Byron Stingily Returns to Ten City With New Single BE FREE Out Today
Written by Jon-Michael Foshee
Chicago’s own Byron Stingily debuts new single Be Free with original Ten City producer, Marshall Jefferson.
The men behind worldwide chart hits like Devotion, That’s The Way Love Is, and Fantasy recapture the magic to debut Ten City’s first new single in 25 years.
“Marshall Jefferson and I have always been close,” Byron Stingily says. “We’ve been talking about re-teaming for years, so when this project came up it felt perfect. We just felt like this is something that’s needed right now.”
Byron and Marshall know how to motivate each other and bring out the best in one another. They have a shorthand that comes from trust and instinct due to their history and complementary talents. “Because of friendship and honesty with one another, we know how to communicate with each other,” Byron says.
It was the opportunity to fulfill those dreams to work together again, plus the production powers of Emmaculate and Shannon Chambers, that brought everyone to the table. And the message of Be Free is powerful and timely, an expression of how many people feel across the world.
“Be Free is about us having freedoms in life, to be able to live with dignity,” Byron Stingily says. “It’s about what’s happening today. We felt it will connect with many people who feel the same way.”
And these men know how to send a powerful global message. “Music reaches around the world,” Byron says fondly. “Marshall is an international DJ. Our first album was Certified Gold, and hit the Top Ten Album charts throughout Europe, South Africa, Croatia, Saudi Arabia, and Australia. We still perform around the world, and our audience is wider than ever before.”
While his music is on rotation in multiple countries, Byron knows the importance of giving back to his hometown. Education has always been close to his heart, and Byron has seized multiple opportunities to help the youth of Chicago. He currently serves as the Principal of Lincoln Elementary School in Dolton, where he dedicates himself to making a difference in his students’ lives every day.
“I love working with kids; I just want to make a difference, to help them build a better future. I feel very fortunate to experience passion for multiple things in my life: my family, watching my kids grow up, my music, my spirituality, our work with Chicago Devotion – I feel very blessed.”
Byron Stingily is one of the founders of Chicago Devotion, a company built to be a gathering place where people can find the help they need now. The Chicago Devotion web portal features the team’s efforts to bring hard-to-find resources and information to the people so they can achieve their American dreams – another example of the work Byron puts in every day to better peoples’ lives.
And his upbringing and life in Chicago is a major influence in his music. “I’d say about 75% of my inspiration comes from Chicago,” Byron says. “We have a great House Music scene, and when I came up I got to be part of that and the movement. My other sources of inspiration come from artists like Michael Jackson and Prince, and my love of disco and different styles of international music like Chic and Martin Circus.”
Byron continues to write, produce, and perform his own music, and tours all over the United States, Europe, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and many more countries over long weekends, holidays, and the summer months. He balances work, family, music, and community so that all can thrive.
While he hasn’t been able to physically tour during the pandemic, Byron has streamed live performances across the globe to keep giving back to fans, to lift their spirits by lifting his voice. And his voice is only growing stronger.
“Be Free is the first single off the new album coming this summer,” Byron says. “We have some exciting remakes of Devotion dropping in March, with new remixes that will appeal to a younger crowd, produced by Marshall Jefferson and featuring DJ Spen and DJ Thommy Davis. And there will be other remixes on there by young, up-and-coming DJs and producers. We’re going to release a new single every six weeks leading up to our new album release this summer.”
Be Free drops today, January 29th, from Ultra Music, and is available on all music providers. The hot new Ten City single features the legendary voice of the one and only Byron Stingily, and is produced by Marshall Jefferson, featuring Emmaculate and Shannon Chambers.
Download or stream your own copy Here.
