Stonefield (band)
Stonefield | |
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![]() L to R: Hannah, Amy, Holly, Sarah Findlay Divan Orange, Montreal, June 2016 | |
Background information | |
Also known as | Iotah |
Origin | Darraweit Guim, Victoria, Australia |
Genres | |
Years active | 2006 | –present
Labels |
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Members |
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Website | stonefield |
Stonefield are an Australian rock band comprising the four Findlay sisters: Amy on drums and lead vocals, Hannah on lead guitar, Sarah on keyboards, and Holly on bass guitar. They were formed in 2006 as Iotah in Darraweit Guim, a small town in rural Victoria. They changed their name in 2010 and have released four studio albums, Stonefield (October 2013), As Above, So Below (July 2016) — which peaked at No. 19 on the ARIA Albums Chart — Far from Earth (April 2018) and Bent (June 2019).
History
Stonefield were formed in late 2006 as Iotah in Darraweit Guim, a hamlet in Victoria's Macedon Ranges, by Amy Lee Findlay (born c. 1990) on drums and lead vocals, and her three younger sisters, Hannah (born c. 1993) on lead guitar and vocals, Sarah (born c. 1994) on keyboards and vocals, and Holly (born c. 1998) on bass guitar.[1][2] The sisters rehearsed in their parents farm shed, "with a '70s-inspired soulful rock sound."[1]
They won the Triple J Unearthed High contest, for secondary school artists, in June 2010 with their song, "Foreign Lover", which was then placed in high rotation on the national radio network.[1][3][4] After the win the band changed their name to Stonefield, due to "discovering there was a cabaret performer called iOTA."[1] They released a five-track extended play, Through the Clover (November 2010), with Greg Wales producing via Shock Records.[5][6] Stonefield were an Unearthed J Award nominee in that year.[7] Amy completed her Bachelor of Australian Popular Music degree in 2010 at Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT)[8] – later renamed as Melbourne Polytechnic.
After the band played at the One Movement Festival in Perth in October 2010 they were approached by a scout for the Glastonbury Festival and were invited to appear at the next year's festival.[9][10] They played the second slot on the John Peel Stage on 26 June 2011.[9][11] The Age's Elizabeth Colman felt, "[they] more than held their own at one of the world's biggest music events... the talented foursome's raw vocal power and polished playing, which climaxed with an inspired cover of Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love', got the punters rocking."[9] Hannah told Colman, "It was a bit overwhelming"; while Amy admitted, "I almost cried when I got on stage."[9]
Earlier in June 2011 Stonefield had performed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, providing pre-match entertainment at an Australian Football League match (Geelong vs. Hawthorn), celebrating "Women's Round".[12] The group provided a cover version of Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" for Triple J's Like a Version radio segment, which was compiled on the various artists album, Triple J's Like a Version 7 (November 2011). In the following month Amy appeared on TV celebrity quiz show, RocKwiz, performing "Through the Clover" back by the RocKwiz OrKestra and then singing a duet with Nick Barker on a cover version of Small Faces' "Itchycoo Park".[13]
Stonefield's second EP, Bad Reality, appeared in May 2012, which reached the top 100 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[14] Alex Rappel of FasterLouder observed, "[they] certainly know how to rock out in the style of old, and Richie Blackmore and Co would no doubt be impressed by Stonefield's offerings... [they] do not try to offer social commentary or sage wisdom in their latest EP Bad Reality, but rather a rock record that will melt your face off!"[15]
The group released their debut self-titled album, Stonefield, on 11 October 2013, which peaked at No. 21.[16][17] It was recorded at Sing Sing Studios, Richmond where it was produced and engineered by Ian Davenport for Illusive Sounds.[18] Beat Magazine's Krissi Weiss opined, "[the group] has definitely progressed. It's more nuanced, they've evolved beyond being simply riff-based and their harmonic depth is almost transcendental... you can tell none of that was planned. As the listener you can't help but go searching for the familiar but the band are at all times just being [themselves]."[19] They supported its release with a tour of Victoria and parts of New South Wales.[20]
Stonefield released the album's second single, "Love You Deserve", in October 2013, which Tobias Handke of Indie Shuffle, described as, "Classic guitar riffs and pounding percussion merge with the sisters' evocative harmonies, making [it] an easy highlight from [the album]. Oh yeah, how good is The Doors-esque organ?"[21] It won the Rock Work of the Year category at the APRA Music Awards of 2015.[22] The band mostly write their own original material, but also do occasional cover versions. These include "Whole Lotta Love"[23] and "Magic Carpet Ride".[24] In 2015 they covered Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" on Katie Noonan's album, Songs That Made Me. In 2016 they toured in support of Fleetwood Mac in Australia for three shows.
