Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announced the launch of the Steve Lacy “People Pleaser” Stratocaster®, a collaboration with California born-and-raised Grammy-winning artist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer Steve Lacy. This Signature Stratocaster® guitar is not only an homage to a player whose guitar-playing style is as technically proficient as it is emotionally evocative, but a celebration of Lacy’s indelible impact on culture at large. Named for his trailblazing reputation, crowd-pleasing sounds, and stage looks, the “People Pleaser” Stratocaster® showcases Lacy’s evolution from a hungry musician into a chart-topping artist and guitarist.
Rising to fame in 2015 as part of the alternative R&B and soul band THE INTERNET, the singer/songwriter, guitarist and producer has established himself as one of the music industry’s foremost innovators – blurring genre lines while keeping a keen focus on expressive musicianship. Since his earliest days, Lacy has collaborated with notable artists such as Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Solange, and Vampire Weekend, and has made a name for himself in the couture world when he walked the runway for high-end fashion houses including Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Lacy’s first chart-topping solo hit, “Bad Habit,” was released in 2022 as the lead single from his Grammy-winning second studio album Gemini Rights. Now, marking the next milestone of his career, Lacy’s signature Fender® Stratocaster® combines his stylish swagger and undeniable musicality, celebrating a career built on subverting expectations and inspiring a new generation to challenge conformity and establish a sonic palette entirely their own.
“This guitar means so much to me. It’s a full circle moment. My first guitar was a Squier strat. It was the box set that came with an amp, case, quarter inch- the whole 9. Now I have my very own Fender Stratocaster guitar,” said Steve Lacy. “The People Pleaser Strat, in a nutshell, is my dream guitar as a kid when I first started playing and my dream guitar as the guitarist I am today. An ode to the old classic design that Fender is known for with all the new specs that make a guitar feel like home. I hope everyone gets to experience the feeling of this guitar. I’m excited to see what people make with it.“
Additionally, the campaign will kick off with a stylized visual, starring Steve and his signature model guitar. Filmed by videographer Tino Shaedler, and photographed by previous Steve Lacy collaborator, Mason Rose, ‘THE PEOPLE PLEASER’ film commemorates Steve’s knack for being a crowd pleaser with his bona fide stylistic choices in sound and dress. The film also underlines Fender’s withstanding ability to delight the next generation of guitar players in unexpected ways and create models that champion style, without sacrificing the brand’s quintessential quality or sound. Watch Steve Lacy showcase his singular style while highlighting how the "People Pleaser" Stratocaster drips with effortless charisma and cool.
For technical specs, additional information on new Fender products and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.fender.com.
