The Theatre Podcast With Alan Seales

Stella Cole joins the podcast to discuss her unique journey from a musical-theatre-obsessed child in Springfield, Illinois, to a global jazz sensation. She opens up about the "old soul" label she has carried since infancy and how she navigated a high-pressure academic environment at Northwestern University while privately yearning for the music of Judy Garland and Doris Day. Stella shares the vulnerable story of nearly quitting singing altogether before finding her voice again during the 2020 lockdown, leading to a meteoric rise on TikTok that felt more like a "fake little thing" on her phone than a career-changing event. The conversation dives deep into the realities of being a touring artist in the modern age, from the scrappy days of singing for dinner in Brooklyn to signing with a major label and recording with a full string orchestra at Power Station. Stella discusses the profound emotional power of the Great American Songbook, her transition from viral creator to live performer, and her future aspirati