NEXT UP: Steiner’s Piece of Cake Marks a Standout Debut

Before getting into the album, it’s worth knowing the artist behind it. Steiner (real name Eric Steiner) is originally from Gurnee, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, and is now based in Los Angeles. Coming up as a drummer, his music pulls from both live instrumentation and modern production—something you can feel throughout this project. His influences stretch across genres, from artists like Frank Ocean and Post Malone to rock staples like Blink-182 and Jeff Buckley, helping shape a sound that doesn’t sit in just one lane.

That approach shows up immediately on Piece of Cake. The album kicks off with one of our personal favorites, “Windy,” setting the tone with a smooth, melodic feel that pulls you in right away. It’s an effortless start, but intentional—laying the foundation for everything that follows.

Photography by David Kim

From there, tracks like “Drive-Thru” bring in those catchy, replay-worthy hooks that stick after the first listen, while “Dancing Queen” adds another layer of versatility, balancing emotion with a lighter, almost nostalgic energy.

Sonically, the project leans into that melodic vulnerability you’d expect if you’re a fan of Juice WRLD or Post Malone—introspective lyrics, polished hooks, and that ability to make heavy feelings feel easy to listen to. There are also moments where the vocals paired with the production give off that same atmospheric, almost distant feeling you’d hear in Joji’s music—subtle, emotional, and slightly hazy in the best way. But what makes this project stand out is how it doesn’t stay there.

There’s an edge throughout. Guitars creep in, drums hit a little harder, and certain moments lean into alternative and grunge-inspired sounds, giving the album a rawness that keeps it from feeling too polished or predictable.

At times, you even get flashes of that off-kilter, genre-bending energy that artists like Teezo Touchdown bring—where the structure bends, vocals stretch, and the production takes risks.

The result is a project that lives somewhere between rap, rock, and alternative pop without fully committing to one lane. Not every track hits equally, but the overall vibe carries—and more importantly, it feels authentic to where Steiner is as an artist right now.

If you’re into artists that blend melody, emotion, and a little distortion, Piece of Cake is an easy add to the rotation.