The Blue Stones, a Canadian rock duo, credit influences like Christopher Nolan’s movies and the TV show Suits as key to their unique songwriting and global appeal. Their career accelerated after landing on Suits, and with their latest album Metro, inspired by Nolan’s films, they continue to make their mark in rock music across the US, UK, and beyond.
Suits Key Role in Launching The Blue Stones’ Career
Drummer Justin Tessier reflects on the early days and the Suits connection, noting how much the duo resonated with the show’s iconic character.
“Honestly, man, when you think of who Harvey Specter is, he’s like this cool lawyer who listens to good music and he’s got this rock side,”
enthuses Tessier.
“He’s not a pretentious asshole. Well maybe he is a little, but he’s just the right amount.”
This affinity with Suits, particularly through the character Harvey Specter, proved meaningful for the band’s trajectory.
The pivotal moment came in 2013, just three years after Tessier and frontman/guitarist Tarek Jafar began making music together at university. Without a label or even a record deal, their track “Rolling With The Punches” from the debut album Black Holes found its way to a global audience as the soundtrack for season three of Suits. This exposure was a catalyst, resulting in a rapid influx of attention from television and music industry insiders.
Jafar remembers the impact of that break:
“It was one of the keystones to us eventually finding management and then a label,”
he recalls.
“And the song they used fits so well with the show.”
Suddenly, interest from TV and opportunities snowballed, putting The Blue Stones on the radar despite their indie roots.
Gradual Rise on Charts and International Tours
Following this break, The Blue Stones saw their songs begin to rise on the music charts in both the US and Canada. While recognition in the UK took a bit longer, support from stations like Radio 1 eventually followed. The duo’s persistence paid off, culminating in a high-energy performance at London’s legendary Electric Ballroom in 2023, further solidifying their presence across the Atlantic.
Reflecting on their London experience, Jafar shares,
“We were playing a song called One By One and everyone knew the words,”
reliving the electric moment.
“I was plucking on the guitar chords and the crowd were singing the melody right back at us. It was just the coolest thing ever.”
This event stood out as a career high point, highlighting their ability to energize audiences far from home.
Musical Comparisons and The Blue Stones’ Unique Style
The fact that Tessier and Jafar are a two-man band often leads to comparisons with acts like The Black Keys, The White Stripes, and Royal Blood. While these parallels can be challenging, the duo have learned to see them as validation of their appeal to a broad rock fan base.
“I guess at times people reduce you to a duo they’ve heard before. But there’s worse bands to be compared to,”
Jafar argues.
“At least you know what fan base you are resonating with.”
This perspective has helped The Blue Stones carve their own path while embracing their place in the wider landscape of rock music duos, joining company with well-known acts and earning respect along the way.
Christopher Nolan’s Influence on Their Latest Album
With their recent release Metro, The Blue Stones brought cinematic inspiration to the fore, drawing on Christopher Nolan’s films for both themes and atmosphere. Jafar explains the shift:
“A lot of people ask who our influences are. In a lot of ways we are influenced by other artists, but I think we’re influenced a lot more by film and television,”
he concludes.
“I resonate more with movies that Christopher Nolan directs than with certain bands that people think we sound like. That’s what had a major influence on me when we were recording Metro.”
Metro, released via Thirty Tigers, unfolds as a sonic journey about a man’s transformative ride on a dystopian subway, blending blues, rock, and atmospheric textures. Songs like “Come Apart” and “Scared Of The Dark” showcase the pair’s intensity and musical depth, while “Falling Leaves” channels a gentler, anthemic spirit reminiscent of well-known Manchester indie acts. This blend, fused with narrative storytelling inspired by Nolan, distinguishes The Blue Stones from their contemporaries.
Looking Ahead for The Blue Stones
With a unique approach shaped by film, TV, and icons from both music and screen, The Blue Stones, composed of Justin Tessier and Tarek Jafar, continue to gain attention from fans and critics alike. Their ability to translate cinematic influence into sound, and their persistence in the face of early comparisons, fuels their ongoing growth in the international rock scene. As they build on the foundation laid by the likes of Suits, and now with the ambitious Metro, The Blue Stones appear set to leave a lasting impression on modern rock music.
