ARTIST SPOTLIGHT – STONE
STONE, Led by frontman Fin Power, have become one of the hottest bands out of Liverpool in a while bolstered by the release of two acclaimed EPs and their debut album, ardent support at Radio 1 and an insane live show that has hit stages and festivals across the world!
We would have failed in our mission, if we didn’t show some LMC love for what could be your next favourite alt-rock band. (Answers written by Elliot Gill from STONE)
Tell us how you got into making music?
From my earliest memories, I was fascinated by guitars and rock music. I got my first guitar at age 9 and spent years playing in my room, collecting cheap pedals, and exploring various types of alternative rock, from grunge to shoegaze to post-punk. At 16, I met Fin at a party, and we soon formed our first band. His drive was what initially drew me in. We played around Liverpool, and over the years, developed a unique sound that blended our creative styles. Alex joined us in 2018, becoming our backbone. In late 2019, feeling stagnant, we formed STONE out of frustration. Just as we were finding our writing rhythm, Sarah joined on bass after meeting Alex at LIPA. She was the final piece of the puzzle.
How would you describe your sound and what you bring to the table?
This one is always a bit tricky to answer. Our sound has evolved a lot in a short time, and we embrace that. I usually describe it as alternative rock. Our catalogue shows we can incorporate various styles, with post-punk influencing my songwriting and guitar work. Our live shows are a big draw; they’re visceral and reflect years of dedication. Each song unlocks another piece of our puzzle. We aim for versatility while maintaining a core STONE vibe, focusing on making music we like.
How has Liverpool influenced STONE’s music?
Fin and I have been gigging and exploring Liverpool’s music scene since 2016, inspired by the local talent we’ve seen. One of the first bands I watched in the city was Probes in 2014. We’ve seen great acts like Samurai Kip, Monks, Courting, Astles, The Mysterines, and Sterling Press. Seeing so much good music come through the city has kept me inspired to keep writing and pushing. In all sorts of styles and directions. It has given me yearning to belong to this city and to bond with other musicians. I want to maintain a feeling of community and support throughout this whole journey. Having worked to get to where we are now I find it important to revere the work of musicians and keep an ear to the ground. I’m indebted to the city that has nurtured us.
If you had to pick your favourite song (by yourself) what would it be and why?
Hard question. I think I have to take my hat off to our biggest tune Money (Hope Ain’t Gone). Co-written by Fin and I it sort of marked a real shift into STONE and gave us a real feeling of purpose. And to watch people sing it back to us from the O2 Academy to fields of Belgium and clubs in Holland, we’re proud of the impact it has had and to see people resonate with it. But there’s also a whole album of tunes about to drop and I’m very optimistic to see how they go in our live domain. The first single from our album, ‘My Thoughts Go’ gets stuck in my head a lot.
What can we expect from the album you have just released?
The album is called Fear Life For A Lifetime. This album is a collection of songs that deal with themes of fear, growth and coping with the anxieties of coming of age at a time like now. A lot of lyrics are very introspective and pulled from a place of reflecting and growing. I feel it has got hooks and melodies all over it and having worked with Rich Costey it has been an absolute pleasure to watch so many ideas come to life in a gorgeous studio setting too. To have that support has been very validating for us.
What’s next?
Our debut album FEAR LIFE FOR A LIFETIME is out now – we’re eager to see how it will be received. We consider it your album now; we’ve done our part by recording it. This year, we’re playing more shows and festivals in Europe, including France, Germany, Belgium, Holland and our first time in Romania, and I’m excited to explore beyond Sefton Park. I can’t wait to bring this album to the stage. Between gigs, we’re constantly writing and staying creative whenever we’re not in the van or in green rooms.
More on STONE
