One sees a lot of things in rock and roll and it is certainly a lifestyle that appeal to those with a sense of adventure. However, musical success is dependent on much more than a fun-loving approach to life.  It takes creativity, determination, plenty of hard work, and for bands – a serious musical collaboration and camaraderie. Thankfully for Austin based band, Stereo Is A Lie, its musicians have all of the above qualities in spades.

What else sets Stereo is A Lie apart from Austin’s musical masses? While the band’s membership has had varying incarnations in the past, the group is currently comprised of key members, Wedgewood, Piña, Scott, Jayson Altman and Aaron Casper(not pictured) – five men brought together by a love of loud. The band has a resume of musician experience that spans the globe. Glynn Wedgewood, guitar, vocalist, and writer of the majority of the material that comprised the band’s first album is originally from Bishop Auckland and has played with groups all over the world. With a casual grin he can tell you about playing scenes anywhere from Amsterdam to here in Austin. What makes Austin any different? “Austin still has a college town feel,” says Wedgewood. “The bar’s a little higher,” adds keyboardist Justin Scott, and continues, saying that, “because there are so many bands, the lesser fall away.”  Regardless of gigs past, Wedgewood certainly seems happy to be here now and his experiences, as well as the musical experience of Scott and bassist Marcus Piña, lends the band a sense of simultaneous edge and mature ease;  A road-worn confidence that only adds to their rock and roll appeal.

Grounded in classic rock and roll as their stage presence and sound would suggest, the band is nevertheless excited to grow and try new things, But Stereo Is A Lie is about much more than turning things up to 11. They recently performed a phenomenal acoustic set this past March at Frank and maintained a busy SXSW schedule. The band members are more than willing to take changes in stride. In fact, change is something they seem to excel at.

Amongst the five of them, they have plenty in common. Similarities include backgrounds chock full of music and easy-going meets rock and roll attitudes and a shared love of tequila. Band-mates concur that it is Piña who makes the meanest Margarita. Oh, and one must not forget the shared great sense of humor. But out of all of these qualities and shared musical aspirations, it is clear that the loud factor is far more important. “Volume is a huge influence,” says Scott, “you hear all the frequencies.” The rest of the band chimes in about the importance to them of creating music that not only engages the ear, but hits the audience physically as well.

Despite a fun-loving band dynamic, for Stereo is a Lie, the writing and recording process is hardly all fun and games. The band is looking to write and record new material for a new album in the coming year. According to Wedgewood, the addition of new members to the Stereo Is  A Lie will no doubt change many things about the approach to the album. As a whole it is looking to be a decidedly different kind of endeavor than their previous recording efforts. The “focus is to get our heads down and write some new material,” says Wedgewood, a process that.  While most of the writing on their self-titled first album was done by Wedgewood, the next album is looking to be far more collaborative. Though they feel that, to an extent, it is always “the throw of the dice in the studio”, Scott insists that “the sophomore slump will not apply.” Knowing their willingness to roll with the punches and their ability to thrive on change, it is exciting to imagine what Stereo is A Lie will come out with next. One can be sure it will be nothing if not loud.

Written by Ellen Von Essen ( ellen@austinfusionmagazine.com)
Photos by Fuzebox Photography (linda@austinfusionmagazine.com)
In the header image above not pictured Aaron Casper