Back in 2006, four sisters were given some drums, a guitar, bass and keyboard and took to the shed in their rural Victorian house to jam. Ten years later, and sisters Amy, Hannah, Sarah and Holly Findlay still visit the same shed in rural Victoria, where they crafted and continue to craft the Stonefield sound.
“We’ve been in the same place for all of our lives,” Hannah says. “We always write and demo in our shed at home because that’s where we feel most comfortable and because we can do it any time we want. There’s not really any limits to our rehearsal time.”
With no limits to hitting the studio – so to speak – there also weren’t any limits placed on them by their parents. Instead with their father instilling the words “do what you love” upon the sisters.
“Honestly, when we first started we didn’t even really think about forming a band,” she says.
“We kind of just picked all different instruments, mostly for the reason that no one wanted to be the same as the other. I guess when we did start playing, and when you’re starting off, you’re still just trying to find your way. As time went on we realised to be able to do what you love and make a career and a living off it is the ultimate goal. [Our dad] said if you can do something that you love then why not, just continue working on it and make it happen.”
With this being the follow up to the band’s debut in 2013, they’re more than making it happen. For this newest release, As Above, So Below, after following the ritualistic shed jam, a visit to producer and Spiderbait drummer, Kram, was in order.
“We just got along really well and creatively as well. He kind of just helped bring out a lot more dynamic and helped us to improve our songs and take them to the next level. We wrote a lot of stuff as well and it just felt really natural and organic – it was fun, we had a really good time with him,” she says.
Another change was in the creation of single ‘Love’, which instead of following the traditional jam session after the vocals served as the inspiration for the track, the instrumentals actually came first. Throwing a challenge Amy’s way, as she does most of the song-writing and vocals for the band.
“It definitely felt like it resulted in something quite different to what we usually do. I think we’ll definitely try and change things up and put ourselves in different environments when we’re writing for the next record,” she says.
It’s been said that with this release, it’s also the band’s musical ‘coming-of-age’ (which is reinforced as youngest member Holly turned 18 this past January) but the sound they’ve created is simply a testament to the experience and diversity the young band have already garnered.
It’s also through their homage to rock and roll of the ‘70s (crafted from their love of Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix) which saw them take out triple j unearthed high winners of 2010, perform at Glastonbury in 2011 and land a spot in the charts for their debut release. And all from four country girls from a family hobby farm in Darraweit Guim.
Origins aside, the sisters have ventured into various parts of the globe, granting them contact with musicians like Mick Fleetwood (“I was in shock when I was talking to him”) and many more.
With a decade of experience, in which six years were spent seriously touring the band, they’re now in a place where they can help impart the wisdom they’ve been generously gifted over the years.
“We’ve been doing it for what feels like forever now,” Hannah confesses of the band’s 10 years.
“It’s easy to get distracted by all these other things that are going on and all these other opinions and stuff and it’s just really important to stick to what it is that you enjoy doing and remember the reason why it is you’re doing it. Trusting your instinct as well is a really big thing too. It’s generally always right.”
Written by Amanda Sherring
When & Where: Karova Lounge, Ballarat – October 21 & Howler, Melbourne – October 29
