- Words Notion Staff
Stephen Mugford shares a raw live rendition of ‘Easy to Love’ from his debut album, Palooza Beach.
Rising singer-songwriter Stephen Mugford has unveiled a live version of ‘Easy to Love’, taken from his jazz-inflected debut album Palooza Beach. First released on September 13, 2024, the record marked Stephen’s arrival as a voice of warmth and lyrical intimacy, blending his background in poetry with rich storytelling.
The live cut is one of four singles set to arrive this fall, each offering a stripped-back take on tracks from the project. For Stephen, it’s about recapturing the raw emotions that shaped the songs. “It was a chance to capture the less filtered, raw feelings that all of these songs emanate from,” he explains. “I love the produced versions, but these are simpler and more raw expressions of the deep emotions at their centre.”
Guided by the breezy optimism of Jason Mraz, the melodic instincts of Paul McCartney, and the acoustic ease of Willie Nelson, Easy to Love (Live) homes in on the fragile, imperfect but deeply human nature of love. Its acoustic framework gives Stephen’s voice and lyrics room to breathe, allowing emotion to take centre stage.
The single precedes further live releases, including ‘Wild Things’, a tender ode to his children, and ‘Runnin’’, a meditation on aging alongside his wife. A video for ‘Backside of the Moon’ will also expand on themes of parenthood.
With producer John Escobar and pianist Zahili Gonzalez Zamora adding new textures, Mugford leans fully into storytelling, creating songs that feel both intimate and enduring.
Easy to Love (Live) is out now on all streaming platforms.