[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]London quartet Stereo Honey have just finished up a UK tour with buzzy newcomers Yonaka and Anteros, and are about to drop their debut EP ‘Monuments’. It’s a collection of quintessentially British tales rooted in both landmarks and history.
Hey Pete, hey Nicky, are you looking forward to Christmas? What’re your plans?
Pete: Well, for the last couple of months we’ve been working hard on putting our first EP together called ‘Monuments’, and we’re really excited about it! It’s coming out 1st of December.
So, when did you first realise you wanted to make music?
Nicky: As soon as I picked up my first guitar, which I got for Christmas from my grandad when I was 11. I immediately looked for something to record myself with and found a little voice memo recorder which I used for years.
Pete: For me, I’d have to say watching my mum playing the piano. She was really good, and I was very jealous!
How did you guys get together?
Nicky: Ben our bassist and I actually met Pete as the drummer of a punk band we used to be in. Although that band eventually split up, the three of us knew we had great chemistry. Pete eventually asked Ben and I if we wanted to start a new project, and after some auditions and songwriting realised Pete had a great voice, so we kicked him off the kit and brought Jake in to complete the band.
Tell us about your debut EP, ‘Monuments’
Nicky: ‘Monuments’ came about from a collection of songs we’d written together. Often, when writing lyrics, Pete referred to physical landmarks around the UK. Lyrically, as a band, we were interested in creating stories around these places. That’s how we came up with the name ‘Monuments’. It was a perfect way of tying the themes of all the songs together.
What do you most enjoy writing about?
Pete: Lyrically speaking, I love artists like Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Scott Walker, Simon and Garfunkel, Roy Orbison, and their ability to weave complex narratives together out of their songs. Don’t get me wrong; I love a good simple break up pop song! Often though I’ve found it easier and more interesting to write stories that became lyrics rather than attempt to write a song directly.
What’s been the highlight of your time as a musician so far?
Nicky: For me, it’s been recording this EP – it’s a real privilege being able to record and realise songs that mean so much to you with a producer such as Charlie Russell. Dream come true.
What would you most like to achieve during your music career?
Nicky: It’s easy to say “I want a Grammy” or “to sell out this venue”, but for me, it’s to continually write honest music, and for people to have a deep and meaningful connection with our songs.
Pete: Honestly, it’s a privilege to be able to write music with your mates and to be able to share it with people on record and go play it live. To be able even to call that a career is a dream come true. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Tell us a secret about yourself?
Nicky: I have four nipples.
Pete: I’ve seen ‘em. Freaky stuff! It’s like double Chandler from Friends!
What are you working on right now?
Nicky: We’re currently working on our first video for our single ‘The Bay’, and writing new tunes.
Who do you think is the most exciting band or musician around right now?
Nicky: Most exciting band for me at the moment is Hiatus Kaiyote – they have an intimidating breadth of musicality. Moses Sumney is also definitely worth a mention.
Pete: I think Yonaka are an amazing band. We got to tour with them recently for Jack Saunders’ [Radio X & MTV Presenter] Hopscotch tour, and they are a really lovely bunch of people with incredible songs.
Finally, what do you do for fun?
Nicky: Watch Gary the Goat videos.
Pete: Obsessively rewatch Rick and Morty obvs! C’mon Season 4!!
Stereo Honey’s debut EP ‘Monuments’ is out 1st December.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1509537705570{margin-right: 15px !important;margin-left: 15px !important;border-top-width: 10px !important;border-right-width: 10px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;border-left-color: #1e73be !important;border-left-style: dashed !important;border-right-color: #1e73be !important;border-right-style: dashed !important;border-top-color: #1e73be !important;border-top-style: dashed !important;border-bottom-color: #1e73be !important;border-bottom-style: dashed !important;}”]
Factfile
Who’s in the band: Pete, Nicky, Ben and Jake.
How long have you been together: About a year.
Where are you from: London.
What musical pigeon-hole can we shoehorn you into: Indie/Alternative/Pop, if you must.
What track should we embed in the space below: Our new single ‘The Bay’ lead track.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]