Indie-pop newcomers Stereo Club prepare to release their vibrant debut single Parma Violet Gin out now.

Produced by Jim Lowe (Stereophonics, The Charlatans, Nick Cave), Parma Violet Gin combines elements of surf-rock and dream-pop in a hook-filled track which introduces a never before heard take on indie music. With their debut single, Stereo Club hope to captivate listeners with their colourful West Coast vibes and a sound that is undeniably refreshing and perfectly timed for the summer months.  

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Stereo Club about the latest music, challenges, technology and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)? 

Wow, tough question. I think it’s quite hard to explain why you’re attracted to anything really – especially on such an emotional level as art or music. Why do I like this painting? Maybe it’s the subject matter, maybe it’s the colour palate, maybe it’s the lighting – there’s so many nuances to art and the answer to why you’re attracted to a particular style of it is probably just that that combination of all these things works for you – and it’s totally the same with music. We enjoy playing this type of music because it just clicks with us. If we knew what it is about a style of music that attracts people, we’d go there much often (to power phrase Leonard Cohen). I guess to put simply, I have no idea. 

How long have you been creating and sharing your music with the public? 

I think all of us in the band have been creating music in some form or another since we were in school. Stereo Club formed in 2021, and this is the first time any of us have released new music properly. We are confident in where we are at with our sound, and feel now is the time to share it with people. So we are really just starting out. 

Who or what influences your playing and/or writing? Also, what motivates you to keep going? 

I think we are all motivated by a joint goal which keeps us going: doing this as a living. Music really is our one true passion, as cliche as it sounds, and to get to a point where we can live off doing it, that would be phenomenal. And even if we don’t, at least we can say we tried our best. Not living with that regret of not trying to achieve your dreams – that’s what keeps us writing. In terms of who influences us, that is definitely varied for each band member – from the Cardigans, to Bombay Bicycle Club, our list of influences is quite varied. 

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise? 

This was the first time we had recorded a song to a professional standard. We have recorded multiple tracks in the past, but this was the first time we were with an industry professional – so our aim was pretty simple, record the best track we possibly could, and define who we are as a band. We are then also trying to use this track to establish a bit more of a fanbase, from a wider region – but predominantly the aim was to establish who Stereo Club are. 

What was the last song you listened to? 

Birds Don’t Sing by a band called TV Girl – I’m currently obsessed with them. 

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s? 

It’s probably quite a cliche to say now, but Vinyls. I have been collecting vinyl’s since I was 15 (and before it was cool again). You really can’t beat music in its physical format. There’s something about the process of playing a vinyl which is just intoxicating – I love it! And I love taking the time to read the record sleeve and all the notes that come with the album – and not forgetting being able to admire the artwork blown up large. It’s just great. 

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why? 

Spotify – the only thing I’d pay a £10/month subscription for. Although vinyl is king, the convenience of Spotify is a close second. 

Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract listeners to your music? 

I think there’s probably two things here. Firstly, trying to get people to stop swiping and actually listen to the music you’ve made is a bloody difficult challenge. You have to hit them with content that is so engaging that they will be happy to click on the link you’ve provided and give your song a play. And getting that content right can be tricky. Secondly, it’s just over saturation. Trying to stand out in a crowd is so difficult. Although I’m a firm believer in good music always prevails, getting that music out to the right people who want to listen to it is hard – especially when there’s so much other good music out there too. 

Do you gig, tour or perform? Do you ever live stream? Where can music lovers see you live? 

Obviously, we haven’t played live in a very long time, and we haven’t actually played live at all as Stereo Club – but we have a few gigs in Cardiff lined up for the end of the year, and I’m sure there’ll be a few live videos on the way too. 

Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more of your music? 

Instagram is definitely a great place to connect with us (@stereoclubofficial) – we’ve got a few merch competitions running at the moment so if you fancy a free t-shirt, that’s the place to hit us up. Or the other option would be to follow us on Spotify, and that way any new music we put out (and there’s plenty to come) will go straight to your library – it will also help us a lot with the Spotify algorithm haha! 

Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom? 

It’s over Anakin, I have the high ground.