If you love the musical pair, Angus & Julia Stone, then you’re probably looking to learn more interesting facts about these two. Sibling songwriting/singing duo Angus & Julia Stone started out professionally in 2006 and since then, both have performed solo or collaborated together in the folk and dreamy indie-pop genre.
The sibling team from Sydney who were in their early 20s launched their debut album in 2007 and quickly rose to fame as one of the nation’s most adored talents. The debut album ‘A Book like this’ while expected to be exactly that – a debut, was successful beyond their imaginations. And this was just the starting point of the sibling’s successes.
Keep reading to find interesting, lesser-known facts about your new favorites, the Stones:
Table of Contents
Fact #1 – The Humble Beginning
The siblings, Angus and Julia Stone, were born in Sydney to parents Kim and John Stone. They were both brought up with their older sister, Catherine, in the Newport neighborhood of Sydney’s Northern Beaches where they attended Newport Primary School, and afterward Barrenjoey High School. Angus started writing his own music when they were teenagers, mostly pop tunes. He began learning the guitar after graduating from high school, and Julia was teaching trumpets at the time.
The Stone children grew up learning how to tie knots, and operating trucks on the farm starting at age 12. It wasn’t much of an option really; on one side of the family, they practiced farming; on the other, they were seamen, so it was essential to practice both trades. They were, however, influenced into loving music by watching their father’s wedding music practice. Later on, it was dad who fanned the flames of their passion when he began schooling them in pop music.
Fact #2 – They Love To Play Separately
Exposés from numerous interviews reveal that the musical siblings, Angus & Julia, love writing songs and performing them separately. From the beginning, the siblings have had active participation in the production of their own albums. Despite having assistance, they each often always had the final say.
All this would later change when their aunt, a professional in the music industry, suggested that they put their demo recordings on one CD instead of selling them separately. When they put their works together, it was a success. The Chocolate & Cigarettes EP was born, earning the pair airtime and sync deals worldwide. These days, the siblings continue to collaborate on music (Life is Strange, their most recent album, was released in 2021), but they also work on independent projects.
Fact #3 – How the Angus & Julia Album Came to Be
Since their entry into the music industry in 2006, the pair have collaborated and created music together. But this all would cease in 2011 when they all but stopped collaborating. It needed the assistance of renowned US producer Rick Rubin to get the two back together.
The Stones wrote songs together for the first time on their 2014 ‘Angus & Julia Stone’, which Rubin produced. The album was a success, with the single ‘Heart Beats Slow’ peaking at number 37 on global charts and reaching the top 10 position in various countries.
Fact #4 – Big Jet Plane – The Inspiration
You may already know that one of the most popular Australian songs of the last ten years is ‘Big Jet Plane’, off Angus’ debut solo album ‘Smoking Gun’. It was named the 2010 ARIA Single of the Year and peaked at number one on the triple j Hottest 100. But what you probably don’t know is the inspiration behind it.
According to Angus, he met a girl when he was in Woodford on one of their usual tours. It was tormentingly hot so he decided to grab something down at the Stony Creek, then he met her. “She was a goddess,” Angus confessed. They had a thing together, the sparks were already beginning but he didn’t get to see her again. So he wrote a song about it, and so ‘big jet plane’ was born.
Fact #5 – The Revered Guitar
Every record Angus makes has a certain guitar to thank. It is a 1960s Telecaster that was a gift from his father which he, Angus, liked to call the “holy grail” of Guitars. The guitar has its own interesting history too: John Stone, his father, bought it from his guitar instructor and it was his very first instrument.
Ever since his father gifted him that guitar, it has defined Angus’ music, featuring in almost every album he’s ever released. Now, thanks to the holy grail of guitars, his albums now have a distinct sound that will continue to remain so for many more years.
Angus and Julia Stone have come to dominate intimate folk and dreamy indie pop and you absolutely love it, but you might have missed out on the tours. Not to worry, head to Moshcam to watch Angus & Julia concerts right from the comfort of your own home.
