Angus and Julia Stone Interview

While in Byron Bay for Bluesfest earlier this year MWT had a chance to catch up with Newport brother and sister folk duo, Angus and Julia Stone.  

  (Photo by Stereodan)

Bec: We’re here, Bluesfest Day 5, about to have a chat to Angus and Julia Stone, how are you guys?

Julia: Good thank you

Angus: yeah, Good.

B: You guys just played the west coast festival, how did that go and how was your performance?:

J: Yeah it was really fun it was really a great crowd and we had a fun night

B: And you guys have just released the most recent album Down the Way, how was you creative writing process in terms of in comparison to a Book Like This?

J: Ah, it actually was pretty much the same. I mean it’s just like we write songs and then when we get a chance between tours we record them. That’s what happened the same with Down The Way and a Book Like This. We wrote the songs and then when we had a couple of days or a couple of weeks here and there we would jump in the studio and let the songs unfold and yeah which is pretty much what we did for a Book Like This.

B: and what’s your kind of inspiration when you’re writing the songs?

A: our inspiration comes from all kinds of places

B: you don’t have any underlying themes or anything with this new album?

A: you know what, a lot of them, for me, are postcards. And the imagery of sailing through California and falling in love and all that stuff.

B: And you guys have recorded this most recent album in a whole load of different places, where was your favourite place to record and what was that experience like?

J: where was your favourite? (Looks as Angus) Well, Sawmills was pretty beautiful. We recorded down in Cornwall (UK) in a studio that was right on the river and it was just stunning. It was like we had to get there by boat, and it was a tidal river so it was amazing you know, it would rise and fall and it had an old china clay train that would go past during the night and would make these quite eerie noises. Yeah, it was real mysterious place and it was very isolating but also very beautiful.

B: How are you guys going, I mean brother and sister, you must have had a pretty musical upbringing, what was being played around the house as kids when you were growing up?

J: Oh gosh, anything and everything. I mean Dad is a music teacher so he was really into all different types of music. He took us to a lot of [concerts]. Mum and dad were members of all sorts of musical going groups where they would go and see ensembles of strings playing. And we both grew up playing horns so we went and played in and toured in orchestras and things like that. So it was a mix of classical music and then kind of anything from, mum was really in to Janis Ian and Carole King and that sort of stuff and dad played in a covers band so it was Bob Dylan and The Eagles, Neil Young. Everything from the sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties, like they just played whatever songs.

B: And how did you guys get together as a duo on stage, when did that come about?

A: Well it kind of just happened along the way. We grew up together so you know we would write and kind of share these things with one another and it was just a matter of time before we started doing anything.

B: (to Angus) And you’ve just started your solo career? You’ve got a solo album is that right?

A: Yeah we recorded an album at Coolangatta in an old water tank. It’s called Lady of The Sunshine 

B: Fantastic, (To Julia) and are there any plans for you to go solo, or to move away from this?

J: (laughs) I down know, I mean, we will see what happens. We’ve got a solid year of touring and you know I’m enjoying playing these songs. Angus and I write separately so I think there is always that possibility at some point that we will have some time apart, but I hope we always get to play together as well.

B: You guys are spending so much time on the road, I know me and my brother, if we are around each other too much we will absolutely kill each other. How do you guys go, how are fights on the road and the whole brother and sister touring thing?

J: I think it’s gotten easier over time. When we stared out it was a little bit harder because we didn’t really have any like filters you know. Now we’ve kind of figured out, just you know giving each other space and being respectful of each other and you know, just not acting like brother and sister, being a bit more like friends and looking out for each other. And I think that’s been a process you know and it will continue to be like that and evolution and us hopefully getting stronger as people and happier and all that stuff.

B: Fantastic well thank you so much for chatting with us today and we will catch you on stage tonight. 

Posted by Bec Clark (Reebajeeb)

Album Of The Week - Boy & Bear - With Emperor Antartica

God there are some good things coming out of this pretty little land of ours…

One of which is harmony-drenched indie folk band - Boy & Bear.  Hailing from Sydney this talented young five-piece have already supported a number of huge acts including the likes of Angus & Julia Stone and Laura Marling. Currently touring to promote the release of their debut EP White Emperor Antarctica the lads have also secured a spot at Splendour In The Grass, and this is just the beginning. This little EP has been selected for our Album Of The Week.

For a while there, it seemed as though Folk music had become outdated, the taboo section of our parent’s music collection. I had always perceived it as stale, until acts such as Mumford and Sons, Grizzly Bear and Fleet Foxes came along. This genre has now been rewritten, redesigned with a contemporary edge, labelled Indie Folk or New Folk and has recaptured the hearts of mainstream.

