Elana Stone is a vocalist, songwriter, pianist, accordion player, and band leader based in Sydney. She has her own solo output and also plays in ‘The Rescue Ships’ with Brian Campeau. Raw, soulful, and uplifting Elana Stone presents a powerful combination of skillful musicianship, a commanding stage presense and damn good songwriting. Elana is currently working on a new solo album, and a Rescue Ships album, both due out next year.
Your playing the Sofar Sounds Christmas Party, do you have any fond music related Christmas memories?
Christmas at my house is a pretty big deal, which is funny because we are jewish. Mum organises carols at our house every year. After singing ALL the versus to ALL the carols, my dad and my uncle get the giggles and it just gets too funny to continue.
Earlier in the year you embarked on 20 songs in 20 days, can you tell us the inspiration behind it?
Yes, my friends and I decided to challenge each other to write 20 Songs in 20 Days. The penalty was $50 if you didn’t finish on the specified day. I wrote 7 songs in one day. It was quite stressful but very fun… If you want to listen to them go to https://soundcloud.com/elana-stone
They are all up there.
You’re also in The Rescue Ships, is it hard to juggle being part of multiple musical endeavours?
Not really. It keeps things interesting. I’m always doing different projects. Most artists are, they might have one that they are promoting more heavily though. I play bluegrass, pop, folk, jazz, rock. Depends what day of the week it is…
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
I have always sung, ever since I can remember. I used to perform for my family at dinner parties but I’d sing with my face to the wall because I was embarrassed. My brother and sister are both performers also. I think they would have to be my first and biggest continuing inspirations.
You were lucky enough to support Husky on their national tour, what was it like touring around the country?
SO MUCH FUN.
I did the tour solo, which I have never done before. It’s such a singer-songwriter rite of passage. I decided to make it as scary for myself as possible by wearing a swimsuit on stage and delivering the first song a ccapella from inside the audience. I threw myself totally in the deep end and it was very rewarding.
The Husky’s are such a lovely bunch. I’ve known them for a while now. They call me ‘Potty’ as in ‘potty-mouth’.
When can we expect an album or EP?
Very soon. I’m working on some new Elana Stone stuff with a producer called ‘Zebra Zap’ (a.k.a Jack Britten). It is going to melt some minds.
Rescue Ships will also be putting an album out next year which is super exciting…
‘Fess up. What records have you stolen from your parent’s record collection and why?
My sister stole all the records from my parents collection and I still don’t understand why that was ok.
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage, or even a lucky charm you take with you?
I’ve tried lots of weird shit over the years but none of it really beats practising your material, warming up and being calm and happy. Boring but true. I still drink a bit before gigs when I’m real nervous.
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with?
Ken Done. I want to wear his artworks on my naked body at all times. I get a weird and nostalgic feeling when I see anything Ken Done. I’m instantly transported back to early childhood. I know it’s wrong but it’s also so right.
What are your plans over summer?
I don’t have any big plans this summer. I’m going to hoon around in my van and camp and fish and swim and get mozzie bites! Yay!!!
Where we can see you play next, what releases do you have available and where can we get them?
Sofar Sounds Christmas Party Feat. Brous/The Harpoons/Francolin/Ainslie Wills/Elana Stone on 16 December at 15:00 @ Schoolhouse Studios in Melbourne, Victoria.
19th Dec The Standard (Sydney) Beck Hanson’s ‘Songreader’ (Beck’s new, unrecorded album) with music direction by Brian Campeau. Featuring Josh Pyke, Dappled Cities, Jonathan Boulet, Sarah Blasko, Brendan Cowell, Caitlin Park, Aidan Robert, Richard in Your Mind and many more…
Albums: Elana Stone ‘Your Anniversary’ 2009 – itunes.apple.com/us/album/your-anniversary/id323819397
Elana Stone ‘In the Garden of Wild Things’ 2006 – itunes.apple.com/us/album/in-the-garden-of-wild-things/id283216894
