Christopher “Tricky” Stewart is an Atlanta-based multi-Grammy award-winning songwriter, producer, composer, and father whose family’s musical heritage helped to shape and guide his life from the tender age of fifteen when he started his musical career. While a lot has changed for Tricky since then, he remains dedicated to his craft and is excited about the future. His artistry has touched over 50 million records sold, defining a musical genre and setting the beat for a world hungry for more hits such as Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” and Katy Perry’s “Hummingbird Heartbeat.”
Born into a family of choir directors, music producers, background singers, and commercial jingle writers, Tricky was somehow predestined to find his way into music. However, it wasn’t until he listened to Baby Face’s Tender Lover album in 1989 that his musical life would change forever. “That was a catalyst mentally,” explains Tricky. “That's when I heard something that took me from being a fan, to something that I could dedicate my life to.” For Tricky it was the level of production on the album that would be the root of his musical growth and why he became obsessed with making records.
Being authentic to the music and the process is of the utmost importance to Tricky. “I make sure that every single thing that I touch is authentic to the genre,” says Tricky.
A dedicated husband and father, Tricky is also very community-motivated. Recently, he opened Sessions Atlanta, a place where young people can have a creative playground. “Growth happens when young people can be in an environment that gives them the ability to find themselves,” he says.
Tricky is defining the music that we hear every day, providing a soundtrack for our ever-changing world that somehow is all listening to the same tunes!