By: Staff
Peter Stone released the album “Altar” and we were immediately fixated on the beautiful and emotional vocal delivery.
Taking a deep dive we jumped into this album.
“Courtyard” won us over instantly. Amazing performance! Beautifully strummed guitars really impress. It’s the really honest lyrics that made us love this artist.
Saying things like:
“ I can be a real piece of shit sometimes”, and “I should have made this a message not a song”
is one of the most true-to-self declarations to ever fill a song.
“Your Can” uses a special vocal delivery that differs from the opening track. We thought this was genuine and heartfelt and a softer side and combined with the slide guitars and the “knock on the door” ending was absolutely brilliant! (you need to check this out).
Jumping to a falsetto on “Drinking” we see Peter has a huge range and ability and we think the display is fantastic and creates a full and immersive environment with a lot of variety that makes this even more an interesting album.
“Matilija” is powerfully projected with a tender but also powerful beat that pulls in and out like a yo-yo and this was so fun to follow along. Breathy and yet full it’s a really clean and well performed track that will make live fans adore Peter Stone.
“Tendrilist” has such beautiful opening guitars and Peter’s voice is slightly mixed higher in the track and it makes us feel like he's getting more and more emotional as the tracks progress. The sing-to-speak changes make this feel like a live studio performance. Don’t miss the finger picks that make this track super unique.
Settling in with “Orange” we get a harmony duo performance that is angelic, soft, breathy and is the vocal description of the word love.
The only thing wrong right now is that you are reading this and not listening to this song.
Please go stream, download, and share Peter Stone and the album “Altar”, you will be thrilled you did.
Quote from Peter Stone’s team:
“'Altar' is the debut full-length album by Peter Stone. Through a blend of introspective lyrical narratives, intricate guitar work, and cathartic crescendos, 'Altar' chronicles a journey of personal growth.”
Wait, there's more!
We caught up with this exciting and emerging artist, for “The Cage” Music Blog, to talk about music and learn more about them.
Here’s how it went:
What first sparked the passion for you to create music?
I first got started into making music as a form of self release! It is such a wonderful way to transmute difficult emotions into something beautiful, and to help process them through the body. I think that’s what got me into songwriting in the first place. Also just the co-creation and camaraderie of playing music together with friends, this has been such a huge part of my connection with people through my life, and I the first experiences of it were so exciting it made me want to just keep doing it.
Where do you create your music, i.e. in a home recording studio or with a producer? How do you finalize your finished work, ie self-mixed/mastered or another source?
This album was created in my home studio and self recorded, self produced, self mixed. It was a serious undertaking wearing all these many hats, and it’s something I’ve been working towards for quite a while now! It does allow for a really fun total command and freedom over where the musical journey goes, and I’m super proud of how it came out. The album was mastered then by Tess Greenham!
Can you walk us through your songwriting process and where the inspiration comes from for this latest project?
My songwriting process can be varied … but it often involves first trying to create somewhat of a meditative vibe and feeling within myself. Really trying to get into a flow mindset with improvising on guitar or piano and getting onto a musical idea that feels exciting or dreamy or whatever - something that feels worth repeating. A lot of my lyrics can be about reflections on recent experiences - with current events or most often relationships and interactions I’ve had recently. A lot of it can deal with reflection on mistakes or dreams that I’ve had. A good bit of this most recent album also started out with like … free writing or automatic writing, nonsensical stuff that then can get turned into something that ends up feeling really meaningful and expresses something I later realize was bound to come up.
What is your favorite song to cover?
Born For Loving You by Big Thief
If there was one thing you could change about the music industry, what would it be?
I wish that everyone who loves and obsesses over a very famous A-List celebrity type artist would take some similar portion of that same energy to get to know and support someone who’s making that similar kind of thing happen in their hometown music scene! Not really an industry thing so much as societal but that would be really special. I think it is happening all the time but sure it’s something that’s occurred to me.
When you reach the stage where you have the admiration and respect of other world-known artists, what band or artist would you love to call and say, “Let’s go on tour together”?
Jeez this is tough but thinking of really well know people… how about Bon Iver. Or maybe boygenius.
What instruments do you play? Which is your favorite?
My main things are guitar and voice. I also play piano, mandolin, banjo, bass, saxophone, some percussion… I’d have to say my favorite is probably voice honestly, though I think what I’m best at is guitar. But there’s something so magical about a really heartfelt bit of singing that’s hard to beat. I really want to pickup pedal steel and cello as my next instruments and to really work on getting awesome at piano!
What has been the most motivating force in creating your music?
I think the thing that keeps me going creating music is that there’s a feeling I get from really connecting with an audience over a song that is so ecstatic, so cathartic, that is really something that’s hard to get in other facets of life. It is so therapeutic and powerful and life-affirming. That feeling is what makes music-making such a magical thing that I just keep coming back to.
Where do you see your sound and artistry heading in the future? Are there any exciting new directions you're exploring?
I’m very excited about where my sound is headed! I feel that this album is a big step for me in terms of my facility with production and synths and programming drums and all that, and I can’t wait to keep growing and see what I can make happen with all that. I’m also super excited to aim to do a bunch of collaborative work in the coming months after this album being a very solo endeavor. The interplay of ideas and the connections with other artists is something I’m really looking forward to.
What is the most inspirational thing a fan, or anyone, has told or shown you about your music?
I think it’s just inspirational to have someone care about the music I make over a long stretch - I had someone out at a show recently that I’d not seen in 10 years and let me tell you, that was a huge inspiration and encouragement that they’d had me in their heart all this time. It means so much to feel cared for in that way, I know I keep that love in my heart for folks in a similar way, and it felt really special.
Thanks so much for taking the time to interview me! I can’t wait for your readers to get a chance to check out the record!
End Interview
Check out this latest release and listen to more of Peter Stone on Spotify & YouTube.
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