Stepa (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 in Thousand Oaks, California, United States |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Fate | Disbanded in 2003; reunited in 2022 |
| Headquarters | Thousand Oaks , United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Number of employees | 5 (current members) |
Stepa is a nu metal group originating from Thousand Oaks, California, United States. Their initial period of activity spanned from 1998 until 2003, with a resurgence beginning in 2022. The band was first established under the name Phlip in 1998 and produced multiple demo recordings before adopting the Stepa moniker in 2001. Their debut album, titled Stepa, was launched on July 30, 2002, through the Locomotive Music label.
In 2002, Stepa embarked on a tour alongside fellow Locomotive Music artists Medication. After vocalist Blake Beckmann and DJ Chaz Kindschi exited the band in 2003, they released a three-track demo called Teenage Funeral, which contained songs originally meant for an unreleased second album. This demo stands as the sole recording without Beckmann and Kindschi’s involvement. Later that year, the departure of guitarist Shane Swayney led to the band's dissolution. Following this, Beckmann pursued fronting the alternative rock group Fermata as well as his solo endeavor ...And the Fixation.
The ensemble reunited in August 2022 with the intention of producing their sophomore album. On October 10, 2025, they unveiled Icarus Flight and held their first live performance since 2003 at Tarantula Hill Brewing Co., located in Thousand Oaks.
Debut album
Released on July 30, 2002 via Locomotive Music, Stepa’s eponymous debut was produced by Scott Gaines and Jay Baumgardner. The songwriting process included contributions from Mark Renk. Keyboard parts were provided by Scott Borland, sibling of Limp Bizkit’s guitarist Wes Borland. The album featured singles such as "Aquarium" and "Spaceships And Airplanes", with only "Spaceships And Airplanes" receiving a promotional music video.
Lineup
- Current members
- Blake Beckmann – lead vocals (1998–2003, 2022–present)
- Brendon Oates – guitar (1998–2003, 2022–present)
- Jesse Krapff – bass (1998–2003, 2022–present)
- Ian Corabi – drums (2024–present)
- Jay Frederick – guitar (2024–present)
- Former members
- Chaz Kindschi – turntables, keyboards, programming (1998–2003; deceased 2022)
- Mark Thorley – drums (1998–2003, 2022–2024)
- Shane Swayney – guitar, backing vocals (2002–2003, 2022–2024); lead vocals (2003)
Studio albums
- Stepa (2002, Locomotive Music)
- Icarus Flight (2025)
Singles
- Aquarium (2002)
- Spaceships and Airplanes (2003)
- Wish / Avalanches (2024)
- fall awake (2024)
- Idiot Summer (2025)
- Mechanical (2025)
Other
- 3 Song Demo (2003)
- Teenage Funeral (2003, demo)