The first release and first taste we got of this little gem was Mexican Mavis which also featured on their pre-EP release. Swept up by JJJ back in 09, it was this track that granted the quintet the right to play at Sydney’s famous Homebake. Meticulously building upon each element, Mexican evolves into a harmoniously colourful number that was a perfect first release for Boy and Bear to begin building their legions of fans.  

The opening track of the bands EP, Blood and Gold is warm with measured melody and a country vibe. Recorded in 301 studios in Byron Bay over 10 days with producer Rick Will, influences such as Fleet Foxes, The Shins and The Middle East are more than evident.  This brief five-track collection introduces us to lyrical narratives that are simple yet clever.

From a blissfully timid opening, The Storm builds into a balanced equation of acoustic and electric instruments. Lead singer, Dave Hosking’s vocal ability is stunning and is only amplified by the beautiful melodies and vocals of the rest of the band. The two final songs have taken us back to the slower and softer side of Boy and Bear.

The Final track, The Rain, is rawer and more acoustic than its four predecessors though the layers are still evident.  Broken down, simplified and then re-constructed, The Rain beautifully ties up our first taste of Boy and Bear.  

With Emperor Antarctica is warm, comforting and honest. The group's outstanding vocals convey their passion for the art. The album is compelling yet lacking in musical range. Perhaps if there were more than five tracks that criticism would be laid to rest? Overall I loved this album and cannot wait to see them live, apparently their acoustic sets are amazing.

8.5/10

Last chance for Sydney-siders to catch Boy and Bear is this Saturday (12^th) at the Annandale or 13^th at the Come Together Festival, Luna Park. If you cant along to either of these then make sure you catch them at Splendour. Go and fall in love with Boy and Bear.

POST BY BEC CLARK (Reebajeeb)

Bluesfest Day Five Review

Yet another inspiring performance from Carney set the tone for our final day at Bluesfest. This festival had gone WAY too quickly!

Following this was an amazing set by our very own Dan Sultan who was joined on stage by six other performers including back up singers that doubled as a brass section. He’s so country and he’s so charming. I only managed to catch a few songs but I did get Fear of Flying and Letters...you should have heard the applause after Sultan sang the line “Just seventeen hundred K’s away, we wont be stopping till’ Byron Bay…”



(Dan Sultan. Photo: Reebajeeb)

Last night I overhead racket coming from Caba Caba Ray stage which I desperately wanted to be a part of. It was Barons of Tang and they were playing again today so I headed over to suss them out. These guys were a colourful motley crew of seven who’s instruments’ were just as mixed, including the first bass clarinet I had seen all festival. Man I had seen some strange contraptions this weekend. Personally the chick on percussion made the set for me – SUCH a good entertainer and clearly loving what she did. Their set was tango pop and a hell of a lot of fun.



(Barons of Tang. Photo: Reebajeeb)

Next up, the beautiful brother and sister folk duo from Sydney’s Northern Beaches – Angus and Julia Stone. The stage was washed with warm lighting and a paisley backdrop. Finishing touches of furniture, lamps and family photos gave us the feeling of having been invited into their living room for an intimate performance. Far from private the Mojo stage was packed. Julia came on first followed by Angus who slinked ever so timidly on stage, hands in pockets. Opening with And the Boys, Angus then greeted us with a brief "hello". I could only catch a few tracks, including For You an honest yet melancholy ode to Julia’s ex, before heading off to help out Dan with his Dan Sultan interview.

They are about to embark on a massive world tour but when they are back I’m getting myself along to a show! They were honestly magical and an act you NEED to see!



(Angus and Julia Stone. Photo: Stereodan)

Racing back to Crossroads stage after the interview I had just missed 99.9% of Taj Mahal’s set, only catching his last few breaths before walking off stage. Devo. With recommendations coming from just about everyone I had spoken to (thanks Baaarooke!) I had to see Gogol Bordello. They’re Gypsy, they’re punk and they started a mosh pit – wicked.

With seven members on stage their performance was a frenzied circus of colour, dance and character. Each track blended into the next with lead singer Eugine Hutz barely stopping for a breath. Based in New York but with members hailing from places such as the Ukraine, Israel and even Ethiopia, Gogol Bordello is a must see act and is easily in my top three live acts EVER.



(Gogol Bordello. Photo: Stereodan)

Our night ended with The Fray who were good if you’re a fan of their stuff but in my opinion were not overly spectacular. Playing hits like "You Found Me," "How to Save a Life," "Never Say Never" and "Look After You" there is no denying the vocal ability of lead singer Isaac Slade. After about 40 minutes the pop/rock quartet from Denver Colorado left the stage, only to be invited back for an extremely drawn out encore.



(Isaac Slade. Photo: Stereodan)

POSTED BY REEBAJEEB