"We wanted to be called The Stones and you know some other band, I don’t know who they are, they have the same name!" Sydney’s Angus and Julia Stone have arrived in the UK and declared it their new home. Music News met one half of the brother-sister acoustic combo prior to their second sold-out London gig. With Julia by his side, shy younger brother Angus is happy to take a backseat in these situations leaving his sister to represent them both. However she’s at home nursing a head cold this time so "this is a very lucky interview" he admits sat nervously on his own. "It’s like you’ve got a big sister and when they talk you listen! What would Julia say? I think she’d be teasing me!" It’s immediately obvious how much respect he carries for his older sibling but it’s only really as adults that 20 year old Angus and 22 year old Julia have become close. "When you’re growing up you don’t really know your siblings. Until you have an activity or a hobby that you’re both into you can then start talking about it and relate to it. Us playing music, that’s sort of brought us together."
Coming from a musical family this was almost certain to be their shared interest. It was Dad who played a pivotal role in encouraging Angus. Having been signed to an independent label back in the day with his band Barnaby Rudge he later formed a folk duet with Mum and ended up being Angus’s music teacher at high school. "He pushed me into it: 'you’re a good singer, you’re going to go into this and try it'." So Angus started a punk band, later pursuing a solo path parallel to Julia’s. It was eventually their Auntie Cathy - now working as the duo’s manager - who having seen them perform separately suggested they pair up, much to their father’s delight. "Dad was stoked. He comes along to all the festivals. He’s always the first one to scab the tickets for free!" And keeping it in the family even recording is a homely affair. Surrounded by close friends - including back-up musicians drummer Mitch Connelly and bassist Cameron Whipp - and family "there’s a lot of love there" and this relaxed, comfortable vibe is clearly evident in their work.
However they took to the UK studio of label mate Fran Healy of Travis to record some piano last year, a collaboration which worked just as well despite him being almost a stranger. "It’s funny, back home I heard bits and pieces of him but I was living in a void really. I didn’t really know anyone at all. When I came over here, they’re (Travis) massive!" The result of this session contributed to recent mini album 'Heartful of Wine’ released to great critical acclaim, attracting widespread appeal. Angus and Julia’s gentle, acoustic ditties have amazing crossover value with death metal radio stations keen but unable to champion them and the Big Day Out festival in Australia welcoming them emphatically. Angus remembers: "It was full on. I mean it’s a rock festival! We just came out and there’s people everywhere. It was different because normally we’re used to walking out into an ambient sort of place." But he believes nobody knows what scene to put them in. "People are sort of still figuring it out what we’re about. And that’s cool. I’m just as fascinated as everyone else!"
'Heartful of Wine' is out now.
Angus and Julia are playing around the UK until April.
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