Jake Stone Broken Love Interview

Melbourne-based indie-pop artist, Jake Stone, has released his highly-anticipated new single, Broken Love.

The largely self-taught singer/songwriter last released a single in March 2019, You'd Be, and since then has been working on developing his own style and unique sound through creating new music. Jake is influenced by many artists and enjoys drawing on key characteristics from different genres to avoid being boxed into one specific sound, with inspiration for lyrics and vocal techniques coming from past and present greats such as Tupac, Dan Smith and Bastille.

Described as an exciting emerging talent, each of Jake's songs provide an exclusive sound. Through his music he experiments with different dynamics, exploring indie-pop and electronica sounds combined with his own blend of soaring vocal hooks and seemingly flawless production, resulting in tracks that sound simultaneously familiar and fresh.

True to form, Jake's new single, Broken Love, is yet another new sound than any he has produced before and, upon first listen, appears to be an unadorned love song. With lyrics such as 'Treason for my, you've played me from the start" the listener can begin to appreciate the story Jake's spellbinding vocals are giving away through the music. Broken Love is produced by Curtis Hatton and consists of complex layers of synths, guitars and heavy drums to create a unique pop sound.

Broken Love reaches new limits for Jake Stone and offers only a taste of what is still yet to come, cementing his place as one of Australia's most promising upcoming artists.

Interview with Jake Stone

Question: How would you describe your music?

Jake Stone: My music probably fits best in the Indie-Pop category, although I have songs that are influenced by lots of different genres. Usually, I tend to lean towards an upbeat rhythm with piano's, guitars, synths, drums, violins and whatever else we throw in at the end. I tend to write songs that centred around my voice so they draw out the sound that I want to achieve and then use the lyrics to tell a story.


Question: Can you tell us about Broken Love?

Jake Stone: For sure, Broken Love just started as a random chorus that I freestyled back in the second lockdown. I instantly knew that the song had legs so then I freestyled the rest. The lyrics, melody and chords were all finished within 30 mins. I have always found that the songs that I end up recording are the ones that seem to write themselves, are effortless. I love playing with words in my songs, and have lots of lines.
The song itself went through a few stages of adaption, as we played with the tempo of the song to get a really cool mix. Curtis Hatton my producer was really great about coming up with ways to challenge me so the final song ended up sounding quite different.


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Jake Stone: I think the listeners can draw whatever message they think relates to them from the song. Anyone who has been in a relationship knows that it can be complicated but when things go right, it's almost like you surrender into it. I hope people get a sense that I love making music, I want to have a sound that is original and not sound like so much else that is so same same out there.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Jake Stone: I haven't really had too many opportunities to perform live, although I think it would be a natural progression. I really enjoy recording in the studio but I guess when I get the chance to perform live hopefully people will walk away thinking that I am a genuine kind of person.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Jake Stone: If I were to perform live, my favourite song of mine to perform live would be Broken Love, I really enjoy playing it and even now I still fiddle around with how I present it. I do have some other really strong songs that I am keen to produce at some stage but I think with Broken Love, it shows a little bit of how I have evolved since You'd Be.

If I was to perform someone else's song at the moment it would be The Hills by The Weeknd, but I constantly change my preferences of which covers I like to sing. When I do sing covers, I like to make it my own and often it's not necessarily all that recognisable apart from the lyrics.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Jake Stone: The end goal is what really motivates me, having a fully completed song always keeps me motivated. But to be honest I really enjoy the process, for me sitting at the piano and experimenting with different chords I find really relaxing and then just free styling the lyrics. I love music, I almost always have some music playing so for me writing making me happy.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Jake Stone: I'm listening to a lot Kanye at the moment, mainly his older stuff, some Mac Miller, The Weeknd, Quail P, Bastille, Post Malone and many many more.

Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Jake Stone: Dan Smith of Bastille is my main inspiration to go into the music industry, he has always been my favourite singer since he first burst onto the scene. He's presence on his and others songs is what inspired me into wanting to become a musician. But I think also I have always had a fascination with music, and from a very young age my happy place was sitting at the piano.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Jake Stone: Bastille for sure, their lyricism and production is mesmerising and something I strive for so being able to collaborate with them would be an absolute dream.


Question: Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about the music industry?

Jake Stone: To be honest, I didn't really have any pre-conceived ideas and just kind of went in head first with very little expectations. I have been really surprised when I have reached out to other artists and they have given me so much time and encouragement. So generally my experience has been really good although I am a far way away from my goal which is to produce some of the songs that I have written and haven't yet had the opportunity to record.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Jake Stone: My favourite part of becoming a music artist is the prospect of making music for the rest of my life and getting paid for it. I really enjoy song writing and becoming a music artist can turn my favourite thing to do, into my career which is crazy to think about. I also want to mentor other young artists and reciprocate some of the really amazing kindness that I received.


Question: What's a typical day like?
Jake Stone: I wake up, do some uni work, sometimes I even go to uni, go home and then go out with my mates. I try and get to the gym most days as well and hang out with my family when everyone can get together. That's really a standard day for me, nothing overly complex. Later at night you'll often find me at the piano, it's my way to really wind down. You'll often find me on the phone to my mates, we are pretty tight.


Question: What's next, for you?

Jake Stone: Hopefully heaps more music to come, I just want to keep making and releasing music because that's what I like doing.


Question: Can you share your socials? (links please)

Jake Stone: Instagram 


Interview by Gwen van Montfort