Wrabel: Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=OctoberApril 20212024}}

| birth_name = Stephen Samuel Wrabel

| birth_place = [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.

| genre = [[Pop music|Pop]]

'''Stephen Wrabel''' (born January 7, 1989), known [[:wikt:mononym|mononym]]ously as '''Wrabel''', is an American singer, songwriter and musician based in Los Angeles.

Wrabel attended private high school at [[The Kinkaid School]] in [[Houston]], Texas. After high school, he studied at the [[Berklee College of Music]] for a semester until he left Boston to move to LA and focus on songwriting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://groundsounds.com/2014/07/09/interview-wrabel/|title=Interview: Wrabel moves forward with 'Sideways'|date=July 9, 2014|website=GroundSounds|access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref> He got his first big break when he was signed to Pulse Recording as a songwriter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pulserecordings.com/clients/wrabel/|title=Wrabel|last=Creative|first=The Uprising|website=Pulse Recordings|access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

Wrabel was signed to [[Island Records|Island Def Jam]] in 2012 by [[The Island Def Jam Music Group|Island Def Jam Music Group]] chairman and CEO [[Barry Weiss]] and Executive Vice President/Head of A&R Karen Kwak.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/londonnewsdesk/view/131548|title=Singer-songwriter and musician Wrabel returns with 'I Want You': Pressparty|website=Pressparty|access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

In 2014, Dutch DJ [[Afrojack]] released a version of Wrabel's song "[[Ten Feet Tall]]", resulting in an international hit. The song premiered in the United States during [[Super Bowl XLVIII]] in a [[Bud Light]] commercial and was viewed by around 100 million viewers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/0ap2000000323430/article/super-bowl-xlviii-mostwatched-tv-program-in-us-history|title=Super Bowl XLVIII most-watched TV program in U.S. history|websitepublisher=NFL.comNational Football League|access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref> Wrabel later released the original piano-based version of the song on May 19, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ten-feet-tall-single/id875932374|title=Ten Feet Tall – Single by Wrabel on iTunes|websitepublisher=iTunes Store|date=May 19, 2014 |access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref> [[BuzzFeed]] named the [[Afrojack]] version of "Ten Feet Tall" one of the "35 Best Pop Songs You May Have Missed This Summer".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-best-pop-songs-you-may-have-missed-this-summer#.gerY3ZKxz|title=35 Best Pop Songs You May Have Missed This Summer|website=BuzzFeed|date=August 28, 2014 |access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

On June 24, 2016, Wrabel released his single "11 Blocks", which was heavily supported and promoted by [[Kesha]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BG-4iWYu1bM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BG-4iWYu1bM |archive-date=2021-12-December 24, 2021 |url-access=limited|title=Instagram video by Kesha • Jun 23, 2016 at 3:51am UTC|website=Instagram|access-date=June 25, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He also released both a lyric video and a music video for the song. He released his second single, titled "Bloodstain", on March 10, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bloodstain-single/id1211864872|title=Bloodstain – Single by Wrabel on Apple Music|websitepublisher=iTunes Store|date=March 10, 2017 |language=en|access-date=March 16, 2017}}</ref> A lyric video for the song was released the same day. In May 2017, he released an EP titled ''We Could Be Beautiful''.<ref name="WCBB">{{cite web | url=https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/we-could-be-beautiful-ep/id1234389082 | title=We Could be Beautiful - EP by Wrabel | websitepublisher=[[iTunes Store]] | date=May 12, 2017 }}</ref>

On the April 22, 2019, episode of ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'', [[Pink (singer)|Pink]] praised Wrabel and his video for "The Village", stating, "The song ‘The'The Village' will break your heart into many little tiny pieces... he's great."<ref>{{cite web |title=P!nk Has Crossed into the Mom Fan Category |website date=April 22, 2019 |via = [[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfae4WwQ1w0 |access-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref>

