Rolling Stone AU/NZ has launched the local iteration of the Musicians on Musicians series, featuring Tones and I and Empire of the Sun’s Luke Steele for the December 2024-January 2025 edition of the magazine.
The latest edition featuring the buskers turned global hitmakers will be on shelves from Thursday 12 December.
The pair met for the first time in person at the Rolling Stone AU/NZ cover shoot, also serving as a two-way interview.
Tones — who is the world’s most-streamed female artist thanks to “Dance Monkey” — revealed the moment that inspired her to write the record-breaking song, and how trusting her gut and creative vision has been imperative to her success.
“I don’t know why we seem to ask for a lot more people’s advice as we become more successful. We need to trust our own ability more,” she said.
Kasey Chambers, with five #1 albums and 14 ARIA wins to her name, and Thelma Plum, whose debut album peaked at #4 on the ARIA Albums Chart, also feature in the special Musicians on Musicians edition.
“You know, I’ve had so many people send me your beautiful version of ‘The Captain’. It makes me cry. So many people from your gigs will film it and then tag me in it on Instagram. And every time it makes me cry because that’s my favourite song I’ve ever written in my whole life,” said Chambers to Plum.
“It’s so special, singing that song. That song is objectively the best song ever written,” said Plum.
Elsewhere in the magazine, there’s an exploration of how previous Rolling Stone AU/NZ cover stars Rüfüs Du Sol became Australia’s latest stadium act and a peak behind the curtain of Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres tour in Australia.
“Without musicians, the world of art would be flat; no music, no concerts or festivals and no industry behind it. The latest issue of Rolling Stone AU/NZ, the Musicians On Musicians special edition, pays tribute to the artists — the engine room for creativity in all its musical forms,” said Lars Brandle, The Brag Media’s head of content.
“For the stunning cover story, Rolling Stone AU/NZ pairs up Australian artists Tones And I, the hitmaker behind the global hit ‘Dance Monkey’, and Luke Steele, the frontman of electro-pop favourites Empire of the Sun, for a candid conversation on how they tick, and what ticks them off.
“The Musicians on Musicians concept debuted in 2019 and has been a resounding hit with readers. Like the best song, it’s simple and timeless; great artists discussing their careers and processes with other great artists, sometimes having never before met”.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ has also revealed its new editor-in-chief, Neil Griffiths. Griffiths will take on the leadership role from January 2025, guiding the magazine, managing the team and contributing to The Brag Media’s suite of titles.
Griffiths has over a decade of experience in media and entertainment, across print, online, radio, TV and podcasting. He hosts the entertainment podcast The Plug and has previously been head of online news and content at Music.com.au.
Australia and New Zealand’s first Musicians on Musicians edition is packed with these interviews, including chats between INXS’ Andrew Farriss and 5 Seconds of Summer’s Ashton Irwin, BENEE and Bic Runga, and Confidence Man and Orbital. Readers will also be treated to chats from abroad, including Christina Aguilera and Raye, and Reneé Rapp and Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo.
Musicians on Musicians is a staple of Rolling Stone in the US, which first brought the idea to life in 2019.
