Hannah Findlay - Stonefield (26/10/2013)
Thanks for chatting with me today, Hannah! How are you feeling about the release of your debut album, after all these years as a band making and playing music?
We're really, really excited about it – it definitely feels like a long time coming and we're excited that it's out.
Your most recent single Put Your Curse On Me, like a lot of Stonefield's back catalogue, is very retro in sound and feel – I feel as if I'm in another decade (perhaps the 70s?) when I listen to Stonefield! Who are Stonefield's biggest musical influences? That is, what music did you grow up listening to at home?
A lot of our parent's records – Pink Floyd, Hendrix, the Doors – all those 60s/70s sort of bands.
What's it like working with family? A band is not your typical 'work' in an office, 9 to 5, but if you're trying to make a living, a career out of making music – of course there are business decisions to be made. How do you negotiate these, as sisters?
It's really good – we haven't been in bands before this one. To make decisions, we pretty much take a vote – we agree on a lot of things, and we're just good friends.
Triple J's Unearthed was instrumental in Stonefield's success – you won 2010 Unearthed High. Having come up through those avenues, what do you think of Triple J and the role it plays in Australia's music scene?
I think Triple J are really important in the Australian music industry – they are so great at supporting up and coming bands. There is not really any other way for bands to have the opportunity to get noticed.
What's life on the road like for Stonefield? What does a typical day, between shows, entail?
Travelling, driving or flying somewhere. Then it's pretty much straight to sound check and getting everything ready for the show.
What guidance and advice would you offer other unsigned musicians?
Take every opportunity – that's what we did, we played gigs in the snow, we played gigs to everyone. Also, if you know that's what you want to do just commit to it and keep at it.
You're supporting legendary Fleetwood Mac at A Day On The Green this year – what's your favourite Fleetwood Mac song?
We were just talking about this, actually! I think Gypsy...
And on playing alongside the legendary Stevie Nicks...
Yeah, it's crazy! It's pretty hard to believe – it's not going to feel real until we're there, I don't think. I think [their music] has definitely influenced us – they're amazing songwriters.
For those of us heading to your tour over the next few months, what can we look forward to in the live set?
We've got lots of new songs, so we'll be playing a lot of the new stuff. And we're hopefully going to have a choir on stage with us! The choir that sang on Put Your Curse On Me...
Rebecca McCann
Stonefield Tour Dates
We're really, really excited about it – it definitely feels like a long time coming and we're excited that it's out.
Your most recent single Put Your Curse On Me, like a lot of Stonefield's back catalogue, is very retro in sound and feel – I feel as if I'm in another decade (perhaps the 70s?) when I listen to Stonefield! Who are Stonefield's biggest musical influences? That is, what music did you grow up listening to at home?
A lot of our parent's records – Pink Floyd, Hendrix, the Doors – all those 60s/70s sort of bands.
What's it like working with family? A band is not your typical 'work' in an office, 9 to 5, but if you're trying to make a living, a career out of making music – of course there are business decisions to be made. How do you negotiate these, as sisters?
It's really good – we haven't been in bands before this one. To make decisions, we pretty much take a vote – we agree on a lot of things, and we're just good friends.
Triple J's Unearthed was instrumental in Stonefield's success – you won 2010 Unearthed High. Having come up through those avenues, what do you think of Triple J and the role it plays in Australia's music scene?
I think Triple J are really important in the Australian music industry – they are so great at supporting up and coming bands. There is not really any other way for bands to have the opportunity to get noticed.
What's life on the road like for Stonefield? What does a typical day, between shows, entail?
Travelling, driving or flying somewhere. Then it's pretty much straight to sound check and getting everything ready for the show.
What guidance and advice would you offer other unsigned musicians?
Take every opportunity – that's what we did, we played gigs in the snow, we played gigs to everyone. Also, if you know that's what you want to do just commit to it and keep at it.
You're supporting legendary Fleetwood Mac at A Day On The Green this year – what's your favourite Fleetwood Mac song?
We were just talking about this, actually! I think Gypsy...
And on playing alongside the legendary Stevie Nicks...
Yeah, it's crazy! It's pretty hard to believe – it's not going to feel real until we're there, I don't think. I think [their music] has definitely influenced us – they're amazing songwriters.
For those of us heading to your tour over the next few months, what can we look forward to in the live set?
We've got lots of new songs, so we'll be playing a lot of the new stuff. And we're hopefully going to have a choir on stage with us! The choir that sang on Put Your Curse On Me...
Rebecca McCann
Stonefield Tour Dates