Our Mutual Friend, Suggestions 27/11/25
15 December 2025
Ahead of her show at Oslo, Hackney last week, I spoke with the Scottish indie-rock artist Honeyblood aka Stina about her ongoing UK tour and reuniting with her old bandmates. A decade after the release of her self-titled debut album which marked the beginning of her signature artistic path, Stina goes on the road again to celebrate with her trusted fans; she looks back to her creative journey and prepares us for an exciting new album, currently in the works!
You’re currently on your UK tour celebrating 10 years since the release of your debut ‘Honeyblood’. You started from Newcastle, you played London this Thursday and then you’re going to Cardiff, Nottingham and Glasgow and in June you’ve got another show in Glasgow, a pretty special one with the Foo Fighters and Courtney Barnett. How does it feel to be on tour again after so long?
It’s actually been really overwhelming. Some really amazing moments too! But touring has become really hard for a lot of bands in the past few years post-COVID, and this is the first time my band and I are truly getting back on the horse. And no pressure about that great big gig in two weeks. I’m having a mini anxiety attack every day even thinking about it!
What’s your favourite thing about touring?
My favourite thing about touring is the comradery between me and my band and crew, and the audience. It really does feel like you’re in a little universe together.
It’s been 10 years since you released your debut album ‘Honeyblood’! How does that feel and are you excited to celebrate it with everyone on this tour? And especially to reunite with your old bandmates!
It’s been dead emotional for me and a lot of fans too. I wish I had more time to speak to everyone after the show about the stories they have tied to this record. It’s been a long decade for us all!
When you recorded your debut album back in 2014, did you ever expect it to bring you where you are now?
In short, no. I can’t remember what I was thinking then, I think I was just buckled in for the ride. Now, things are very different. I feel privileged to sing these songs for folks, and that they still care about them. So much of the music industry these days seems momentary. Playing an album that came out ten years ago is the opposite of that.
If you could go back, would you change anything about it?
I wouldn’t change anything about it. It was a great introduction to recording an album, which I had never done before. I owe Peter Katis a lot. I have only happy memories of that time.
What do you think has changed in the music industry in those past 10 years based on your experience?
Of course things have changed dramatically. Streaming becoming such a focal point has changed so much. But we are doing this reissue vinyl, and it looks gorgeous. I love that vinyl is still something that audiences care about. Artists and labels put a lot of care into making something beautiful and music fans appreciate that.
So you’re playing the whole album on this tour. When was the last time you played all of those songs live?
About ten years ago, one time only – on album release day! I doubt I ever played them all again. So it’s been so great to do that. Although, it took me a wee while to remember exactly how some of them go!
Your most recent album ‘In Plain Sight’ was a pivotal turning point in your music journey, as you took full control of this purely solo experimental project and it introduced a new era for Honeyblood. How would you describe your sound now if you were to compare it to your 2 previous albums?
I’m making a new album now and have been crafting it for about 3 years. It’s been the longest time I’ve spent on a project. I feel like ‘In Plain Sight’ was the windbreaker for what came before, and set me free in a creative sense. However, this new album I’m working on is tied to this debut so much. It’s got parts of each album that came before running through it, and for that it feels like my most definitive work.
I’m pretty sure you have a new album dropping soon. Can you tell me a little bit about that, what should we expect?
Not soon, but it’s in the works. Let’s just say, it’s gonna be worth the wait!
