"Even when times are good, the bad always seems to linger. And that isn't a bad thing..."

Anyone who has heard Angus and Julia Stone will be familiar with the above sentiment - cutting music without pretension which crawls under the skin and hooks itself into the hearts of even the most hardened cynic. This is what the Stones, an Australian brother-sister songwriting duo do best.

In fact, when it comes to music which clears the path for a more fundamental phase while still retaining sophistication through dazzling lyrics and a multi instrumental sound, at present, nobody does it better than the Stone's.

Following their first visit up North in February pulling off gigs which included milk, cookies, candles and couches, the duo are at a time when their live appearances are still pleasingly intimate but radiate an epic air.

Their debut album "Heart Full Of Wine" was released in early March and incorporates material from the stunningly folky but formidable "Chocolates and Cigarettes" EP of last autumn. We caught up with Angus and Julia Stone to chat about everything from their future plans to their Granddad's freestyle piano skills...

At a recent gig, you announced you had now both moved from Australia to London to focus on your musical career. Is the move permanent?

As permanent as permanent can be for us, you know. We feel more and more that being in London is home. When we finish gigs it feels nice to go back to our place in Notting Hill where we all live together. In Australia we all stay with different family and friends, so there's a sense of home and permanence to our living in London.

Because you're brother and sister, It would be an easy assumption that you're from a musical family. Were you exposed to music early on or was it something you pursued independently?

We had a very musical upbringing. Our Dad was our school band conductor and later on, our high school music teacher. Our Mum was a camp kid and knew all the sing-a-longs, so we spent our early years singing camp songs. When Dad and Mum first met, they played together at restaurants. Then, when we were born Dad played in a party band called 'Backbeat', whom he still plays with now. So, we would go to sleep listening to Dad and the boys rehearsing in the garage.

Granny studied opera, Nan and Pa played in war-time musicals when they first met. Grandpa styles on the piano-improvised ambience. He is the best; he just lets it flow for hours. All of our family, the Aunts and Uncles and the cousins, everyone plays something. We have mini concerts at family gatherings...

You both play an impressive amount of instruments, which gives your music a gentle, folky quality. Are you happy to be considered as folk artists?

Very happy. We're happy to be called anything.

Your music has a theme of fragile melancholia and nostalgia running through it. Would you say its been largely inspired by bad times?

Even when times are good, the bad always seems to linger. And that isn't a bad thing...

When it comes to genres, could you fit yourselves comfortably in any one?

I get confused about the difference between genre and style. Perhaps they are the same thing. But we quite comfortably fit into whatever genre people feel we fit into. We don't fit ourselves into anything without a little bit of discomfort.

Do you have any major inspirations, and if so, are they quite diverse or focussed more on singer/songwriters?

I'd like to finish a book I have started, about a boy who has lost his parents and a disturbing passion he is filled with. And I'd like to get better at editing together film...

Your debut album `Heart full of Wine` was released a couple of months ago. Were you happy with the reviews, and how much do you value press opinion?

We don't read the reviews unless our parents read them to us. And they read us only nice things. But everyone is entitled to an opinion about anything- not that any of it matters. But then, nothing really matters...

Amongst others, XFM have been singing your praises of lately have you found that publicity has increased since you moved to the UK?

We're playing more shows and we spend less time in the house, so yeah!

Would you say was your favorite song to perform live?

At the moment, it's "Private Lawns". I'm enjoying playing the trumpet right now and that's the only song that I get to play it on.

Will you playing at any festivals this year?

Yeah, we'll be playing a few festivals. A couple that I know for sure are The Great Escape in Brighton and the Latitude festival.

Are there any major plans lined up for the summer?

Yes, over the summer we'll be finishing off a new album.

For those who can't wait until the height of the humid months to see the brother and sister duo, you can catch Angus and Julia Stone on the following dates at "Longing For Latitude", the lead-up tour to July's Latitude festival:

Upcoming tour dates are:

Friday, 11th May – Arts Centre, Norwich.
Thursday, 17th May – The Great Escape Festival, Brighton.