Interview: Catching Up With Stone Sea (Written)

It’s been a while since we checked in on the alternative rock band, Stone Sea. In this interview we catch up with them, and see what they’ve been up to.

1. Hello! Welcome back. It’s been a little while, so first things first, how are you and have there been any significant changes since we last spoke?

Hey, thanks! Yes, in fact a big change. Last year I moved to Malaga, Spain because of a job as a sound designer. Reinvented the band here, after a long hiatus in Ireland, and started playing regularly around Andalusia. Huge change, especially the weather (laughs). It’s been refreshing, full of new energy and perspectives.

2. So, what’s new? What’s keeping you busy this time around? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?

Before leaving Ireland, I had composed six songs that were basically ready to record with Connor Middleton. Didn’t want to wait until I find new members in Spain, so I called Connor and we jumped in to recorded them over two intense weeks. It was fast, but I’m happy with how they turned out. We’ve just dropped the single Alien from these recordings, marking a turning point in our sound—heavier, more melodic, and introspective. Gigs around southern Spain are also coming up to bring this new chapter live.

3. Describe what fans/listeners can expect.

Fans can expect our full new album Ad Astra (also the last song’s title). We’re releasing roughly one song per month, with the full album available in January, though early access is on Bandcamp. New songs are as cool as the artwork from Jacinto Rosello (an artist that works with me), although I’m my option is little suspicious (laughs). Quite different from our older material but unmistakably Stone Sea.

4. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you to see it come to fruition?

Some songs date back to 2017, others are recent. Bringing them to life feels like setting old emotions free, and that energy fuels, which it gives me fuel to go forward.

5. Sum up what this latest development says about you and where you find yourself at this moment in time?

Ad Astra is about the journey. The change and impermanence while capturing my thoughts and feelings across time. Musically and personally, it shows a more mature side of Stone Sea, evolving while staying true to our roots. I feel like I’m starting a brand-new chapter here in Spain, similar to the transitions I experienced moving from Brazil to Ireland.

6. Has the time since we last spoke been a mostly positive period and has there been any one thing that stands out as being good?

Overall, it’s been a positive period. Meeting Gonzalo and Pino here in sunny Málaga, the new members of Stone Sea, has been a highlight. Before coming here, I was under the impression I’d get stuck with people listening to reggaeton (laughs), but I’m glad to know I was wrong about it and there are actually very cool bands around here, like Plastic Woods, Dirty Vintage, Red Eye and The Sky Creepers.

7. How about something that has challenged you since we last spoke? Has there been any particular thing that tested you, and if so, how did you overcome it?

Oh yes, in fact our EP Vaporizer was accused of fake streaming by Spotify and removed completely. It’s weird because we never promote that album in any way. It seems someone tested bots on it from what I read in some forums and youtube channels of other artists that got frustrated by it. Quite annoying because they don’t give us the information to check what happened and don’t let us upload the album again. Very unfair to the artists – but is still possible to check the EP in other streaming platforms.

8. What is a realistic goal you’d like to achieve over the next 12 months?

On the next 12 months we’ll be working towards recording new songs, a live video session and staging at stoner rock festivals. Let’s see how much of that we can achieve.

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram