While he was born in the ’70s, Steve’s musical awareness truly began in the ’80s. The incredible mix of synthesizers, big-hair rock, hip-hop, rap, and heavy metal that percolated during the decade helped shape his overall appreciation for music and instilled a burning desire to play drums. Initially influenced by bands such as Def Leppard, Led Zeppelin, and Metallica, he went from banging on pots and pans, to practicing on a pawn-shop drum set, to playing with his first bands in high school. He discovered progressive rock in the form of Rush early in college, and his interest in the genre led a mutual acquaintance to introduce him to Juan and Ruben. He jammed one time with the duo and knew that Paradigm Blue was the band he was meant to be in.