Keeping it in the family

Keeping it in the family

For brothers Matt and Chris Stafford (aka The Stafford Brothers), music is a family affair. Not content with DJing together, they’ve even roped in their cousin to provide the vocals on their latest single.

The soaring dance-rock hit Wherever, a collaboration with UK DJ duo Hoxton Whores featuring Frank Stafford on vocal duties, is currently lodged in the top 10 of the ARIA club chart, having peaked at number two. Speaking to Matt Stafford by phone while the duo were on a recent tour of the UK, Sydney Star Observer found that for the brothers, sibling rivalry posed no problem.

We’re just best mates, Matt said of his relationship with Chris.

We’re blessed because we never seem to fight. I’m wandering down the street with him now, and we’ve been holed up in studios and hotels together for the last four weeks -” I really don’t care, I’m enjoying every minute of it.

Because he’s my brother, I know when to pull back and when to go hard.

Matt said the decision to get their cousin on board for the latest single was equally easy, given his talents as a singer-songwriter.

He used to be in a rock band and he’s always played that sound; he’s never really been into the music we make. But he started listening to some of the tracks we were doing and really got into them.

He’s a great songwriter with a great voice, and he played us a few of his songs. We thought, that might work for rock, but nothing’s really happening with it -” let’s have a go at it.

The pair will have a few more tracks with their cousin coming out later on in what’s proving to be a busy year: after their UK jaunt, they’ll return home to Australia for an extensive nationwide tour. In July, they’ll even play a one-off gig on the Greek island of Mykonos.

Despite the jet-setting lifestyle, the brothers keep in touch with their fans regularly. One recent posting on the duo’s MySpace site came from a fan requesting they play at her 18th birthday party.

And you know what? If we’re free and it all works out, we’ll do the party. We’re always up for a good time. That’s where we started, we were playing all our mates’ parties, weddings, we’ve done the lot. If it’s a good party, we’ll do it, Matt said.

The brothers’ philosophy also extends to gay venues.

We played Summer Gay Day in Sydney last year. We’ve played a few gay nights over the years. It’s definitely a different crowd. Gay audiences love a party; they’re up for a good time, and we’re always up for playing good music.

info: Wherever is out now. The Stafford Brothers play One Love at Tank Nightclub on May 23. Visit staffordbrothers.com

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