We chatted to Pete Restrick from Stereo Honey ahead of their set at All Points East about their recent cover single ‘You’re The One’, selling out Electrowerkz, and the progression of the band.

Stereo Honey are still at single territory, but for such an adolescent band they are making an impact. Mixing haunting vocals and intricate melodies, Stereo Honey have released some flawless tracks such as ‘Don’t Speak’ and ‘You’re The One’ (a cover of Kaytranada).

Their cover ‘You’re The One’ was born out of a covers series with Mahogany, and sounds almost as if it’s their own Song. Pete Restrick says, “We were struggling to pick the kind of song we wanted to do, [and] we picked Kaytranada. It was amazing to make that song our own, and it’s ours. I think the worst kind of covers are the ones where you know the song. I feel like a cover is a homage to the artist but at the same time you’ve got to have a bit of creative license, because otherwise what’s the point if you’re just making the same song twice, it’s boring. That’s the definition of a good cover to me: put your own stamp on it, make it yours, pay homage to the artist, but if people think it’s your song then you’ve done the job.”

Stereo Honey have come a long way since writing songs in a small bedroom compared to what they have been producing recently in tracks such as ‘Don’t Speak’. The band’s humbleness and down-to-earth attitude is reflected in how Pete talks about Stereo Honey and their music. How have they found the journey from Pete’s student bedroom? “The band over the last two years grew fairly organically, we don’t have a formula,” he explains, “We’re all very different [with] lots of different music tastes and personalities. I think that’s the make up of the band; a beautiful clash. I would say we’ve matured a little bit, [and] we feel more in all that pent up energy, nervousness and anxiousness about whether people will like you or not is not gone, but it’s certainly replaced a little by ‘oh wow, people really like our stuff, people are listening to it, and coming to shows’ and it’s really humbling.”

With a recent sold out show at Electrowerkz in London, it’s safe to say we think Stereo Honey are meant for big things. “It was so good – that was a combination of a year’s worth of work, and to sell out our first headline show is a dream come true. I won’t forget the stage and just hearing everybody roaring. I started singing and everyone was belting the words back to me so I was like ‘wow okay this is really cool’. So hopefully, we’ll get to see more of that,” comments Pete.

“We’ve not done that much [touring]. To be able to do either [festivals and tours] is amazing. Two years ago we were stuffed in my tiny student Bedroom Writing Songs, and now we’re playing this festival. I do have to pinch myself.” We couldn’t agree more, for a band still in fruition they have accomplished some great things. But with their set looming, what do they expect from the crowd at All Points East? “If there was a circle pit at our set, I’d be very, very surprised. It would be like a graceful one. I remember spotting at one of our earlier gigs, a couple of people dancing and it was the cutest thing I’d ever seen,” he muses.

“That would be nice, but I don’t know [as] its’ always really shocking when people are singing your words back to you. We always put on the best show we can, [and] we always have fun. This show’s quite deep and we’re not a typical pop band, so hopefully people will appreciate the tunes and maybe have a dance. Maybe not, we’ll see.”

“I have this anxiety in the back of my head, that if you put in a bad show that’s it. So I approach each show as going out and giving it everything, which can be exhausting but also worth it.” After capturing the crowd at APE with ease, it would seem those anxieties can be well rested. With still a long journey ahead of the, we can’t wait to see what’s still in store for the budding foursome.

Stereo Honey are set to tear across the UK with their headline tour in October and you can catch them on the dates below: 

October

2nd – Green Door Store, Brighton

3rd – Borderline, London

4th – Rough Trade, Bristol

5th – The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham

6th – Neighbourhood Festival, Manchester

7th – Oporto, Leeds

Buy tickets to their tour here.