Gold Coast quartet StoneMason has just set off on their latest Australian tour to support their brand new EP Noise and Haste. I caught up with the band’s bass guitarist Thomas Stevens, aka SteveO, to chat about the new release, life on the road, and why they love rock in more ways than one!
You’ve just kicked off your latest tour. How does it feel to be back in front of crowds?
We’ve actually been playing wherever and whenever we can the last half of the year, but for this tour we’ll be doing a few larger shows which will be awesome. Being in front of crowds is great because we put on a much better show if we actually have people to perform to, because we really feed off the energy of the audience.
What do you love about being on the stage?
Personally, I just love playing music regardless of the setting. Plus it’s an incredible rush playing on stage and performing to people who enjoy the music we make.
I’ve heard your live show described as being “dynamic” and “unique.” What makes a StoneMason gig so special?
We practice a lot and really work at being tight and cohesive as a band so we can put on a decent show, and our sound incorporates a lot of different influences so we don’t really sound like anyone else. We’ve all been really good friends for ages and started the band because we enjoy playing music together, rather than being put together purely to achieve success, so we also have a live chemistry that a lot of other bands don’t.
You’re touring to promote your new EP Noise and Haste. What can you tell me about it?
We recorded Noise and Haste over the bulk of this year at Loose Stones Studios in Burleigh Heads. All the tracks were engineered and mixed by Luke Palmer except for ‘Out, Damned Spots’ which was mixed by Matthew Bartlem (The Butterfly Effect, Dead Letter Circus), and the whole EP was mastered in the US by Troy Glessner (Underoath, Anberlin, Haste The Day). The songs on Noise and Haste are a mix of fast-paced indie rock, synth driven pop punk and piano balladry, and we’re immensely proud of the result.
Your first single “Stockholm Fashion” is about being inspired. What inspires you?
With regards to music and playing in a band, personally I draw inspiration from the bands and artists I listen to every day. Seeing a band that I love and admire being able to gain enough deserved recognition to continue what they do and take their music to different people and places, inspires and motivates me to do the same more than anything else.
You’re playing shows in Queensland and Victoria. Will fans in other parts of the country get a chance to see you live soon?
We actually intended to play Sydney, Newcastle and Geelong on this tour but it didn’t end up working out, so we’re looking to make up those dates early next year. Hopefully we’ll build up a bit of hype on the back of the EP in other parts of the country and the audiences will be more familiar with our music when we finally get there.
I read that your name comes from a keen interest in geology. What is it about the science that turns you on?
Nothing really in particular, just geology in general.
You’re all so young. How do you balance your studies with music?
Last year when we were all at school together it was actually easier, as we all pretty much had the same commitments so organising the band around what everyone was doing was pretty simple, whereas this year we’re all doing different things and coordinating that with our music is harder to do. At the start of the year we all compared our various timetables so we could work regular practice around our work, school and uni commitments and that’s been pretty effective so far.
Have you come up against any critics who dismiss you because of your age, and if so how do you respond to them?
We’re yet to have garnered much critical response at all actually, but if that did happen we wouldn’t really care because no one with an opinion worth hearing would consider age to be a focal point for criticism.
After this tour wraps up, what’s next for StoneMason?
We’re heading to New Zealand at the end of January to play Parachute Festival, and to do some sideshows supporting our friends Trigger Theory. When we return we’ll be promoting the EP as much as possible, hopefully heading off on a more comprehensive East Coast tour of Australia and also organising a Schools Tour. We’ll see how everything goes from there!
You can catch StoneMason at the following shows around the country.
24 October 2009 – Bang, Melbourne (18+)
29 October 2009 – Helensvale High School, Helensvale (All Ages)
31 October 2009 – The Hive, Brisbane (All Ages)
8 November 2009 – Stuff The Stocking, Caboolture (All Ages)
27 November 2009 – Hard Rock Cafe, Gold Coast (18+)
Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment