Vermantics, a Melbourne-based band known for their high voltage live shows are fresh from a UK tour. Their new EP The Pictures You Paint creates a vivid musical landscape with four new tracks.
The core of the band is brothers Stefan and Daniel Feddele and lead guitarist Jack Stevenson and drummer Julian Perrotta who also happens to be Stefan and Daniel’s cousin. Their chemistry is electric, and their influences are proudly worn – from 60s melodies to 90s grit, filtered through a modern lens that feels entirely their own.
You’re a band built on family and fate, with three of you being related and Jack joining the fold in a serendipitous way. How has that shaped the dynamic creatively and personally?
There’s definitely something special about being a band built on family.
We’ve grown up together – Stefan, Daniel and Julian – with a lifetime of shared history. We’ve grown with the same soundtracks, been shaped by the same influences and been inspired by the same creative vision.
That kind of history between us creates an unspoken understanding – the music flows naturally. And so do the occasional creative explosions!
We don’t hold back. We’re brutally honest – in the way only family can be. We then met Jack, who’s been like our adopted brother. We don’t just play together – we get each other. Or maybe more accurately: we survive each other! And that’s exactly what makes it work.
Your live energy has a big reputation. How do you carry that energy into the studio?
We put a lot of effort into making our studio sessions feel just as alive and raw as our live shows. Keeping things real – real instruments, real time playing, no over editing or cutting things up. Example – the drums, are always played live in full takes to give the groove. We treat the studio like a performance space, aiming to capture the same electricity as a gig. It’s all about translating our live spirit into the recordings.
The musical influences you wear from 60s melodies to 90s grit are proudly stated in your sound. How do you balance nostalgia with a modern sound?
We never try to sound like something from the past. We might ask ourselves what chord would Paul choose here or what would Kurt do on this bridge but we’re not sitting around saying “we wanna make this guitar sound exactly like it’s 1973”. It’s the musical elements of our influences that are important to us more than the superficial things.
You recently toured the UK with sold-out shows. What surprised you most about the UK audience?
We love UK crowds and this tour really took it to another level. What surprised us most was just how deeply they connect with our sound – they get it. The energy, the singing, the way they feed off the music – it’s unreal. Every night felt like a big shared moment, and we had an absolute blast. We honestly can’t wait to get back.
How does your writing process work? Is it collaborative from the start or does one person bring the spark?
It’s definitely a collaborative process, but it can start in different ways. Sometimes one of us brings in a spark – maybe a riff, a melody, or even just a lyric – and we build from there. But what really makes the writing come alive is how all four of us bring something unique to the table.
You’ve supported big names like Highly Suspect and British India. What have you learned from sharing the stage with acts like that?
Sharing the stage with bands like Highly Suspect and British India has been a huge learning experience for us. The level of professionalism they bring is next level. Everything from how they handle soundcheck to how they connect with the crowd is all super dialed in. You can really see how years of experience makes them such strong acts.
As cousins and brothers working in a creative space, how do you navigate disagreements? Or is the chemistry just easy?
Honestly, the chemistry is pretty easy. We’ve known each other our whole lives, so there’s a natural understanding and trust that makes working together feel effortless most of the time.
What’s something fans would be surprised to learn about each of you?
Good question! Stefan is a big tennis fan and plays himself. Daniel rides motorbikes. Julian is Australia’s biggest Arsenal fan. Jack is the band chef.
After the EP release, what’s next for Vermantics? Is there a full album on the horizon?
We’re in a big writing phase right now. There are lots of shows coming up too – we love being on stage, so we’re staying as active as we can. A full album is definitely the goal.
Listen here:
