Kissing Thieves – Artist Profile | Progressive Rock Central.com

Kissing Thieves is the name that folk rock singer/songwriter, Stefanie Fields, from my hometown of Bellingham, Washington, USA; has taken as her band and stage name. She is signed with Washingtone’s Records, and she has released singles, recorded from November 1, 2022 through August 29, 2025; but has not released an album, or EP, yet. However, this music is too good to wait for any longer. So I am going to review it with the hope that enough people will respond to the sounds and lyrics, to help Stefanie release a full album or EP of these and maybe other songs that she has composed.

With a respectful nod to Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, and numerous classic others, Kissing Thieves draws forward a reminiscent energy of authenticity and purpose. Their songs delve into themes of self-discovery, independence, empowerment, and claiming one’s experience. “I don’t write pouty love songs,” said Fields, “That’s just not where I’m at.” Experienced music reviewers from the US and Europe have described Kissing Thieves’ original songs as gutsy, beautiful, raw, and captivating. At live performances, you can expect to see stripped down acoustic sets that are genuine, sweet, and a little sexy.

Stefanie describes her music as, “Authentic lyrics and evocative sound to nourish your mind and soul.” Fields is also a Certified Hypnotherapist, entrepreneur, and 4-time children’s book author. Information about her books and advocacy work can be found here: www.stefaniebooks.com.

So, let’s dive into her soulful music:

“Faded Underwear,” opens with soft percussion and acoustic guitar. Stefanie sings, “That old story’s been told. Over and over again. Your mind plays it once more. You never like how it ends. Now you’re lying in bed. In faded underwear. Staring off at the moon. Wondering how to get there,” A song about the need for change. And that need can be so bad, that you could almost become desperate for anything. “Worn out memories. Time to sing a new song,” Zac Miller joins Stefanie singing, “How can you hold on. To something that’s gone. Worn-out, worn-out memories. Oh let it go dove. Is there a reason for this. Bullshit waste of your time. You’re just starving for truth. As you choke on the lies. Now you’re lying in bed. Holding your pillow so close. Staring off at the moon. And all the secrets she knows.” I don’t know the origin of this feeling, but I am sure many of us are feeling it. Nothing seems to change in this world and it does just seem like it is slowly drifting to an end, with no way to stop it…A difficult song of deflated hope, but hope none the less. It’s about holding on to the last glimmering embers.

Stefanie Fields and Zach Miller.

“Davie Street,” opens with bright keyboards or orchestration. Cymbals, clapping, and synths, with bass and electric guitar. The title reminded me of both a Dave Matthews and a Peter Gabriel song. “Mercy Street,” from Peter Gabriel and “Grey Street,” from Dave Matthews. Kissing Thieve’s melody does not match either of these songs, but the imagery and feeling of both songs are a perfect match. Stefanie, like all of us, hopefully, seems to have this hidden hope, buried deep under years of disappointment, just like Dave and Peter’s songs. Stefanie sings, “Summer got a hold of me. Lost my mind on Davie Street. Danced the night into the day. Stole a kiss and I walked away. Autumn came, and the heat was gone. Lovers lie and the beat goes on. My heart’s still running away. Close my eyes and I let it play. Rebel hearts. Keep running. Winter struck me like a chord. Call me crazy, but I’m never bored. Ran outside without my clothes. Made an angel in the snow. Spring arrived and the colors burst. Shattered the cold and broke the curse. My heart’s still running away. Forgive it all, nothing more to say.” Yes, a kind of holding on, and waiting for hope to arrive song.

“Hands Together,” almost opens like the famous Simon and Garfunkel song, “The Sound of Silence.” With soft acoustic guitar and electric guitar reverberations in the background, but it is the lyrics that bring back the real memories. Stefanie sings, “Hello my darkness. Have you come to stay awhile. I have been waiting. The return from your exile. Everyone’s watching. And I’m naked as the cold. Full body shivers. Ain’t I something to behold. I put these hands together. Nothing happens. Wo my angels. Where have you gone. I put these hands together. I don’t know why. Hello Saint Mary. Can you show me how to pray. It’s been so long now. I think God forgot my name. Asking for mercy. On my knees outside your door. Torn up and tattered. From my self-created war.” Fighting to hold on to hope, despite years of trepidation.

