The Stellars dub themselves as a “British Rock band formed in Highlands” five piece band that ,in look and sound, have a heavy retro feel taking you back to the heyday of the Madchester era.
Having seen the pared down version of The Stellars the day before as they entertained the Greenhouse, Dingwall, I caught up with the full band as they start what feels like the next steps for them.
When we talked to Steven and Darren in June, they were in the midst of finalising the line-up for the new look band, five months later and with three additional members in Andrew Birnie, John Seath and Aiden Macleod, the group has certainly evolved. “There’s more of a chemistry in the band.. we’re more suited people, we’re in to the same stuff”, Steven observes. For them that means an additional drive which means more productivity and “more exciting gigs”.
For Andrew, John and Aiden they speak as one in their decision to join the band “Best decision we’ve ever made” seems to reflect the feeling well. Also relatively uniquely for a band they are all new to the music scene, moving up from previous experience in school bands and the like. Their commitment to the cause appears without doubt.
One of the next gigs for the band is a return to the Ironworks, after their Summer Showcase, to support Red Kites in November. “I was glad to be asked [to play the venue], we’re looking forward to it”, replies Steven. This is followed in January with the gig at the O2, after competing and successfully negotiating the rounds of the SoundWave Music Competition that they had entered earlier in the year. (you can get tickets for the gig via their Facebook page)
Also on the agenda is promoting their forthcoming single “Lucy” (it’s currently available to stream free (see below) , but catch it soon before it’s removed prior to the formal release in February. The track had originally meant to be the b-side for the single but there was an obvious affinity to the tune “after everything was together in the mix, it felt like the right way to showcase the band”. The tracks were recorded at North Highland College , where Steven is currently a student and he was fortunate enough to be able to use the process as part of his course work. “It went pretty well.. we got more than we expected”.
The band are keen to write more tunes in the the same style as “Lucy”; Steven comments; “It’s put us in a different mindset “, Darren adding “it’s more psychedelic (musically rather than lyrically he later clarifies)…it doesn’t sound like anything else”. Revisiting the band’s influences, Steven is quite keen to emphasise the uniqueness “we are our own influences”. Of course the size of the band has enhanced the music “it’s a fuller sound” describing a progression in the band “it’s getting better every day”.
With the current line-up there does appear to be a commitment behind the style and genre and that also translates to songwriting and composition with ideas coming from all elements of the band including late night drunken jams. Although they are keen to impress that there is not any active attempt to write, and that it is a fairly instinctive, unstructured process.
The plan is for the single to be released in a few stores in February and perhaps a little bit of promotion with that, in the locality and down south including, hopefully, a trip over the border. They are also aiming big in chasing the festivals from TBreak to Rockness.
The band certainly have an ambition and drive , what comes with that, well, I guess they’ll have to roll with it…
Follow The Stellars via Facebook and you can also check our last review of The Stellars at the Summer Showcase.
