Stone Anthem is the alias of UK based multi-instrumentalist artist Archie Ingram who has released in recent years some tenderly ethereal material equalling releases by Syd Barrett, Spacemen 3 and Sun Ra, his latest release Solus Rex is set to break new moulds of musical stratospheres not yet experienced by the child prodigy. Gigslutz sat down to conduct this highly engaging interview:

 

Can you please tell me abit about your upbringing?

Sure, my upbringing was pretty normal, I’m not from a musical family, though the majority of my family are visual artists, illustrators painters embroiderers etc. So, I like to think my calling is musical, however the way I create music is very similar to creating paintings.

What was the first music you can remember hearing?

When I was a baby, my dad used to sing me ‘Effervescing Elephant’ by Syd Barrett, that song has always stuck.

What was more serious music you can remember getting into?

I like to think my tastes are quite sporadic, I don’t really deem things as ‘serious’ or ‘unserious’… I got into reggae and jazz at around 14-15, country and folk before that… but it was that style of delay and echo on vocals from old Jah Shaka and Lee Perry dub’s struck a huge influence on my own production.

What were the first instruments you learnt to play?

I never had any lessons really, I taught myself guitar when I was about 8 or 9.

What about singing, who inspired you?

Nobody really inspired me. I used to write a lot of poetry and still do. So, I thought ‘how could I get this out there?’ And I was already making instrumental music, so just put 2 and 2 together.

Did you find composing your own songs a natural thing?

Oh yes, definitely. Some take time, some are quick.

Were you in any bands prior to creating Stone Anthem?

No, Stone Anthem is more an alias for my solo work anyway. Currently, other than doing the Stone Anthem stuff, myself and Eva Cord of the jangle pop band The Cords, have started a project together titled ‘Foglights’… more to come on that soon though.

How did Stone Anthem come to be?

It began when I was around 11 or 12. I released my first EP when I was 12, just on Bandcamp. I got really into tape splicing and making tape loops from cheap cassettes, I got obsessed with it. I began making audio collages from found sound, tv adverts, movie soundtracks, my own work, field recordings etc. It was just a name to put to those audio collages, and then it became an alias.

Did you have any plans to write and record material in a particular genre?

Not really. The direction I’m going in always changes, but it’s firmly rooted in psychedelia, dreampop, experimental. There’s always hints of folk, ambient, heavy shoegaze.

Where did you record your first pieces of music?

In the back of my dad’s car on GarageBand on my phone, haha. That’s how I made the first EP I self released. I thought I’d invented a whole genre (ambient), because I’d never heard of the genre before. My dad told me about Brian Eno, however I misheard him and thought he said “Brian Emo”, I was shocked that he’d be interested in emo music haha. He’s not of course, it’s just a funny anecdote I tell now haha.

Did you play gigs before recording your first physical releases?

Never. I never planned on playing live. I was asked to play a synth event / festival dedicated to Delia Derbyshire in her hometown of Coventry, which is where I’m from too. This was at an art gallery, and it was my first gig.

How did you strike up a relationship with Castles In Space?

There was an event at the local record shop Just Dropped In, in Coventry, where I work at now… they also host gigs there, a couple CiS acts were playing, however one artist had covid and had to pull out, so I was the replacement, that’s how those guys heard me I’m pretty sure.

The records you’ve released have had unique artwork. Is this something your enjoy creating?

Yeah, well, my dad created the artwork for my first record ‘Between The Bliss’, and me and him created the ‘Solus Rex’ artwork together. For ‘Where Trees Go To Die’, I did that all myself. I love making art yes.

You’ve also played some gigs with Panda Bear and Sonic Boom. How did this come about?

Sonic has helped me out so much in the whole music world since I was a kid. He’s helped me with production advice, guidance on what good gear to get, general morale support when I feel I’m running out of steam on a project. He’s just been a brilliant help, and I wouldn’t be making music where I am today if it wasn’t for him and his music. The gig with Panda and Sonic was fantastic. I think I just asked Pete if I could do it.

Sonic Boom is a big fan of yours isn’t he?

I’m not sure about ‘big fan’, but he’s been a great help and mentor, there are a couple tracks on my latest record he’s been super kind about.

Your latest album Solus Rex is another masterstroke release. Can you tell me some of the background to recording the album?

Well, it’s not like anything I’ve ever done before, the whole genre is different. So, I almost didn’t make this record, I was wondering if anyone would actually like it as it’s so different, but then again… I thought it was too good to not get released, and I think it’s my best body of work to date. Some of these songs I’ve had written since I was 12… “Damaged” in particular. My voice was too high pitch as a kid to sing it well, so I waited until I was 15 to record it, and I’ve been mixing it for 3 years until it was ready, however never planning on releasing it. But I’m so happy with how it turned out, Glass Modern did a great job with the vinyl and CDs, they look and sound amazing.

David Barker who was Spacemen 3s first label with his pivotal Glass records is releasing the album. How did David get in contact you about releasing the album?

I actually got in contact with Dave. Most of my favourite music Dave has actually released. The Pastels, Spacemen 3, The Jazz Butcher etc. I went with it and dropped Dave a message and he seemed to be into it… then boom. Here we are.

What were your inspirations for writing the material for the album?

So much… jazz, folk, reggae, psychedelia, garage, shoegaze.

The artwork is particularly delightful. What was the inspiration behind it?

My dad painted the images on the front and back. The inspiration came from the hand painted imagery and paintings used by The Pastels on their records and singles on Glass too. They’ve been a great inspiration, and I wanted something that felt DIY, but also quite trippy. To reflect the recording process.

Do you have any plans to play live to support the release?

Yeah, I’m doing a string of shows with Glass Modern labelmate Radhika, she also does backing vocals on the track ‘Fear’. June 5th: Mono (with The Cords, and Stephen Pastel DJ), June 13th: Just Dropped In, Coventry. June 14th: The Betsey Trotwood, London.

What does the future hold for you musically?

Who knows, I’m going to enjoy where I’m at with this record currently, maybe I’ll take this further and perfect the stylistic choices better on the next, or it’ll go in another direction. It’s all so unpredictable.

Finally, what’s on your turntable at present?

A rotation of Psychic TV, Talulah Gosh, Bad Brains, The Fall, Gong.

 

Stone Anthem can be found via Instagram and Bandcamp