Stephen Sanchez Apologizes as He Cancels Tour Dates and Rants About 'Discouraging' State of 'Popular Music'

Jack IrvinMon, June 15, 2026 at 5:48 PM UTC

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Stephen Sanchez in March 2026Credit: Gary Gershoff/Getty -

Stephen Sanchez canceled his Oceania and unannounced U.S. tour dates, citing personal struggles and creative burnout

The singer revealed his negative experience creating his album Love, Love, Love made him consider quitting music entirely

Sanchez criticized the state of popular music and social media's influence, vowing to create art on his own terms

After canceling his upcoming tour, Stephen Sanchez isn't holding back with his thoughts.

On Monday, June 15, the "Until I Found You" singer-songwriter, 23, announced his upcoming tour dates are canceled in a lengthy social media statement — where he also ranted about the "discouraging" state of pop music.

"I'm sitting in an airport trying to express feelings that need so much context and so much detail for everyone to understand in full. I realize some of you might not," began Sanchez, who wrapped his European tour in May and performed at Capital's Summertime Ball 2026 in London on June 6. He was set to play shows in Oceania this summer, but those shows are now canceled.

Stephen Sanchez in June 2026Credit: Ian West/PA Images via Getty

"The cancellation of the NZ/AU Tour without explanation has left some of you with questions and I imagine some frustrated feelings as well," he wrote. "I know many of you had hotels and flights booked. I'm truly sorry for that."

Sanchez, whose new album Love, Love, Love came out in May, then revealed further news as his statement continued, "I imagine the frustration and confusion will continue, as the unannounced US tour will also not be happening this year. I am also truly sorry for that."

"This part I can't make everyone understand," he added. "I spent the majority of 2025 working on LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. In short, what felt like never ending conflict, stress, anxiety, and overall deeply negative energy surrounding the process and lead up to this album's release absolutely ruined this music for me."

The "Sweet Love" musician explained the experience "affected me so much that I wanted to quit making music all together."

"Instead, I went on to do the EU/UK tour because I thought it would change my feelings towards this album, [but] it fortunately did not. This is not your fault in the slightest," Sanchez told fans. "You did nothing wrong, and I thank you for wanting me to be in your city. I am incredibly lucky to be doing this job as much as you've allowed me to."

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He explained, "But, when all was said and done, what did make things better for me was to be home, to see my family and my friends outside of a green room, to have actual time to find purpose in making music again beyond just trying to make everyone happy at all the time."

Sanchez then shifted focus and shared his thoughts on music at large. "What made things even more discouraging for me was heading some of the popular music that was coming out during the time I was working on this album. Music that people were somehow getting bought into everyday," he wrote.

Stephen Sanchez in May 2026Credit: James Klug/Getty

"Disgusting, heavily pornographic lyrics, nothing driving people to do anything, to see anything different in a way that helps others along," said the artist. "So much of it felt dividing or shallow or filled with lust, not love. 'But it's catchy.' Music needs to do better. What's said is so important, what we leave behind is so important. It's left me feeling so depressed as an artist."

He added, "It also seems that an artist's success relies heavily on this one thing: Being on social media everyday. Sharing every piece of themselves with the world. Being a 'musical influencer.' Doing something shocking in their look or their writing. Having things 'go viral' every waking second in order to have everyone 'in your corner' trust or even listen to your artistic vision."

"I'm so sick of that. I'm done with that," wrote Sanchez. "I'm going to make the art that I want to make and promote it in a way that feels restful for me. I will come back when I feel that I've create[d] that space for myself. Until then, I love you guys. See you soon," concluded Sanchez's statement.

A rep for Sanchez had no comment.

Love, Love, Love marked the musician's second studio album after 2023's Angel Face, which spawned a No. 23 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Until I Found You."

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