Stefanie Carapezza's "Stagefright" is polished immersion into an inflection point
Hope, a hard way, in JC resident's 2025 debut EP
By Chilltown Blues
Last year, Stefanie Carapezza released her debut EP, “Stagefright,” and upon hearing it this year (available on all major streaming platforms), it was too good to not feel like it came out yesterday, so here we are.
Carapezza’s EP opens with “Scorched Earth,” a song that immediately shows the jazz singer’s inflection the singer-songwriter can vocalize in. Carapezza’s voice then rolls on throughout the EP in ways a bit more varied — with rock-, pop- and other tinges bolstered by strong songwriting.
It’s another great example of indie music in the singer-songwriter vein that’s stronger than what carries that label and gets the most streams.
Carapezza, a JC resident, answered some questions about “Stagefright” as she prepared to put together a concert for these challenging times.
“It’s really challenging times,” Carapezza agreed, “and I think more than ever art has become so important and maybe more polarizing because of these events. I want to highlight the Jersey City art community in general is very vocal and active to recent events regarding ICE presence in JC and Hoboken. I am putting together a show with some of my artist friends to help fund-raise for different organizations doing the work of promoting equity and inclusion for immigrants.”
It may be a five-track EP, but “Stagefright” has big arcs that it deftly explores — with “Scorched Earth” being about what it took the song’s narrator to realize her worth. A witch burned at the stake acts as a metaphor for self-actualization after destruction — for becoming a bat out of hell, despite having chronic stage fright.
“The EP collectively showcases my insecurities as an artist and musician because I did start my music journey later in life,” Carapezza said.
