Angus & Julia Stone

Angus and Julia Stone are Australian siblings who formed a folk and indie pop group in 2006. Born in Sydney, Angus (b. 1986) and Julia (b. 1984) were exposed to music from a young age by their parents, both musicians. Growing up in Newport, New South Wales, Angus began writing pop songs in his teenage years. After a snowboarding accident, Angus recuperated by learning guitar, while Julia pursued trumpet. By 2005, Angus performed at open mics, with Julia occasionally providing backing vocals. Julia, also writing her own music, encouraged their collaboration, leading to their decision to form a duo in early 2006. They maintain distinct yet complementary songwriting styles: Julia focuses on romantic, confessional narratives, while Angus creates more pop-oriented and guarded lyrical pieces. They collaborate on structure and harmonies, often alternating lead vocals, which contributes to their unique sound noted by critics as having a “fractured feel” and a “smoke-on-the-beach drawl.”

The duo quickly gained traction, recording their debut extended play, “Chocolates and Cigarettes,” in March 2006. Its single, “Paper Aeroplane,” received Australian radio play, including on FBi. In April, they performed at The Great Escape Festival, followed by a significant gig at Splendour in the Grass. By August 2006, they secured a two-EP distribution deal with EMI Music in Australia and Independiente Records in the UK, prompting their relocation to London. Working with acclaimed producers like Chris Potter and Fran Healy of Travis, they recorded their second EP, “Heart Full of Wine,” in 2007. Their debut album, “A Book Like This,” released in September 2007, peaked at No. 6 on the ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum by 2008. Their track “The Beast” reached the ARIA Singles Chart top 40. They continuously toured Australia, the UK, Europe, and the US, including supporting acts for Martha Wainwright and Newton Faulkner, gaining widespread critical praise.

After a brief hiatus for solo projects in 2009—during which Angus released “Smoking Gun” as Lady of the Sunshine and Julia recorded “The Memory Machine”—they reunited to release their second studio album, “Down the Way,” in March 2010. The album debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart. “Big Jet Plane” became a hit single, reaching No. 1 on the Triple J Hottest 100 on Australia Day 2011 and charting internationally. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2010, they received five awards, including ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Single of the Year’. Following this success, they continued their international touring, performing at major festivals such as Falls Festivals, Big Day Out, and Coachella. In 2014, they collaborated with Rick Rubin on their self-titled album, which achieved international chart success. Their fourth album, “Snow” (2017), reached number 2 on the ARIA charts, with “Chateau” and “Snow” charting in the Triple J Hottest 100. Their work on the 2021 video game soundtrack, “Life is Strange,” and their latest album, “Cape Forestier” (2024), demonstrate their ongoing artistic evolution and enduring appeal.