In September 2019, ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' said Wrabel is "One of pop's unsung talents", adding "Recommendation from an artist of Pink's stature, on a huge platform like ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'', was an overdue acknowledgment of a prolific, if still overlooked, talent."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wong |first1=Curtis |title=One Of Pop's Unsung Talents, Wrabel Finds 'Magic' In Going Indie |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wrabel-one-of-those-happy-people-ep_n_5d6ed987e4b09bbc9ef61a06 |website=The Huffington PostHuffPost |date=September 16, 2019 |access-date=November 6, 2019}}</ref>

''[[Nylon (magazine)|Nylon]]'' says Wrabel's debut EP ''Sideways'' is "stocked with the soulfulness of a [[Sia]] or [[Sam Smith]], and a melodic pop DNA that throws back to icons like [[Paul Simon]], the title track twists heartbreak into something, well, beautiful."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nylon.com/articles/wrabel-sideways|title=song premiere: wrabel|website=NYLON|date=June 18, 2014 |access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

[[BuzzFeed]] named "I Want You" one of "The Most Criminally Underrated Pop Songs of 2015".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/kyled30/the-30-most-underrated-pop-songs-of-2015-cn8i#.fkE1lkzvN|title=Community Post: The 30 Most Criminally Underrated Pop Songs Of 2015|website=BuzzFeed Community|date=December 15, 2015 |access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

[[MNDR]] released a remix of Wrabel's "I Want You" on October 21, 2015, which premiered on [[Vice (magazine)|Noisey]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://noisey.vice.com/blog/mndr-remixes-wrabel-I-want-you|title=MNDR Remixes Wrabel's "I Want You" and the Results Rule {{!}} NOISEY|website=NOISEY|date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>

* In 2016, the song "Sideways" was featured in the first season finale of ''[[Quantico (TV series)|Quantico]]''.

* In 2017, the song "We Could Be Beautiful" appeared in the 2017 reboot of ''[[Dynasty (2017 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' in the first season episode "Our Turn Now", during the wedding preparation scene. In 2020, this song also makes an appearance in the [[Hulu]] series ''[[Love, Victor]]'', in the pilot episode "Welcome to Creekwood".

* In 2023, the song "On the Way Down" was featured in season 19 episode 8 of ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]''.

Wrabel is openly gay. He is invested in promoting LGBTQ+ rights as a member of this community. His song "11 Blocks" is autobiographical describing his feelings about his first love who had moved 11 blocks away from him in California.<ref name=logo>{{cite news |url=http://www.newnownext.com/11-blocks-wrabel/09/2016/ |author=Adam Salandra |title=Queer Singer Wrabel Moves Us With "'11 Blocks"' |work=[[NewNowNext]] |date=September 21, 2016 |access-date=May 17, 2017 }}</ref> The music video for his song "Bloodstain", directed by [[Isaac Rentz]], depicts suffering and heartache in a relationship, while the star Wrabel is fighting for his life.<ref name=gaytimes>{{cite news |url=http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/68843/wrabel-sings-sex-love-dramatic-new-music-video/ |author=Lewis Corner |title=Wrabel sings of same-sex love in dramatic new music video |work=[[Gay Times]] |date=April 10, 2017 |access-date=May 17, 2017 }}</ref>

The music video to his 2017 song "The Village", directed by [[Dano Cerny]], depicts a [[transgender|trans]] teenager struggling with [[gender dysphoria]], using a [[breast binding|binder]] to flatten his chest and dealing with hostile family members, with the lyrics discussing the same topics.<ref name="Billboard: The Village">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/7882329/wrabel-village-video |title=Wrabel Depicts a Trans Teen's Struggle in Moving 'The Village' Video |author=Tatiana Cirisano |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=August 1, 2017 |access-date=April 16, 2021 }}</ref><ref name="YouTube: The Village">{{Cite AV media |url=https://youtube.com/tilsrO-3gcQ |title=Wrabel - The Village (Official Video) |author=Dano Cerny |author-link=Dano Cerny |publisher=Wrabel |via=[[YouTube]] |date=July 31, 2017 |access-date=April 16, 2021 }}</ref> The video includes a caption "In nature, a flock will attack any bird that is more colorful than the others because being different is seen as a threat" and ends with a caption "Dedicated to all the colorful birds" and the [[hashtag]] "#TransRightsAreHumanRights".<ref name="Billboard: The Village"/><ref name="YouTube: The Village"/> In an interview about the song and video with ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', he described it as "the most important thing to me that I have ever done and probably will ever do. It's the closest thing to my heart."<ref name="Billboard: The Village"/> He wrote the song in February 2017, shortly after [[Donald Trump]] [[social policy of Donald Trump#LGBT anti-discrimination laws|removed federal protections for trans students in public education]], and asked his management to rush the release of the video after [[Department of Defense Instruction 1300.28|Trump announced a ban on trans military personnel]], with the video including a visual reference to Trump's ban.<ref name="Billboard: The Village"/><ref name="YouTube: The Village"/>

