Shit hot: Angus & Julia Stone

29 March 2010

by Nathan Jolly

Angus and Julia Stone are in a good place. Their new album Down The Way debuted at number one, with sales strong enough to break the record for first week digital sales by an Australian artist. On top of this they have claimed the highest selling new album for the year so far, with first week sales more than doubling those of number two The Fame Monster for the week.

It’s a clear sign that Angus and Julia Stone have conquered the local market, building a strong and loyal fanbase through wide touring, and the enchanting quality of their recorded releases. However their career path was a natural extension of their upbringing on the northern beaches, in a musical household littered with instruments.

“We don’t listen to heaps of other music,” Angus admits. “We are two people who play music because… well just because, and if people can enjoy the music and feel something then that is a wonderful thing.”

However, don’t make the mistake that the natural slide into music makes it just a hobby for the duo. Their work ethic and ambition has been clear since the release of their debut album in 2007.

“I enjoy having about ten different things to do,” Julia said. “The whole process is fun. For me and for Angus it’s just life now. None of it is horrible; it’s never an effort. Every single part of it has been fun and if it wasn’t fun then we wouldn’t do it.”

It’s a good thing that the band enjoy multitasking, as they haven’t been allowed a chance to slow down over the past three years, with the success of debut album A Book Like This providing a host of national and overseas opportunities, and hurtling the band into a nomadic lifestyle. The album debuted top 10 on the national ARIA album chart, staying glued to the top 100 for over a year. It also earned Angus and Julia six ARIA award nominations, and a platinum plaque.

However, more often than not, the duo weren’t on home soil to soak up the accodales, with the international release and critical acclaim of A Book Like This in the UK, US and Europe meaning that the band has spent the past two years touring the world, including stops at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Latitude in London and SXSW in Texas, where they were well received.

Already, the local success of the duo’s follow up album looks set to surpass that of the debut, with international publications lining up to heap praise on the duo. Nylon USA likened the album to “a walk on the beach at twilight,” while Marie Claire USA described “disarmingly simple melodies that will propel you off the couch and into the sun.”

For more information visit: angusandjuliastone.com