A new group out of Byron, Band Called Stereo, have recently recorded and released the first single from their new album. Nothing extraordinary in that, apart from the fact that two of the members have just completed Year Ten and the other two have just complete Year Nine, and if the single Send Me Away penned by vocalist Cinnamon Laddin Catron – who also chips in on rhythm guitar – is anything to go by, this quartet is going to have a very busy time juggling school and careers until they have all finished their HSC at Byron High by the end of 2024!
Stereo say their musical influences range from a deep love of phat jazz and funk, to Brit pop, heavy metal and rock. The group have mashed these diverse influences into their own original flavour of indie music.
Most recently Stereo performed at Byron Bay Music Festival to a very happy crowd, and at the Bangalow Showground for an end of year event.
Stereo can also be regularly found busking in Byron, and of course, they are frequently called upon to perform at Byron High.
At just 15, Cinnamon has already been studying music for eight years. Her first instrument is the violin, which she continues to play and study at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium. She also studies classical and jazz guitar under Mark Bromley – she loves jazz and plans to head to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music to study both jazz and law.
Older brother, Leo Laddin Catron, has been playing bass since he was seven. He also studies music through the Northern Rivers Conservatorium and plans to attend the Sydney Conservatorium and undertake a Masters Degree in Jazz Music. With a love of jazz music and syncopated rhythmic ostinatos, Leo plays both electric and double bass and is a member of multiple big band jazz outfits and is bassist for Stereo and Blackwood. In 2019, Leo and Blackwood won the Mullum Youth Mentorship award. In 2020 Leo played bass with the James Morrisson band.
Kiarn Stenner is the lead guitarist in Stereo. A multi-instrumentalist, Kiarn started out on bass guitar but now spends his time playing around with his guitar and his effects pedal to create dynamic and unique sounds for the band.
The other ‘youngster’ in the band is Floyd Whitaker, on drums. What began on a modest set of kitchen pots and pans led Floyd to a passion for sonorous and deliberate beats through an exploration of jazz and, ultimately, rock. Floyd is committed to what the music calls for with discernment, supporting Stereo with suitably phrased fills, rock steady timing and wicked solos.
Band Called Stereo’s next gig is at Kyogle Youth In Action Pool Party on 29 Jan and the next track will be released on 22 Jan through their artists profile on Spotify.
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