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Angus Stone on new music, NSFW album art and making his sister cry

Musician Angus Stone chats with host Danny Clayton on Build Series Sydney.
Angus Stone chats with host Danny Clayton on Build Series Sydney. Photo: Build Series Sydney.

His career took off as one half of brother-sister folk duo Angus & Julia Stone, but in the background, Angus Stone has been quietly steering his own musical course.

In the nine years following the siblings’ amicable split - “we strolled in different directions” Angus said at the time - the 33-year-old has released music under his own name as well as pseudonyms Lady of the Sunshine and most recently Dope Lemon.

Angus dropped by Build Series Sydney to chat with host Danny Clayton about Dope Lemon’s second offering, the sonically dreamy bluegrass trip Smooth Big Cat.

The solo venture, which was written and recorded at his Byron Bay ranch, was a chance for Angus to do a bit of soul searching.

“Julia and I have been touring the world for a good ten years now but when you do something different you’re out there on your own and rediscovering yourself,” he told Danny.

In fact, his big sis didn’t even know he had new music in the works and when she found out her reaction was a tad unexpected.

“She started crying,” a sheepish Angus admitted.

“I put the album on and she and her boyfriend were both pretty emotional.”

Angus went on to explain the story behind Smooth Big Cat, a fictional character of his own creation.

“He’s a ‘Mr Cool’ creature that lives on the ranch and his spirit became a totem for the record,” he said.

As for the NSFW album artwork - which features a topless woman astride a horse - Angus was slightly more coy.

“I haven’t met her,” he replied when quizzed by Danny.

“I just typed ‘girl on a horse’ into Pinterest and I found this image. It’s out of a German Playboy magazine,” he added.

Smooth Big Cat is out on July 12 with a world tour kicking off in Australia and New Zealand later this year.

Watch Angus’ full interview with Build Series Sydney in the video above.

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