Kalistani Major History

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FOMAT XV Winner Jennifer Stepanov found dead in Kaliburg
Dulnerstaad Singer was only 29 years old
Kaliburg, Ananto
June 30, 4907


Stepanov recorded only six singles in her short but brilliant career

Jennifer Stepanov, 29, from Dulnerstaad, was found dead of apparent intentional drug overdose in her Kaliburg apartment yesterday. The famous singer and songwriter had recorded just six singles in her career, but had, according to friends, lost interest in making music professionally.

Joanie Yeardly, who worked with Stepanov prior to FOMAT, said "We talked last week, actually, and she was feeling pretty down. She said she wasn't sleeping much, and I think she was seeing a doctor about some things that were going on in her mind. I guess she finally decided she had had enough. It is a real loss to our little community, but I don't think I will ever get over her loss: it feels like there is a little part of me missing now."

Monica Pella, lead singer of the ska band Red Tone, who had befriended Stepanov before FOMAT, was reportedly beside herself. "It's been years since Kalistan had seen a musician of her kind of talent and passion. And while we became friends, it always seemed that there was somethings we really couldn't talk about, that she wouldn't talk about with me. She came up a couple weeks ago and we started thinking about maybe making some music together, and we sort of agreed that we would get together this fall and lay down some tracks, just for fun, you know... Now we won't, and I have lost my friend."

In recent interviews, Stepanov had recently expressed apathy about making more music. "The record label keeps pushing me," she said in January, "They want a record. And I have already said, it don't really feel it." She also noted the constant pressures to do interviews, to play live shows, and to make money. "And I just want to make art... why do people always have to sell my art? Why can't it just be."

The musician has been more or less a recluse since winning FOMAT in Vascania. "I never felt right about that," she said. "It really did change things for me. It all of a sudden brought all this attention on me, and I had liked just playing music with my friends. It sort of ruined the relationships I had, because now all these people who I thought were friends started asking me for money and trying to take pictures with me and everyone wanted something from me, and I just wanted to be a kid, you know, to kinda do things my way. I realized who my real friends were, and I felt like a lot of people really wanted to get a piece of me, and... you know, it just sucks because I feel like they just took this thing away from me..."

Stepanov death was ruled a suicide by Kaliburg's coroner, who, along with investigating police officers, found evidence of excessive drug and alcohol consumption, along with a note which reportedly apologized to those who loved her and included a goodbye. "We have ruled the cause of death," said the Cororner Joseph Ravolli, "to be acute cardiac arrest caused by a lethal dose of clinical depressants and alcohol consumption. Comrade Stepanov was discovered to have passed away about 14 hours before she was discovered by police officers performing a wellness check following a tip from a concerned neighbor."

Police announced that the neighbor called the police when the neighbor heard loud music repeating from Stepanov's downtown Kaliburg apartment. "The neighbor, who's name will not be released, is not a suspect, and foul play has been ruled out. All the evidence points to a self-inflicted and intentional drug overdose, where Comrade Stepanov consumed large quantities of barbiturates and narcotics and drank herself into a state of unconsciousness. She expired shortly afterward, laying in her bed."

A memorial for Jennifer Stepanov will be organized by her close friends. There will be a small, private memorial service for her family and friends, and then a larger celebration of the artists' life and work toward the end of the month. In accord with Stepanov's final wishes, she will be buried at sea in the Ananto Strait.