top of page

Forbidden City Studios and Darktrunk

Imagery from the vault to highlight what's behind Steve BLaque.
poster for live shows-min small file siz

poster for live shows-min small file siz

Poster template set up for the last part of 2018 designed by site designer Levan Stanes.

Let's Get Divorced

Let's Get Divorced

Song idea obviously written while flying on June 30 @ 8:30 from Beijing to Wuhan. Love sick backs for doing my writing.

Intimate Relations

Intimate Relations

The song, yet another written on a sick bag in a plane was written in one session traveling from Beijing to Harbin and was based on a newspaper article that I was reading on the flight. The song was finished lyrically by the time the flight landed in the northern city. The song itself is on Shuffling Deckchairs and can be heard on that album at steveblaque.com

Ideas

Ideas

Sometimes writing can produce rubbish, and who knows this might be one of those moments.

Just a Cold Hearted Shrew

Just a Cold Hearted Shrew

Obviously written once again in a plane this time flying Beijing to Tai Yuan. Once again on a sick bag.

Hasn't it Occurred to You

Hasn't it Occurred to You

This is the original lyric for my song Hasn't it Occurred to You, which is due out for release in 2017. From memory this original draft was written ahead of traveling to an airport as far back as 2006.

How Much Can this Cat Take

How Much Can this Cat Take

Original draft of the song which appears on Shuffling Deckchairs and which is available on this site either for purchase or streaming.

Dice on a Roll

Dice on a Roll

An unedited piece that again was written on a sick bag...we're all going to get sick of me writing this. The song has been patiently waiting for a call up to the majors and then developed as a song. So far I've been there a few times but as yet it remains unused.

After You

After You

one of several duets I've written over the years and which is planned to be used on my next album or the following album, both scheduled for 2017 and or 2018.

Ideas

Ideas

Ideas that wait for the call up.

D-22 set list

D-22 set list

Rare item these days and one that I like to see because there are ideas for new songs I was writing at the time and also it's a cool snapshot of what songs Steve BLaque was playing in 2011.

Dec 28 Wuhan bound

Dec 28 Wuhan bound

This is a song that describes the limitless greed that was sweeping China in the mid 2000's. The lyric itself is based upon an in flight copy of the China Daily.

Don King's Throne

Don King's Throne

One of the many songs written by Steve Blaque from his profound love of boxing.

Dec 30 in an Airport

Dec 30 in an Airport

This one from San Francisco Airport on Dec 30 and I would venture to say it was 2012 at the end of that year. Short trip stateside being one of the few times I've holidayed in that part of the world.

Another wasted night of Idle Chatter

Another wasted night of Idle Chatter

I believe this ode was based upon the novel Havana which I must have been reading around this time. I remember that I was reading in the back street cafe's of Beijing's San Li Tun, back at the time the place had character and soul.

the point of no return.jpg

the point of no return.jpg

yer just wax in the sun.jpg

yer just wax in the sun.jpg

move on out the door.jpg

move on out the door.jpg

Don't  Beat Yurself Up

Don't Beat Yurself Up

Original transcript of the song Don't Beat Yurself Up, which was written sometime around 2011 in Beijing China.

Don't Beat Yurself Up

Don't Beat Yurself Up

another image of Don't Beat Yurself Up

Twobitsville

Twobitsville

Album cover for 2014's Twobitsville with artwork by Levan Stanes.

don't beat.jpg

don't beat.jpg

All Alone

All Alone

Original transcript of All Alone written in 2013 in North China. The song was written and composed in about 25 minutes.

My Lair

My Lair

Artwork for 2015's My Lair and produced for Steve Blaque by Levan Stanes

ToiL

ToiL

Prototype of the 2017 album ToiL which is sometimes used as an alternate cover. Artwork by Levan Stanes.

ToiL

ToiL

Alternate cover or project design portfolio for 2017's ToiL

Dead Motor Cyclist

Dead Motor Cyclist

Taken from an abortive 2015 film shoot for My Lair's Traffic on a Sunday. Shooting was 'held over'. Picture by Hugh Reed

Catastrophe

Catastrophe

Imagery for Darktrunk and Steve BLaque by Levan Stanes.

Sublime_Disorder_F.jpg

Sublime_Disorder_F.jpg

Dogz.jpg

Dogz.jpg

Blaque Monday

Blaque Monday

Album sleeve by Levan Stanes of Blaque's 2015 album Blaque Monday.

Steve BLaque

Steve BLaque

Performing solo in one of the tunnels to Blaque's studio and domicile in downtown Beijing.

My Lair

My Lair

More artwork from the My Lair album of 2015

Poster art

Poster art

Blaque's late 2015 show with The Black Hipster out of Beijing. Artwork Levan Stanes

End of Daze

End of Daze

Blaque's ongoing volume of End of Daze which has no completion date, just that it's added to as songs fit the criterion.

Palookaville

Palookaville

Artwork taken from My Lair but that will one day find it's way to Blaque's long yearned for album Palookaville, and thus the bookend for 2014's Twobitsville.

Darktrunk

Darktrunk

Holding company for all of Steve BLaque's work is Darktrunk Publishing which incorporates Forbidden CIty Studio and 52 North Records and 52 North Publishing.

Twobitsville

Twobitsville

2014's Twobitsville official T shirt. Available from merchandising here at steveblaque.com

Blaque's Blue

Blaque's Blue

Unreleased album cover from Levan Stanes.

Twovbirsville

Twovbirsville

Official Album artwork for Twobitsville from 2014

Shuffling Deckchairs

Shuffling Deckchairs

Cover for 2010 album held over until 2015 release of SHuffling Deckchairs. Design by Levan Stanes

Images that relate to the world of Steve BLaque.

We're unraveling more of the story of the reclusive musical artist as we try to convey what lays behind the songs and videos of the man who tuned up. We've been given a treasure trove of information and we anticipate that much of it will be uploaded by the end of June in this year. (whichever year you're reading, simply calibrate the months)

bottom of page