Angus & Julia Stone

Angus & Julia Stone’s fragile folk-pop seems to float on its own dreamy wavelength. Maybe that ethereal effect comes from the enigmatic bond between brother and sister—or perhaps it goes even deeper in their DNA. Julia (born in 1984) and Angus (1986) grew up in Sydney’s Northern Beaches to parents who once played as a folk duo. That influence was fully realised when the siblings became teenagers and began writing pop songs and performing, first separately, then—after several sets playing backup for each other—together. In 2006, they moved to London and met Fran Healy, the lead singer of Britpop band Travis, who ended up producing their 2007 debut album, A Book Like This. The intimate set of fingerpicked melodies showcases the Stones' light way with a hook and a harmony, as her pixie-esque coos wrap around his rootsy rasp. Since, the pair have subtly built on that sound. Sweeping, strings-infused beauties like “Big Jet Plane” from 2010’s Down the Way landed them on coffeeshop soundtracks around the world. And later, the groovy Hammond organ-touched rock of their 2014 self-titled third album found them working with an unlikely producer: Def Jam mastermind Rick Rubin. While Angus and Julia both have thriving solo careers as well, together they’re able to tap into a whole different realm of emotion and sonic exploration.