Band Of The Week #218 - STONE
This week’s Band of the Week is Liverpool’s STONE - who have just released their debut EP ‘Punkadonk’.
The EP arrives with new single ‘Moto’, a live staple and fan-favourite, now finally captured in the studio. The new single joins recent BBC Radio 1 ‘Tune of the Week’ ‘Money’ Hope Ain’t Gone’ as well as earlier cut ‘Waste’ on the five-track EP. Across a breakout 12 months, STONE’s formidable live presence has seen them sell-out multiple headline shows, foster a burgeoning fanbase, and pique the interest of some of music’s biggest names. The band have toured with YungBlud and Inhaler, performed at Sam Fender’s Finsbury Park show, and headed to Malaga for Louis Tomlinson’s ‘Away from Home’ festival between blistering sets at Reading and Leeds Festivals. The band have also shared details of their own UK headline tour for April 2023, with an extra show now added for London due to demand
They took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Stone - how are you? So your EP is out now - how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
We are all good here thanks - it feels good to have it out there.
It is called Punkadonk - what is the meaning behind that?
The name came from a lightbulb moment between me and Fin - Fin was kicking around the name “punk - donk”. Then I said “punkadonk” as a roll of the tongue thing and it sort of stuck.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
It's a mixture of hi fi studio recordings and our own DIY productions. I think that’s what makes this EP so unique in its sound. The track 'Disruptor' was a moment of madness where Fin was beatboxing the idea into my ear one second and then within the hour we had the whole track programmed in via mine and Fin's home studio. I love how spontaneous that track is and I think you can hear the rawness within that.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
The list is long but I feel that this EP is a mixture of emotions built off of growing up in a social media ruled climate. You can be aware of and influenced by so many different aspects of it in which it can become dizzying and confusing. I feel this EP gives a voice for the youth within this. It showcases moments of love, fear and defiance all within a genre defying package.
If the EP could be the soundtrack to any film - which one would it be and why?
I mean I was really into DUNE during the recording of it so probably that. A dark sci fi offering with some social commentary and a lot of truth about the world we live in today.
Do you have a favourite lyric on the EP - if so, which one and why?
Probably the hook to 'Disruptor' - “I’m not a hive mind I’m a disruptor” - when taken at face value it sums up STONE, don’t follow the crowd, disrupt and upset the status quo.
Now the EP is out there - what next?
We have our headline tour booked in for April next year so we plan on showing it off live then. We want to carry on working and making more music, so more time in the studio for sure.
