It’s a story plucked straight from a Hollywood script, yet it’s playing out in real-time: a 69-year-old Scottish musician, driving an Uber for supplemental income near Chicago, has just released what critics are hailing as one of 2026’s most thrilling albums. Steven Hall, known by his enigmatic moniker Nirosta Steel, has seen his double LP, My Skyscraper, ascend to unexpected heights, captivating a global audience, particularly among Gen Z listeners.
My Skyscraper, a sprawling compilation of material recorded between 1984 and 2025, is a testament to Hall's four decades of eclectic artistry. The album defies easy categorisation, weaving through disco, folk, and synth-pop, with unexpected detours into Chinese opera and ecclesiastical a cappella. Guardian Australia Culture reported that Pitchfork, the influential music publication, lauded it as “an archival triumph and one of the year’s most thrilling new releases,” a sentiment echoing across the international music press.
From New York Beatnik to Midwest Uber Driver
Hall's journey is as unique as his music. For the past three years, the Scottish native has been living a quiet life with his lawyer husband, a few hours south of Chicago. His days, until recently, involved navigating the streets as an Uber driver, a stark contrast to the burgeoning fame that now surrounds him. He describes the sudden attention as “mind-bending,” a sentiment understandable given the decades of relative obscurity that preceded this moment. The release of My Skyscraper represents not just an album launch, but the belated recognition of a truly singular artistic vision.
The Serendipitous Discovery of a Hidden Gem
The genesis of My Skyscraper's release is a tale of serendipity. It began with an impressed record label head who, after encountering Nirosta Steel’s 2014 album Cool Fire, enquired if Hall had any further unreleased material. “He didn’t know what he was in for,” Hall reportedly said, as quoted by Guardian Australia Culture. What followed was the uncovering of a treasure trove: dozens of unreleased songs spanning four decades, revealing a remarkable career marked by globe-trotting and intersections with avant-garde luminaries such as experimental composer Arthur Russell and Beat Generation poet Allen Ginsberg. This rich, undocumented history has suddenly been brought to light, offering a fresh perspective on a vibrant, yet previously unheralded, period of musical innovation.
A Cross-Generational Resonance
What is particularly fascinating about My Skyscraper's ascent is its strong appeal to Gen Z listeners, a demographic often associated with rapidly evolving musical trends and online virality. The complex, genre-mashing nature of the album, initially conceived without a grand plan or significant budget in the 1980s, defies the typical pathways to contemporary success. Its ability to resonate across generations speaks to the timeless quality of its composition and the authenticity of Hall's artistic expression. The album's belated arrival positions Hall among a rare pantheon of artists whose work, initially overlooked, has been historically salvaged and given its rightful place in the cultural conversation.
In an industry often driven by immediate trends and commercial pressures, the story of Nirosta Steel and My Skyscraper serves as a powerful reminder that true artistic merit can, against all odds, find its audience, even if it takes 40 years and the help of a new generation to get there. The album, available on streaming platforms and in physical formats, is quickly becoming a must-listen for anyone interested in groundbreaking music history finally reaching its audience.