Making her Braun Brothers Reunion debut, Shelby Stone took the stage during the songwriters round with Django Walker & Cruz Contreras. We got to catch up with her new tunes, album release, & the happenings of her booming career.
"I was very nervous because it was a main stage show, but an acoustic song swap standing (you don't hardly ever do the song swap standing)," said Stone. "It was also my first time here, so I didn't know the vibe... but everyone's always said this is such a pro music place. I just wanted to do really good."
"it was humbling"
The festival crowd came early & huddled the stage for an eclectic combination of folks they already loved (Walker/Cruz) & new voices they had yet to hear (Stone). Stone's musicality follows Bonnie Raitt's electric songwriter composition to Seether's alternative rock musicality.
"It was a lot of fun & such a wide range of styles on stage," said Stone. "I didn't feel like I was a random name on the bill. During 'Traces', it was very quiet. Very very quiet. There's so many people out here, & I'm still not used to active listening crowds. I'm not used to a fully invested crowd. This place values quiet, & it was humbling."
Stone played a ton of her new album SILVERYEAR, to include fan favorite (& mine as well) 'Traces,' co-written with Mila Rae. Going against the tides of constant content & the ever hanging streaming anvill, Stone released SILVERYEAR during BBR on her website & Bandcamp for purchase. You cannot stream SILVERYEAR until April 3rd, 2026.
"There's a really special thing tied to that release date that I can't wait to announce," said Stone. Unfortunately I can't tell you now, but you're going to want to block out that date because you have PLANS, hehe. "Maybe it's because we did this while I was stuck in an airport & it's a liminal space in itself, but it's like... wait, we're actually done with that! We've been working on this thing since 2023 & we're actually done with that, DAMN!"
It's been a long road for Stone full of growth & ever-changing education on the music system. The sense of pride for accomplishing this new milestone in her career could be physically felt from the beaming pride of her media partner Aron or the ringing of praises from her team throughout social media.
"I have crippling imposter syndrome & religious pride issues, working on the difference between pride & being proud of yourself," said Stone. "But at least 10 different people out here [at BBR] today said congrats on the album & they listened to it this morning, something to that effect. Holy sh*t, it's not just my mom. It's not just my close friends. I think this is the closest I will feel to understanding a first time mom."
When asked what her favorite part of working on this album was, Stone threw expletives at me & jumbled about trying to pin down a singular answer. Like most artists, she couldn't choose just one part but the small moments that turned this thing into a major part of who she now is.
"It's a tie between two different songs. One of those is 'Traces' & the other is 'Chaos,'" said Stone, but then quickly became frustrated. "I don't know how to pick one! There's 'Fight or Flight' which is the first song we worked on in the studio & it was the last song we finished mix wise. I had to fight to write that song & for people to understand-- The group of writers I was working with, trying to get them to understand what I'm trying to say, but they didn't know. Oh no... it's just me!"
"i fought tooth & nail"
Stone has direct way of writing & feeling. In her songs, you can audibly hear the frustration or pain or desire. She doesn't stray from her true emotions which makes this album visceral and real.
"I'm a vocalist, songwriter, a bunch of really blank spaces, & then a guitar player," said Stone. "I had to fight for 'Traces' in the sense of studio stuff, because the initial take everybody in the studio loved. They still hold it near & dear to their heart, but it was scratch vocals. They love the scratch vocals. I hated them. I fought tooth & nail to get a new vocal take. Thankfully, because I have a good creative team around me, they let me do it again. AND I WAS RIGHT! I have that on video footage!" 
Walking a thin line of self deprecation & light hearted musician humor, Stone often belittles her own instrumental talent. Though she may not be a Billy Strings, she's definitely a Joan Jett. This album features her as a multi-instrumentalist.
"Then 'Chaos' I wrote all by myself," said Stone. "I played the guitar on it, & I played the piano. The two things I didn't do was the drum swell kind of things & this weird little, sounds like an e-bow, baritone guitar with crazy effects where it sounds cello-ish. It's one of the songs that by myself I am very proud of, just as a writer. We don't have an official track listing but Dalton & I agreed it's towards the bottom of the record. It's just tucked in there. I'm really really proud of it."
BABY'S FIRST TOUR
Tour dates for Stone started officially with BBR.
"Baby's first tour, REAL road dawg tour, an American Aquarium style tour... because I'm going on the road with BJ [Barham] & them," said Stone with a bit of laughter & strong fist. "But before that, three days leading into that we have the North Texas Fair & Rodeo in Denton, then Boys From Oklahoma in Waco pre-party, & Arkansas with Muscadine Bloodline. I'm very excited!"
Stone's been taking the US by storm this season, but it's apparent her influences have become mentors & friends such as Barham & the Canada family.
"I love the culture of an American Aquarium show," said Stone. "I talked to BJ about their fan base at Hangover Ball. It sucks the air out of the room, but then it's electric & everyone's is losing their mind. & then they are sobbing, & then they are laughing. & then they shut everybody up! I had asked around to a few other artists, like how do you think he does that? One of the artists I asked said, 'man I think it's something you either have or you don't.' Then I went up to BJ & asked how did you do this, & he said 'I told them to shut the f*ck up.' Oh! It's not that deep & cryptic at all!"
You can be a part of the perfect crowd at one of Stone's upcoming shows OR you can support independent artists by buying music. Grab Stone's SILVERYEAR! As always, if you have a story about Stone or want to share your fave from her new album, please leave a comment!
Thank you Shelby for your time & magnetic energy, & thank you readers for reading in on the Braun Brothers Reunion Series. See y'all again soon for the next big music adventure.