Name: Steve Ayotte
Age: 36
Title: Musician
Married/Single: not currently married but also not ruling it out for the future.
Kids: no kids
City you live in: Tempe, AZ
A typical day in my life includes…
on days where I don’t have gigs I try to shut everything off for a bit and really take time for myself. Those days are a mixture of leisure activities like hiking, kayaking, camping, 4x4ing, snowboarding (in the winter months), hitting the pool in the summer, or relaxing and catching a movie with friends. On days I have gigs later in the day I try to stay focused on work. My mornings consist of lots of emails and social media replies over breakfast while listening to Spotify playlists. Afternoons I normally will work on new music for my live shows, workout, and take care of the normal domestic necessities while continuing to listen to playlists designed to inspire new show ideas. Since I do manage my own schedule and the schedules of several other musicians that perform with me regularly, a huge part of my day also consists of booking new gigs and confirming upcoming events. I love staying busy so working for myself is nothing short of perfect.
I was born…
just outside of Austin, TX in a place called Georgetown, TX.
My favorite thing about Arizona…
definitely the diverse scenery and the old west charm. Being from Texas I have an affinity for wide open spaces and simpler times. Arizona allows me a great balance between urban living and an escape to nature.
I’m listening to…
two things actually – a playlist for an upcoming wedding I’m performing that has some amazing song requests on it like “Sedona” by Houndmouth & “Only For You” by Heartless Bastards. The second thing I find myself immersed in is the Malcom Gladwell podcast “Revisionist History”. I just got into the podcast scene and this one has really taken me.
My family…
where to start? Lol. At the end of the day my family is my world. My mom and dad are some of the most amazing people and exemplary examples of what I hope to become in the future. My grandparents (on both sides of the family) were the epidemy of the American dream. Came from very humble beginnings, worked hard and smart to build a life of promise for their future generations. TBH, my dad and my dad’s dad are both some of my biggest inspirations. Through example, they taught me to follow your passions and make what you love, what you do, every day! My life is virtually stress free because I followed in their footsteps of making my passion my career.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
the answer to that question changes all the time and is dependent upon my mood and what I’m trying accomplish in life. Currently, at this exact moment, I would love to sit down with the comedian Kevin Hart. I think he is hilarious and would be so fun to kick it with but he is also extremely motivating. By the time this interview is released though my mood may have shifted and I’d want to sit down and have dinner with some very old and very dead person. That’s just me, lol!
One thing I cannot live without…
free time, personal space, and my friends and family (sorry that’s three things). Do those things count for this question? I have a lot of material things in my life but I know I could live without pretty much all of them. The important things in life to me are the experiences I make with the people I love and my own space to reflect and regroup for the next adventure.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
whatever I was into at the moment, ha! A pilot, a professional athlete, a rockstar, and motorcycle builder, the list goes on and on. I was fortunate to live in a family where nothing (to an extent financially) was off limits to try. But through all of it, my parents required me be involved in music. I played any and all sports, raced motorcycles, took strange electives in school, but I also stayed in some kind of music program. My parents understood the power of music and they apparently could see that no matter the other distractions in my younger years, music was a potential future career path. Smart people!
I’m inspired by…
anyone who isn’t afraid to follow their passion and find a way to make themselves a success story.
The one person who motivates me is…
I’ve already said my family so that’s a given but one person I have left out at this point of the interview is my best friend and business partner, Christopher Mills Magnee (I call him Chris Mills on stage). We’ve been best friends since middle school, played music together from a young age, started our first rock / garage band out of high school, have traveled the country together performing at spots like the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and to this day we perform about 300 shows per year together. He is one of the only people in my life (outside of my family) that has been a true inspiration in my personal and professional career. Through our ups and downs as friends he has helped keep me grounded and motivated and has always had the same passion and drive to make music a life long career.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
Oh, that is a one hard. Without being too political or long winded, I’ll say I wish I could simplify life for people in the world today. Take away their stresses, anxieties, and fears so they can see the world for all the good and beauty that is right in front of them. I think that’s what really motivates me with the music I choose to play today. It allows me to instantly connect with strangers and brings them into a moment where nothing else matters as they sing along to the songs I’m performing. Music has that power like not many other things in the world.