“Old Ass White Men,” was the first single I heard from Kissing Thieves, and I immediately recognized it as a theme song for our current American situation. Old ass white men, in the positions of power, and in the form of politicians and oligarchs, are ruining our country. They are driving down wages, laying people off, and setting up tariffs that are destroying the economy, with their mismanagement. They point their vitriol, vengeance, and stereotypes at others not like themselves, and that is just tearing apart the USA, and the world. So Stefanie, has decided to offer them, a piece of her mind. She sings, to a nice rambling, Bob Dylan, beat, “Hey old. Old ass white men. Hey old. Old ass white men. Do you hear me. Did you leave your dignity at the door. Did you lose your conscience, check the floor. Do you hear me! All for one and none for all. Did you shed your humanity in the hall. Making laws, breaking vows, stealing rights. Tell me how the hell can you sleep at night. Our torn flag bleeds hypocrisy. Star spangled bullshit, lies, and greed. Don’t you care. Don’t you dare!” Thanks, Stefanie! I and the world needed that. I just wish we could get this song into the political arena so it could become a fight song at rallies and protests. We can only hope, and place it where it can be found.

“Play Me Louder,” opens with acoustic guitar and instrumentation. Stefanie sings the message, “I came here. On a mission. But no one. Told me what it was. I couldn’t see it. I couldn’t hear it. Through all of. The noise and fuzz. I’ve been wandering. Always searching. With only. The lantern of my soul. What’s the point? Oh, what’s the difference? I could use a little guidance, I suppose. Play me louder. Turn me up, unleash the sound. Kiss the skies, ignite the ground. Play me louder. Or don’t. Play me at all!” My hope is that you will listen to this and all of Stefanie’s songs and help spread the word.

“Play Me Louder,” created by Kristy Carrico Art.

“Sunset,” which I think is a perfect closing track; opens with a soft, weekend awakening kind of acoustic guitar. It sounds so much like a Joni Mitchell or Carole King style song. Then, Stefanie sighs, before she sings, quietly, “I’m gonna find myself a sunset. That’ll take me through the night. I’m gonna ride on forever. Til the pain is out of sight. And now I’m hungry for adventure. On the dark side of the moon. If it’s right. I’m gonna find. That same adventure wants me too. Shoulders back, look straight ahead. The past is nothing new. How the story goes from here is solely up to you. Now I’m runnin’ down that sunset. Hard knock virtue in my stride. I can hear the freedom calling. Let my burdens fall behind. I feel the thunder of my courage. As I make this path my own. And my blood is pumpin’ faster. Sending shivers down my bones. Take a breath, take in the sky. The future’s coming soon. How the story goes my dear is solely up to you. I’m gonna find myself a sunset. That’ll take me through the night!” Stefanie says of this song, “Take a breath, take in the sky…Born from the independence created in the wake of a devastation. Sunset illustrates the courage to move forward with confidence, grace, and a touch of rebellion. Life can throw us major curve balls, unwanted changes, and undesirable challenges. We always have a choice. We can sit in the rubble or we can walk on. Sunset chose the latter and I hope you will too.” Yes, I will.

Singer/Songwriter, Stefanie Fields, as Kissing Thieves, has created 6 songs of devotion to the idea that you still can rise, no matter how long it takes, or how hard the struggle. That used to be called the ‘American Dream.’ Whether or not you still believe in that, or have any hope at all, please listen to these songs from Stefanie, to at least give it one more chance. She speaks of holding on to that hope that many classic folk singer/songwriters of my generation used to write beautiful poetry to illuminate. Stefanie is following in their footsteps, trying to keep the glass half full, as she lives through these difficult times. If you, and we all do, need some songs to empathize with your current situation, and the one we all seem to be in, put Kissing Thieves’ music on, and hum, or sing along with Stefanie.

Album Track List:

Faded Underwear – 4:04
Davie Street – 3:29
Hands Together – 4:00
Old Ass White Men – 3:58
Play Me Louder – 3:57
Sunset – 3:17

All song lyrics written by singer/songwriter, Stefanie Fields. According to Stefanie Fields, “Zach Miller is the magnificence behind the music. The songs of Kissing Thieves wouldn’t exist without his high-caliber skill, brilliance, patience, and vision. Zach’s talent level is ridiculous. We’ve gotta make the most of him before he flies back to whichever planet he came from.” Also performing vocals, Jonathan Meader and Zach Miller, on “Play Me Louder.” Most of the cover art was created by Stefanie Fields, except: the cover art for “Play Me Louder,” created by Kristy Carrico Art.