After 12 months in the studio Stonefox make a bold return in 2020 signed to Canadian electronic record label Seeking Blue (MrSuicideSheep) with a lush and melancholic new track ‘Lightning’.
Staying true to their musical roots, ‘Lightning’ is a continuation of Stonefox’s moody and emotionally honest work and the first taste from their forthcoming EP with Sydney-based producer Jean-Paul Fung (Last Dinosaurs, Client Liaison).
The project marks a huge progression for the three-piece Melbourne band (Jenna Russo, Tim Carroll and Monica Spasaro) and explores the intricacies of poisonous relationships.
‘Lightning’ itself is illustrative of confrontation and betrayal as lead singer Jenna Russo explains: “This is the first time we have really evoked feelings of anger and betrayal through a song. It’s very hostile – born out of a feeling of toxic jealousy.
“It is a powerful, demanding song, insistent on knowing how the person you once loved could lay next to someone else.”
Reminiscent of The XX and Daughter, Stonefox have shaped their own definitive indie electro-pop sound consisting of reverb-drenched vocals, clean guitars and heartfelt lyrics. The trio have accumulated over 50 million streams across Spotify alone and have supported the likes of Timberwolf, Mosquito Coast and City Calm Down.
Their unique brand of ‘left-of-centre pop’ has also earned airplay on triple j (Good Nights, Home & Hosed, Unearthed) and FBi Radio, alongside praise from Pilerats, Forbes and Pedestrian.TV.
Delving into the making of ‘Lightning’, guitarist Tim Carroll said the song was recorded across multiple locations and states.
Most of the writing took place in a homespun studio set up in a secluded country cabin in rural Victoria with Fung.
“We wanted to get out of the city and basically live in the new record, play drums and crank up the amps at 2am,” Carroll said.
“There was a clear moment when ‘Lightning’ really started to click. We’d been recording for a few days and had been working right through, taking shifts cooking in the kitchen – with the rest of the band in the living room (our makeshift studio for the week) where the song was on repeat.
“It was my turn to keep an eye on the stove and make dinner for everyone. But when that huge section of ‘Lightning’ started to form, where Mon’s drum beat hits, I got so excited that I ran into to the living room to rock out with everyone… and almost set the kitchen on fire.”
Sections of the song were pieced together in a Brunswick apartment, Fung’s Sydney studio and finally, The Grove Studios.
Fung, who has worked with the band for a number of years, praised the track: “I can’t thank Stonefox enough for their courage, authenticity, determination and trust in me. It was a truly special experience watching them grow as humans and as a band. Could not be prouder of this song and had the best time making it with them.”
‘Lightning’ is only the start for Stonefox – with more in store this year the trio is sharing their
most evocative sound yet.
“Basically our earlier work was all done while we were much younger and fresher as a band, still finding our feet and nutting out our sound,” Carroll continued.
“What’s different about this record is that we took a break and we basically said we’re not doing anything until we make our perfect record.
“We made sure to create it without any limitations – previously there’d been a rush for tours and a flow of songs, whereas this was just a much more natural process which allowed us to dig deeper into the meaning of the songs and say what we wanted to say.
“It took 12 months to make and a lot of late nights in the studio but we’ve been able to put so much more love and effort into it and we’re really proud of the outcome.”
Stonefox’s single ‘Lightning’ is out now.
Written by Kyra Gillespie