PART of the Virgin EMI roster in the UK, Angus & Julia Stone are a brother and sister duo who have toured the wold relentlessly throughout 2014. As such, they’ve cemented a fanbase in their native Australia, Europe, America and beyond; effortlessly selling out shows from France to Singapore.
We catch up with Julia whilst on the road, ahead of their show at Glasgow’s 02 Academy venue: “We just love Europe because you get really nice cheese and wine. We are really enjoying our time out here.”
The duo have just released their third self-titled record, it was the first record the band have recorded as a focused piece of music: “In the past we would record a few songs here and there in different studios. This time around it was super focused. It was a month and a half of recording in the same place, we recorded the vocals in the same booth for the first time. That was interesting; to be singing live next to each other every day. I really enjoyed that.”
What’s unique about their set-up is the brother and sister relationship that Julia says shes learned to love through time, especially on the road: “We have a pretty easy time of it now because we have become good mates now as well as brother and sister. There’s never really a fight, we are good at having our own space. It’s just a matter of time, you get your head around how to walk away from interactions that are not going to end well.
“The label seem to be having a good time, they don’t ever complain about what we are up to. We are just really good at knuckling down and getting our head into being on the road.”
Angus & Julia Stone will embark on a huge Australia tour in 2015 with Cloud Control – watch their TTV session here – Julia is extremely excited: “That tour is like a dream, Cloud Control are my favourite band.
“Their record is amazing, their sound is awesome. I love the way they sound on a record. I have never met them but I have seen them live loads. I still trip out when I see the poster with our bands together.
“We recently toured with Vancouver Sleep Clinic too, who were amazing. When you see a band play live and they sound like they do on the record its really special. They are really solid musicians, every night on tour with them was epic.
“I love their dreamy melodies over electronic beats. But they use live stuff as well as the samples so its a great mix. Their drummer is amazing. You always want to tour with bands like that. When people make amazing music but are also really cool to be around its just like a dream touring party.”
In a year that has seen Julia and Angus travel the world over, there must have been some highlights?: “There was one show in Leon in ancient amphitheater build in 15 BC. You feel like you are on a movie set because its so ancient it can’t be real. It was a really warm night and at the end of the show, the 4,000-strong audience picked up the cushions they were sitting on and launched them at the stage.
“It was this kind of weird, insane feeling. I always get overwhelmed when people do things like that together, I even get like that when people all clap together.
“Humans coming together in this united experience of celebration; it brought tears to my eyes.”
After falling in love with a Glaswegian along the way, Julia speaks of her immense love for the city: “Glasgow has been a place we have been to a lot. We have toured extensively in Scotland. I once met a Glaswegian boy, or man, and ended up having a boyfriend in Glasgow for a while. I loved it. I mean maybe I just really loved him. But I loved the group of friends and the feeling of going out in Glasgow is fun, there’s always a lot of interesting things going on in the city with art and music.
“I guess I am pretty nostalgic about Glasgow. We can’t wait to get back.”
Angus & Julia Stone play Glasgow’s 02 Academy on 14th December 2014. Click here for tickets.
