Written by Sofia Perica
For more than two decades, Angus & Julia Stone have built a catalogue defined by quiet intimacy. Since their breakthrough with ‘A Book Like This’ in 2007, the sibling duo have become one of Australia’s most beloved musical exports, with ‘Down the Way’ producing the enduring classic ‘Big Jet Plane’ and collaborations ranging from Rick Rubin to the award-winning Life Is Strange soundtrack. Ahead of the release of their seventh studio album ‘Karaoke Bar’ on September 4, Karma! sat down with Julia Stone to discuss the methods behind their madness.
Karaoke Bar is the kind of album that wants you to feel seen and understood. It’s interesting how the pair see the space of a bar itself, characterising it as a safe space for people, where they can be authentically themselves, a concept that is reflected in the album’s lyrics and sound. Stone says, “A night out at a karaoke bar can hold so much goodness… that’s what the song is about. Everyone has the chance to be heard. And it’s so often more than that, a moment of real connection. We’re together, singing with a roomful of strangers, and the things that normally separate us fall away.”
For Stone, ‘Karaoke Bar’ isn’t just about a night out; it’s about the rare moments when people allow themselves to be fully seen: “Vulnerability is such a strength. It’s like the more you are yourself, the more that people can see.”
We talked about how we both strive to create that safe space for people. For Stone, this philosophy extends beyond music. She returns to the importance of creating environments where people feel safe enough to show up authentically: “It’s such a great value and quality [to have]… creating safe spaces for other people to be themselves… It’s a big action, but in these small waves… we will allow a more authentic world.”
We landed on an agreement that being creative is an incredible outlet for that. Elaborating, she says, “It’s a part of having a voice, and it doesn’t even have to be singing. I mean, it’s natural to dance. It’s natural to be creative.” It led me to wonder… Why does being ourselves feel so much harder outside of these shared creative spaces? Why are we so afraid of vulnerability in our day-to-day lives? Stone believes the answer lies within human nature. She observes, “We are programmed, from an evolutionary point of view, to survive, and survival means… being lovable, being part of a community. This ingrained sense of, if I’m good enough to be loved, then I’m gonna have a home.”
The desire for community is something that binds us all. It’s a fear that has outlived the conditions that created it. Stone says, “At a fundamental level, we still are like little creatures, you know, that…want to be loved”
Stone believes genuine connection requires exactly that kind of openness. “The highest form of love is understanding,” she says. “Someone who understands you is key, and that means understanding your good, your bad and your ugly.”
“I just hope that, for some people, this record brings them a sense that they’re not alone in the world,” she says. “There are people out there that are feeling the same feelings and going through the same things.” Perhaps that’s exactly what she hopes ‘Karaoke Bar’ ultimately offers. More than another collection of songs, it’s an invitation to feel seen.
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