The perfect day would be…
a day where I could eat chocolate ice cream and peanut butter all day long and it gave me abs!?! Ha, no. A truly perfect day is a one where I get outside for a bit and get to spend some time with good people, no matter what we’re doing. I’m fortunate to live a perfect day fairly often.
My first job was…
the first job I can remember I was a counselor at a summer camp / daycare called KidzCamp for first – sixth graders. It didn’t pay much but the kids were a riot!
My favorite escape…
is anything outdoors / adrenaline related. I love off-roading and have recently got into camping out of vehicles for extended periods of time in remote locations over long distances (sometimes referred to as Overlanding). My friends would say I’m pretty obsessed!
I’m currently working on…
outside of several new concept music projects that I can’t talk about fully yet and new branding ideas for my current projects, I am currently planning a road trip from Phoenix, through Canada, to the Arctic Ocean. I’m planning on living out of my truck for 8-12 weeks next summer and recording music and video the entire way to use for a mini independent documentary and my own original music when I get back. This ties back into the Overlanding topic I told you my friends say I’m obsessed with currently lol.
My life…
is always busy and always full. I love every moment of it because I have built it upon things and people I love and am passionate about.
Always…
explore and cultivate your true interests.
Never…
let fear hold you back from trying something new or being different.
Favorite Quote…
It’s less of a quote and a line, rather, from a book by CS Lewis:
“I have come home at last… I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for my whole life though I never knew it… Come Further Up, Come Further In.”
To me it’s about finding and embracing the place you truly belong, and the joy living a life of purpose provides. When I read it, I knew I needed to not worry about what I thought other people expected from me. Instead, I needed to focus on what I loved and wanted out of life. To me that ended up being music and now I want nothing more than to dive into it further and further and share that joy and passion with the people around me.
Biggest Dream…
to own my own business doing what I love and be financially independent so I can free myself of the stress that money (or the lack of it) creates. Outside of that, my second biggest dream is to travel and get paid for it… I’m still working on that second one!
My Pet Peeve(s)…
the cliché bad driver response is definitely fitting for me but also repeating myself or people that talk through movies, lol.
More about Steve…
having established his own sound and audience across The Valley, Independent musician Steve Ayotte uses his music to uplift, inspire and connect with those around him. Armed with a passion for performance and undeniable instinct for sound, Steve performs locally throughout Phoenix, Arizona and at destination events spanning the country.
In addition to writing, producing and performing original music, Steve specializes in remixes of popular songs from all genres and eras. His sound has been described as a diverse blend of pop, rock, soul, folk, and R&B.
Steve performs solo, as a duo, and with his full band, Steve Ayotte and the Get Down. Dynamic musicians and entertainers — the band combines their musical talents to create the perfect vibe, every time. From high energy anthems to smooth jazz and acoustic oldies, Steve Ayotte is known to develop the ideal sound for any atmosphere, big or small.
To date, Steve has opened for internationally-recognized artists such as The Beach Boys, Andy Grammer, Enrique Iglesias, Lil’ Jon, The Chainsmokers, and Maroon 5. From local gigs to corporate events and destination weddings, Steve appreciates every minute of his time on stage, with the band, and interacting with his local community.
Check out some of Steve’s music videos here and catch an upcoming performance at one of the venues below:
- Kelly’s at SouthBridge – Every other Wednesday, 7-10pm
- Copper Blues – Every other Friday, 5-8pm
- W Scottsdale – Every other Saturday, 11am-2pm,
- SumoMaya – Every other Saturday, 11am-2pm
- Local Bistro – Every Sunday, 11am-2pm