The group's second album, As Above, So Below, appeared in July 2016 and peaked at No. 19 – their highest charting release.[16] Jaymz Clements of Rolling Stone (Australia) rated it at four-out-of-five stars.[25] theMusic.com.au's Bryget Chrisfield gave it three-and-a-half out-of-five stars and explained, "[it] surpasses all preconceived notions of the sonic terrain these rockin' sisters can effortlessly traverse. Don't freak out, though. The band's killer riffs and headbanging opps prevail."[26]
On 11 December 2017 the band signed with the Flightless record label and debuted new song, "Delusion", on Triple J. In 2018 they toured nationally with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.[27] The quartet's third album, Far from Earth, was issued in April 2018 and reached the top 100.[16] Libby Webster of The Austin Chronicle rated it at two-and-a-half stars and explained, "[the group] trudges along haltingly, a chaos of genre. Hammering prog ('Far from Earth') and blistering doom metal ('Through the Storm'), their momentum wanes with milder moments of psychedelia."[28] Happy Mag placed the album at no.16 on their list of "The 25 best psychedelic rock albums of the 2010s" in 2019.[29]
L.A. Record's Madison Desler caught their gig at Los Angeles' The Bootleg club in that same month, "they bashed through cuts off their new album, Far from Earth. 'Delusion', a mix of distorted psych and stormy desert rock had drummer and lead singer Amy Findlay showing off her impressive vocals, while the dark, dance beat of 'Visions' got the packed crowd to shimmy and slide."[30]
Members
- Amy Findlay – vocals, drums (2006–present)
- Hannah Findlay – guitar (2006–present)
- Holly Findlay – bass guitar (2006–present)
- Sarah Findlay – keyboards, vocals (2006–present)
Discography
Studio albums
Year | Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|---|
AUS [16] | |||
2013 | Stonefield |
|
21 |
2016 | As Above, So Below |
|
19 |
2018 | Far from Earth |
|
61 |
2019 | Bent |
|
—[A] |
Extended plays
Year | Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|---|
AUS [14] | |||
2010 | Through the Clover |
|
— |
2012 | Bad Reality |
|
71 |
Singles
Year | Title | Album |
---|---|---|
2011 | "Black Water Rising" | Bad Reality |
2012 | "Bad Reality" | |
2013 | "Put Your Curse on Me" | Stonefield |
"Love You Deserve" | ||
2015 | "Golden Dream" | — |
2016 | "Stranger" | As Above, So Below |
2018 | "Delusion" |
|
"Far From Earth" |
Notes
- ^ Bent did not enter the ARIA Albums Chart, but peaked at number 50 on the ARIA Digital Album Chart.[32]
References
- ^ a b c d Topsfield, Jewel (30 October 2010). "Hannah and Her Sisters Rock Their Field of Dreams". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "Iotah :: Rock Bands". EntertanOz. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012.
- ^ "Real Readers". Dolly. 8 September 2010.
- ^ Gardener, James (10 June 2010). "NMIT Media Release: Triple J Unearths NMIT Talent". Northern Melbourne Institute of Technology (NMIT). Archived from the original on 17 July 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ Deming, Mark. "Stonefield | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "It's a sound win". Sunbury/Macedon Ranges Leader. 29 June 2010.
- ^ "Stonefield. Unearthed Nomination". ABC. 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
- ^ "Success Stories – Amy Findlay". Northern Melbourne Institute of Technology (NMIT). 25 August 2011. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d Colman, Elizabeth (27 June 2011). "Sisters Star at 'Glasto'". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "Stonefield Invited to Glastonbury 2011". 11 November 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
- ^ "Glastonbury Festivals – 2011 Line-up Times". Glastonbury Festival. Archived from the original on 2 July 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "Stonefield to perform live at the 'G". 6 June 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
- ^ "Episode 125: Amy Findlay and Nick Barker". RocKwiz. SBS ondemand. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- ^ a b Wallace, Ian (28 May 2012). "Week Commencing ~ 28 May 2012 ~ Issue #1161" (PDF). The ARIA Report (1161). Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA): 2, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ Rappel, Alex (2 August 2012). "Stonefield – Bad Reality". FasterLouder. Junkee Media. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d "australian-charts.com – Discography Stonefield". Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- Far from Earth: "ARIA Chart Watch #469". auspOp. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ ARIA Album Chart 19 October 2013 - page 3, [1], ARIA, accessed 3 October 2015.
- ^ "Stonefield – Stonefield | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ Weiss, Krissi. "Stonefield". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ Michelle (26 October 2013). "Stonefield announce Lester The Fierce as Support Act". Beauty and Lace. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ Handke, Tobias (22 October 2013). "Stonefield – 'Love You Deserve'". Indie Shuffle. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "Rock Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ Ministry of Sound Uncovered Volume 4, "[2]", Ministry of Sound Australia, accessed 10 July 2015.
- ^ Like a Version Volume 7, ""Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, accessed 10 July 2015. - ^ Clements, Jaymz (20 July 2016). "Stonefield As Above, So Below". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- ^ Chrisfield, Bryget (12 July 2016). "Stonefield – As Above, So Below". theMusic.com.au. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ https://instagram.com/p/BgM1zuEnvck/
- ^ Webster, Libby (27 April 2018). "Levitation 2018 – Review: Stonefield". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "The 25 best psychedelic rock albums of the 2010s". Retrieved 16 October 2019.
- ^ Desler, Madison (24 April 2018). "Stonefield + Warbly Jets + Kate Clover + Hoover III @ The Bootleg". L.A. Record. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ "Bent by Stonefield". Apple Music. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Digital Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.