2006-2010: Career beginnings

In the spring of 2006, Lang won a local radio station talent competition hosted by The Beat 94.5, now Virgin Radio, where she won a four-song recording deal with a recording studio. After graduating high school at 17, she moved to Vancouver, BC, where accepted a studio internship to learn more about the music industry and music production.^[5] She spent this time honing her songwriting skills and learning how to run the studio. She worked part-time at a local grocery store as a check-out clerk while performing at clubs like The Roxy, The Railway Club, The Media Club, The Bourbon, The Main, and The Rusty Gull. She also worked odd jobs as a cashier, retail sales clerk, server, hostess, and as an extra on film sets.^[6]

At 18, Lang suffered from severe depression and anxiety, stopping her ability to write or perform for six months. She continued an abusive relationship, which ended up inspiring songs for her debut album.^[7]

Within four years, she had written over 250 songs. Two EPs were released, titled Birth and Blood and Bravery. In the spring of 2009, Lang signed a publishing deal with Nettwerk One/H-Songs, who launched the careers of Sarah McLachlan and Coldplay and other world-renowned artists such as Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Chantal Kreviazuk. In 2010, she independently released her debut album, The Underdog, which earned her two Canadian Radio Music Award Nominations (HOT AC & CHR) for her single "Mr. Immature". The album was also nominated for Pop Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.^[8] Two EPs were released, titled Birth and Blood and Bravery.

^[9]

2010-2016: The Underdog, Fighting Mirrors, Arrows Pt. 1 & 2

In 2010, Lang toured Canada nationally for her debut album, The Underdog, often performing at clubs and colleges and making various radio station appearances. In 2011, Her follow-up single, "Slave 2 Love", was dubbed the most added song on Canadian Radio that year.^[10] From 2010 to 2013, Lang often traveled to New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville for songwriting trips, while working as a waitress in bars. During that time, she opened for K'naan, Fefe Dobson, Simple Plan, Ron Sexsmith, Matt Good, Shawn Desman, and Sum 41. In 2012, Lang self-released her EP Fighting Mirrors which garnered Canadian Radio airplay with her single "Paper Doll." Later that year, she independently released a full album called Self, which she wrote and produced entirely herself. In 2013, Lang moved to New York to further pursue music and ended her management and publishing agreements to remain fully independent. Lang's vocals were featured on ISH's song "Rollin'" released on Warner Music, which also received airplay on Canadian radio that year. She continued to focus on writing sessions while living in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and started to perform in clubs such as Rockwood Music Hall and The Bitter End, later releasing her EP Rubix in 2014. By 2015, Lang released two more EPs, Arrows Pt. 1 and Arrows Pt. 2, where she once again wrote and produced all of the tracks. Her final release under the name Stef Lang was her single "Stronger", which she wrote to raise awareness for mental health and wellness in 2016.^[4]

2017-2018: "Better Things", "Hold", Chapter 1: The Truth

In 2017, Lang made her debut as Stef Lang with her single "Better Things", which garnered buzz from notable music blogs such as The Line of Best Fit, Hilly Dilly, and Going Solo. Later that year she released two more singles, "Hold" and "Colours". Notable music blog Hillydilly wrote, "You ought to know her new song, 'Better Things'. It’s one pulsating and filled with attitude." It was added to their Songs of the Week playlist.^[11][12] In 2018, Lang moved to Los Angeles to further pursue music opportunities and later released her first EP, Chapter 1: The Truth. Mitch Mosk of Atwood Magazine described Chapter 1: The Truth as "A gorgeous three-track collection of dynamic and intimately reflective dark indie pop." Later that year, she performed in Los Angeles venues such as The Peppermint Club and made her debut showcasing at SXSW. As a follow-up to her first EP, she later released another three-song EP called "Chapter 2: The Silver Lining" in 2019.^[4]

2019: Rings

In 2019, Lang released a full-length album called Rings, which she wrote and co-produced with her husband Frequency (Eminem, Rihanna), written entirely about their marriage. In a post by Wonky Sensitive, the blog refers to the album as "A collection of 10 heartfelt and deeply personal songs, Rings is a portrait of marriage - a glimpse of the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Exploring intimacy, communication, resentment, and commitment in a pop/R&B soundscape".

2020: Stef Lang_02

Pulling inspiration from Beyoncé, Missy Elliot, The Black Eyed Peas, and Run the Jewels, Lang started crafting a new style incorporating her ability to talk-rap and sing full-range simultaneously. Her most recent EP, Stef Lang_02, dips into a more moody, female empowerment landscape, exuding confidence, attitude, and swagger. She wrote and co-produced the EP Stef Lang_02 with her husband during the pandemic and released it in December 2020 and it was featured on playlists such as New Music Friday and Alternate R&B, amassing over a million streams.

Singles

Extended plays

Studio albums

Radio success

• "Mr. Immature" – Hit No. 5 on the Billboard Chart for Canadian Emerging Artist^[21]
• "Slave 2 Love" – American Music Chart – CANADA: HOT AC; hit #12 on Mainstream Radio^[22][23]
• "Rollin'" Ish – 2012 – Canadian Hot 100, peaked at No. 59^[24]
• "Paper Doll" – 2012 – No. 1 Most Added Song in Canadian Radio