he wanted to pursue music as a career at a very young age. In fact, he has a specific memory that really sparked that desire. “When I saw the band NEEDTOBREATHE for the second time at their acoustic tour, that’s when it really hit me,” Sanchez said. “I just remember sitting in this beautiful theater with velvet seats, thousands of people losing their minds and these guys singing these very stripped back songs. I had this moment where I was like, ‘I can’t see myself doing anything else. This is what I was meant to do.’”

Even though Sanchez was born and raised in Northern California, Sanchez had grandparents who lived in rural Oregon. Sanchez said that coming up to Oregon to visit his grandparents was another source of inspiration for his love for music, due to the cold and misty environment that Oregon provides.

“There’s definitely an old feeling there. I’ve always been very comfortable out in the country,” Sanchez said. “Being out in the mountains when I was younger, I always felt good there. It felt like a good spot to be inspired very easily by things. When my grandpa would play the piano or guitar, that was the action there. My attention was never anywhere else.”

By 2022, TikTok had several years under its belt as a birthplace for jumpstarting artists’ careers. In late 2021, Sanchez released the single “Until I Found You,” and by early 2022, TikTok had grabbed it, launching Sanchez’s career into stardom. Navigating that newfound fame can be difficult for a lot of up-and-coming artists. But for Sanchez, it’s important to keep a level-headed perspective.

“Well that song is really unicorn, isn’t it?” Sanchez said. “I don’t feel famous or bigger than anybody. For me, to be exulted in a way that puts me above other people is super unnatural. The challenge was really just to rehumanize myself to myself and to other people.”

As I mentioned earlier, Sanchez’s music is soaked in ‘50s-esque styles. However, as time goes on, the popular sounds of music are constantly changing, making it more and more challenging to incorporate older styles into popular music and having it stick. But Sanchez’s musical history made this fusion of sounds effortless for him.

“It’s safe to say when attempting to record ‘50s and ‘60s elements within the modern age naturally fall within the modern sounds,” Sanchez said. “Making this record with those styles in mind felt very organic to me because I spent so many years in love with that music. This new record felt like a passion project more than anything. I wanted to embrace these feelings and sounds that are just coming out of me naturally.”

Not only does Sanchez take you back in time while listening to his music, but he wants you to feel that same feeling while at his concerts. “It’s more than just a show,” Sanchez said. “It’s gonna feel like you’re watching a proper concert while also feeling very theatrical and you’re stepping into another time. The troubadour and Evangeline and all of the things you hear on the record you’re gonna hear on stage. I don’t think any artists right now are doing that. I think it’s worth coming to see.”

On his tour headlining his debut album “Angel Face,” he will be making a stop in Eugene on October 29 at the McDonald Theater. Keep up with Stephen and his future endeavors on Instagram: @stephensanchezofficial