Getting To Know... Stone Fruit

Following on from a flurry of bright and dynamic offerings these last few years, London-based duo Stone Fruit are back once again with their first single of 2021, 'Second Guess'.

Lifted from their forthcoming third EP, which is out in the coming months, 'Second Guess' sees the pair return in stellar form. Filled with tranquil soundscapes, textured production, and sweeping vocals throughout, we can't wait to hear what they have in store for the rest of the year.

So with the new single available now, we sat down with them to discuss their origins and what has been inspiring them recently.

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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?

Val: For me it was the piano. I feel that is one of the best instruments to get you into music. It is giving you an unparalleled range of frequencies and polyphony and its perfect to start developing hand and mind coordination and become familiar with music theory concepts because you have everything in front of you! However, during the last years, I have fallen in love with the bass! I feel like it is such a pivotal instrument in any band, bringing the best of two worlds together: groove and melody. It’s a great meal deal in my mind and definitively want to learn how to play bass in the next year.

Lef: Although I started playing piano from a young age and also picked up more instruments during my teen years, the 'instrument' that I actually fell in love was a computer with a DAW that allows me to record music. It completely changed my perception of what's possible, how I can record layers of music on top each other and all that from my bedroom. Definitely made me love music even more and see it from a broader view rather than from the scope of any one instrument.

What kind of music did you love when you were younger?

We were both really lucky and grew up in households where our parents introduced us to a variety of styles. We were listening to contemporary styles, but we were also studying classical music. As we got into our teen’s years, luckily a lot of our friends were into music too and we were constantly jamming with them; there was pop, rock, folk, funk, soul and metal music in our lives! This kept us creatively curious and musically interested. We think that the music that we make now really reflects these early experiences. We are not worried about sticking to a specific style but instead let our songs reflect all of our influences, our current state of mind, our evolution as artists and implement sounds that are aesthetically pleasing for us as individuals and as a team.

What was the first album you remember owning?

L: The OST from the movie Mission Impossible II.

V: ‘Abbey Road’ by The Beatles.

What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?

L: It's gotta be Bohemian Rhapsody!

V: Hell, yes! ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is a stroke of pure genius.

Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?

V: Our sessions are always taking place in Lef’s home studio. We are both coffee lovers and great friends so every time we meet and before we do anything else, Lef will make us a great cappuccino and we will sit and chit chat for at least half an hour and share news about our day/week before we start doing anything else! Sometimes, the subjects we cover in these conversations will eventually turn into lyric lines or songs! Moreover, it is a great way to unwind from a tiresome day and bring ourselves into the room and be more present.

Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?

Warpaint, Tingsek & Ry X.

If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?

We have so many artists that inspire us constantly and our list or dream collaborations is endless. With endangering to look back at this list and regretting for not including someone, here are a few names: Bruno Major, Lianne La Havas, Jacob Collier, RY X, London Grammar, Tom Misch & Jordan Rakei.

What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?

Spending time with each other, honing our artistry and exploring new sounds has always been a form of a getaway for us, especially during this challenging year. It is a privilege to be able to bring to life songs that are born in our heads and hearts, that grow in a home studio and then share them with the world and see how other people perceive them and interpret them. We wouldn’t change our job for anything in the world!

And what is the most frustrating part?

As independent artists at the beginning of their careers we take care of most aspects of our releases ourselves: Writing the songs, producing them, creating the videos and any other content around them. Additionally, we have to take care of the marketing aspect and budgeting. Being in control of all these aspects can be really rewarding but also truly time-consuming. Along with our other projects and endeavours we have to occasionally sacrifice spending time with our loved ones or resting! We have consciously decided to work many additional hours in favour of writing and releasing new music. However, we both find a lot of joy and fulfilment in this process so it’s not frustrating really, because we are very comfortable with the choices that we have made.

And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?

L: To say yes to everything (especially in the beginning of your career), be flexible and keep an open mind.

V: To make sure you are true to what you do and enjoy the process. Music is a subjective experience and not everyone will connect with what you do but if you are proud of the songs that you get out there then you are going to be fine. Also, to respect the people you work with and make sure that they also have the space to express themselves.

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Stone Fruit's new single 'Second Guess' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.