* Format: [[Music download|Digital download]], [[streaming media|streaming]]

* Format: [[Music download|Digital download]], [[streaming media|streaming]]

! scope="row"| "Happier"<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.papermag.com/wrabel-happier-premiere-2659316086.html |title=Wrabel Is 'happier' Than Ever |magazine=[[Paper (magazine)|Paper]] |date=JanJanuary 27, 2023 |access-date=August 8, 2023-08-08 |lang=en |url-status=live |archive-date=August 8, 2023-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230808092052/https://www.papermag.com/wrabel-happier-premiere |last=Moen |first=Matt}}</ref>

|rowspan="68"| 2023

|rowspan="3"| ''Chapter of Me'' and ''Based on a True Story''

|rowspan="2"| ''Chapter of You'' and ''Based on a True Story''

| — || — || 11 || 82 || —

| — || — || — || — || —

| — || — || — || — || —

! scope="row" | "Mean It"<br /><small>([[Cash Cash]] featuring Wrabel)</small><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.edmtunes.com/2020/01/cash-cash-mean-it-wrabel/ |title=Cash Cash – Mean It (feat. Wrabel) |last=Provost |first=Brittany |date=2020-01-January 25, 2020 |website=EDM Tunes |access-date=February 7, 2020-02-07}}</ref>

! scope="row" | "Moon Rider"<br /><small>([[Jai Wolf]] featuring Wrabel)</small><ref>{{cite web |title=Jai Wolf Releases Single "'Moon Rider"' and Announces 2020 Tour Dates |url=http://www.momandpopmusic.com/blog/2020/1/jai-wolf-releases-single-moon-rider-and-announces-2020-tour-dates |website=Mom + Pop |access-date=21 July 21, 2020}}</ref>

! scope="row"| "Feel Again"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/feel-again-feat-wrabel-ep/1628700765 |title=Feel Again (feat. Wrabel) - EP by Armin van Buuren on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |accessdate=27 June 27, 2022}}</ref> <br /><span style="font-size:85%;">([[Armin van Buuren]] featuring Wrabel)</span>

| [[Prince Royce]]

|-

| rowspan="11”11"|2018

! scope="row"| "Baby”Baby"

|

|Pearson, [[Kesha|Kesha Sebert]]

| rowspan="15”15"|2019

|[[Kesha|Kesha Sebert]], [[Ajay Bhattacharya]], [[Sean Douglas (songwriter)|Sean Douglas]]

|

|

|

|[[Ben Platt (actor)|Ben Platt]]

! scope="row"| "[[Don't Let It Break Your Heart (Louis Tomlinson song)|Don't Let It Break Your Heart]]"

! scope="row"| "[[Dream on Me]]"

| [[Ella Henderson]] & [[Roger Sanchez]]

|

| [[Ella Henderson|Gabriella Henderson]], Jordan Riley, [[Roger Sanchez]], [[MNEK|Uzoechi Emenike]]

! scope="row"| "Kid Again On Christmas"

|The Lucky Ones

[[Category:AmericanPeople LGBTfrom singersNew York City]]

[[Category:AmericanSingers LGBTfrom songwritersLos Angeles]]

[[Category:21st-century American singerssinger-songwriters]]

[[Category:20th-century American LGBTLGBTQ people]]

[[Category:21st-century American LGBTLGBTQ people]]