A Q&A with Stone Sea

Heavy riffs, hypnotic grooves…

What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
‘Age of Tears’ is about pain, growth, and acceptance — and how they’re all intertwined. It reflects a time in my life when I had to let go of old dreams and reshape my hopes into something new. For me, it’s both a farewell and a rebirth.

What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
Definitely the logistics. Connor (the previous drummer in Ireland) and I had just two weeks to record everything before I moved to Spain for a new job as a sound designer. It was very intense — I was refining bass lines, backing vocals, and lyrics while also organising a cross-country move with my partner and our two cats in a 7.5-metre van (laughs). It was a little insane, but I managed, somehow (laughs).

Who produced the release – what did they bring to it? If you produced it yourselves what do you enjoy most about producing your own material?
We recorded most of the parts in Trackmix Studios in Dublin. Michael, the sound engineer, is a wizard. He also recorded our previous EPs and singles — ‘Vaporizer’, ‘Mankind Maze’, ‘Oblivion’, ‘Sweet Inertia’ and ‘Animal’. He focuses on bringing to light the sound we envisioned rather than giving feedback on structure, which works great because I’m quite stubborn with my ideas (laughs).

What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
The same feeling I got from the bands that moved me — an emotional connection, either musically or lyrically. Whether they drift, transcend, resonate euphorically, or feel catharsis through it, I just hope they connect on a spiritual level. If someone sees a reflection of their own journey or emotions in our music, that’s mission accomplished.

How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
It’s a very intuitive process. Riffs or melodies usually appear when my mind is quiet, and I build from there. Lyrics come later — more from emotion than logic, although I’m quite strict with how I want to vowel certain phrases or how many syllables each line should have. Once the song is rehearsed and matured, we record it live-style to capture that raw energy.

What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
Black Sabbath is the main reference, although I was very much influenced by Nirvana when I was a teenager. But I also draw from blues, classical, 70s psychedelia, as well as traditional music from around the world — Brazilian rhythms, Arabic scales, Indian instrumentation. That fusion gives Stone Sea its colour.

What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
Right now, we’re focused on Spain and southern Europe, but I’d love to tour across the continent and the UK. I’m not too attached to classic venues, to be honest – I actually prefer unconventional places: barns, mountains, beaches, anywhere that breaks the “typical venue” vibe. I’ve heard about metal gigs happening on cruises and even in the tabernas of Fort Bravo here in Spain, where they filmed old Westerns. Either would be wild.

If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
I think ‘Mystify’ is the song to go for — it sums up everything we are: heavy, melodic, emotional, and slightly unpredictable. It’s got the dynamics, the riffs, and the soul.

What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
Now that we’ve talked about these unconventional venues, I guess one ambition is to play in as many of them as possible (laughs). And of course, the typical thing of reaching people who truly connect with what we do. I’d love to live by my music, but more than fame, I value true connection through authenticity.

Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
“Glad you fed your feeling with us.” I have no idea, actually (laughs). Merci!

Find out more about Stone Sea at linktr.ee/stonesea