Fat riffs, outerworld effects, and emotional punch, we talk with Stone Sea about their latest album Ad Astra

HI THERE, THANKS FOR ANSWERING SOME QUESTIONS FOR US

My pleasure, thanks for having me!

PLEASE TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

I’m Elvis, singer, guitarist, and founder of Stone Sea. Originally from Brazil, I lived in Ireland for almost a decade before moving to Málaga, Spain, where I rebuilt the band with Gonzalo Rubio on drums and Pino López on bass. I also work as a sound designer for video games, and I’ve been practicing capoeira — a very random curiosity (laughs).

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM OR SINGLE

We’re currently releasing our new album Ad Astra piece by piece — about one song per month until January. The latest singles, Alien and Age of Tears, are already out. The record explores change, identity, and the cycles of life — how we fall, rise, and transform. It’s more introspective, diverse, and melodic, yet still unmistakably Stone Sea.

WHICH SONG WOULD YOU SAY SUMS UP YOUR SOUND THE BEST?

Probably Alien at the moment — it’s got the fat riffs, outerworld effects, and emotional punch that represent us well. But Age of Tears is quickly taking that spot too; it shows a heavier and more complex side of our sound, both lyrically and harmonically.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO MUSIC?

Well, my name is Elvis — so I didn’t really have much of a choice (laughs). My dad played in a psychobilly band, my mom sings beautifully (you can actually hear her voice in our songs Flow Upstream and the video version of Dream Song), but it was my grandmother who enrolled me in music school at age 11, along with my sister and cousin. She passed away recently, and I owe it a lot to her.

WHAT DOES TYPICAL WRITING AND RECORDING DAY LOOK LIKE?

When I’m relaxed and clear-headed, new musical ideas just come naturally. I record them

— sometimes with my mouth, sometimes with a guitar if I have it nearby — and let the flow guide me. Writing lyrics takes longer; I’m very specific about how I want each phrase to sound and how many syllables it should have. Sure, you can use ChatGPT nowadays to get lyrics fast, but I actually enjoy the process of vomiting words out (laughs) — it’s quite therapeutic. Recording usually comes much later, after plenty of rehearsal.

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR BAND NAME/ STAGE NAME?

Stone Sea just sounded cool to me. I wanted something short, but meaningful. Those two words contrast beautifully — one solid, one fluid — symbolizing balance and duality, which fits us perfectly.

WHAT HAS BEEN THAT HARDEST THING ABOUT YOUR MUSIC JOURNEY SO FAR?

Probably having to start over multiple times — new countries, new people, new scenes. Every time feels like pressing “reset.” But that’s also what keeps it exciting; it forces me to grow and evolve.

WHAT'S BEEN THE EASIEST?

Writing, definitely. When inspiration hits, songs come naturally. It’s everything around music — the logistics, the promotion, the algorithm games — that’s tough (laughs).

WHAT WOULD YOU DOING IF YOU WEREN'T MAKING MUSIC?

Probably sound design full-time — which I already do anyway. I love creating sound escapes, whether it’s through music or sound effects.

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?

“Do what you love.” It’s cheesy, I know — but it’s true. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have followed the sound path, which gives me so much fulfilment. I’ve met many people who were told to only chase money, and most ended up unhappy or lost. There’s nothing better than doing what you love for a living — sometimes you just need to broaden your vision a bit.. or very stubborn (laughs).

WHAT'S NEXT?

Finishing Ad Astra and taking it live across Spain and Europe in 2025. We’re also planning a live studio video session and some collaborations down the line. The goal is to keep things flowing.

PLEASE ADD ANY SOCIALS SO WE CAN SHARE

Spotify: Stone Sea on Spotify

Instagram: @stoneseaband

Bandcamp: stonesea.bandcamp.com

Facebook: facebook.com/stoneseaband

YouTube: Stone Sea Official