Stela Cole

Hollyn Elizabeth Shadinger (born October 21, 1997), known professionally as Stela Cole is an American singer-songwriter. Her song “DIY” held the record for the most first week streams on American Song Contest where she reached the semi-finals as a contestant for her home state Georgia. Prior to ASC, Stela independently released her EP, “Woman of the Hour” (2020) and song “I Shot Cupid” (2021) through her self-funded label “Stelavision Records” and Venice Music.

Early life

Shadinger was born on October 21, 1997, in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was adopted at birth and grew up Peachtree City, Georgia.

Shadinger grew up playing goalkeeper, she injured her back at 15, ending her competitive soccer career. After sustaining a serious back injury during a game, she turned her attention toward writing songs. After recording her first demos, she caught the attention of local producers who recognized her talent and introduced her to eventual manager Steve Sparrow. Sparrow went on to teach Stela how to write songs in a professional manner and is still her manager to this day.

Shadinger graduated from Starr’s Mill High School in 2016 and sang the national anthem at her graduation ceremony. She briefly attended Belmont University to pursue a degree in “Commercial Voice,” but dropped out to focus on her music career with RCA Records.

Career

2018: Musical debut with RCA Records

In 2018, Cole signed with RCA Records which released her debut single "You F O" and later on distributed her debut project "Throwing Up Butterflies"

Later in 2018, RCA Records dropped Cole a week after she played them the demo of her song "Love Like Mine" due to creative differences. According to Cole, They envisioned her to be a spin-off Meghan Trainor whereas Cole had a entirely different vision for her career and musical future.

2020: Woman Of The Hour EP

In 2020, Cole started to roll out her EP "Woman Of The Hour" via independent music distribution service AWAL. Before the release of the EP, every track was released as a single except Kiss or Kill which was released with the final EP delivery. The debut single of the EP was "Woman of the Hour.”

In a TikTok livestream, Cole revealed that she was able to fund her extended play, “Woman of the Hour” with the leftover money she saved from her RCA Records deal. Cole also stated on this livestream that she owns the masters to this EP and her song “I Shot Cupid,” therefore earning enough from streaming to pay her bills.

2021 - 2023: American Song Contest & Signing to Ultra Records post EP

In early 2021, Stela teased her single "I Shot Cupid" on social platform TikTok. She then she released it onto all platforms on 1 June 2021 independently.

Later in 2021, Cole officially signed with Ultra Records. Her first single with the label was "Walking On The Moon." Cole also appeared in the first ever season of American Song Contest to represent her home-state Georgia. She represented Georgia with the track "DIY" Cole made it to the semi-finals of the show where she was eliminated.

Cole throughout 2022 - 2023 continued to release a series of Non-album singles through her label Ultra Records including "Rhapsody In Pink", "Star", "Bye Bye Blues" & Roses.

2024 to present: Exiting label deal and Debut LP 'I Die Where You Begin'

Cole used 2023 to split with her previous label and reclaimed her place as an independent musician via indie distribution service Amuse, in which she started rolling out her debut album. Cole cites Fleetwood Mac, The Mama’s and Papa’s, Tame Impala, The Eagles, Arctic Monkeys and more as inspirations for this new musical era. Cole describes this new era in her music as "more than a musical evolution, a rebirth."

Cole began this new musical journey via the release of debut single 'Die Hard' She then continued to release singles 'Midnight Killer, Blood Orange Wine, Feel It Again, Candyland, all of which later appeared on a prequel EP of the album 'IDWYB: The Prequel, with new accompanying single 'Now or Nevermind'' Following the EP, Cole released further singles Blue Moon, God Loves You & Stereoqueen.

Following this, Cole announced the album title 'I Die Where You Begin', accompanied by the full tracklist via social platforms and a pre-release page on streaming service Spotify, for release on 14th March 2025. Vinyl variants were also announced for pre-order during this time. The vinyl also features the tracks Famous Last Words, Exit Wounds & Rose Colored Lover which are not on the digital streaming variant. Upon the album's eventual release, Cole released the music video for the track 'Loverspell' off the project.

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

As featured artist

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cole, Stela
1997 births
Living people
21st-century American women singers
21st-century American singer-songwriters
American women pop singers
American women singer-songwriters
Musicians from Georgia (U.S. state)
People from Peachtree City, Georgia