Stunflower

the sound

Stunflower ... psychedelic reggae soca mantra-rockers based in London from Trinidad, Canada & London. Blending a cool collision of sound ... heartfelt, holistical, let-loose, transformational music... soothes your soul and moves your feet.

Stunflower fuses elements from their rich history of influences - psychedelic rock, mantra-rock, Kirtan, roots, funk, reggae, country, folk, Americana ... a distinctly retro sound with high emotionality and groove . The band draws influences from King Gizzard, The Free Nationals, Sly & the Family Stone, The Band, Prince, George Harrison, Jon Anderson (Yes), The Clash, Talking Heads, Bob Marley.....

The band

Music veterans, international performing artists & life-partners Thomas Idasseril Thomas (composer, guitars, vocals, loops) & Devaki Anne-Marie Thomas (vocals, drums, percussion) are joined by long-time family friend London & London-born-Jamaican heritage Alex Barett (bass guitar).  Together the three create, record and perform original music (with a few cover-songs, made their own) across the UK and beyond.

Stunflower's live performances have been likened to "reminiscent of a mini-festival". A sound that doesn’t just move your feet, but also touches your heart and lifts your soul.

Formed in Sept 2017, after Devaki & Thomas recorded their first music video with the Thomas Brothers, they released 'A Million Years' a tribute to all women who have walked the hard road.

The making of this video was the catalyst that rekindled their love for writing and performing music. Joining with Lewisham bassist Alex Barrett, they formed Stunflower. They released 'Modavader' followed by a debut 9 track album 'Turnaround' spedning the next 2 years playing hard across the UK gigs and festival scene.

2019 was packed with rave reviews playing to thousands of music-lovers!! Highlights include, Bimble Inn Stage, Beautiful Days Festival, Devon / 'A World in London’ Live Radio Set, Resonance FM / Stagewaves at Dingwalls, Camden / Same Wave Music Series, The Post Bar, Seven Sisters / Diwali Celebrations, Fairfield Hall, Croydon / Sydenham Arts Festival / Bamstock, Croydon / Croydon Mela / Mr Wolf's, Bristol /  Music Makers at Hackney Picture House / The Jago, Dalston / Weegal @ The Dublin Castle, Camden / CroCroLand Festival, Croydon / Valentines at Folklore, Hackney / Lalalab's The Old Church, Stoke Newsington. End of 2019 saw bass player Alex Barrett change directions and go solo with his EDM project Gharial. We want to shout out to many people who supported us to make 2019 an incredible year! Wendy Todd, Rachel D'Cruze, Paula Murray, Chetna Kapacee, DJ Ritu, Nacho Stax, Sophie Darling, Richard & Josie Hamilton, Mayura Patel, Julie Bennett, Angela Martin & Julia Woollams. 

2020 has started with a bang! recent photo shoot with Kieran Isaiah Thomas (fresh from projects art directing for Stormzy & Jake Bugg) recording session at Lynch Mob Studio (Mumford and Sons, Deep Purple, Manic Street Peachers, Anna Calvi, 
Pete Doherty) gigs and festivals booked across the UK, over 25k streams for album 'Turnaround',  a looming EP and brand new single 'Woman'!

Through the London lockdown Stunflower duo pulled in the energy and created 'Saturdays with Stunflower' reaching thousands of people across the globe in live-streaming concerts and teaming up with the Rhythm Passport, Get Down with the Lockdown and The Green Gathering. They also recorded their 2nd and longest album, Dub Side of the Tracks. 

Coming back with live shows in the breaks Stunflower have a renewed sound with guest artists appearing in certain concerts and recordings. 

Check out their Live and News tabs above to find out what they're up to.  2022 is going to be an amazing journey as they dive to new depths & heights... they would truly love to share the journey with you!

the story

Thomas was born in Trinidad & Tobago, the youngest of a 7-sibling family; a Syrian Christian father from Kerala and a French African mother.  Mixed heritage was rare in the 70's in the Caribbean and it caused him to search deeper for belonging...exploring music from a wide spectrum ... from Pink Floyd, Genesis, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, The Mighty Sparrow to Rush & Yes. He started  writing and performing at age 12 in various rock bands around the island. Leaving his home at 16, he travelled the globe on a spiritual quest, ending up in London in the 80’s as a Hare Krishna monk. From there he followed his Guru to Vancouver, Canada's Hare Krishna commune, where he met his wife and soul mate, Devaki.   

Devaki, eldest daughter of a 7-sibling family, was raised in the ‘music centric’ Hare Krishna commune in Vancouver.  Her father was a Krishna leader and notable musician in the 60s, 70s and 80s who performed his original brand of ‘Mantra Rock’ internationally gaining notoriety as a pioneer of the genre world-wide. Meeting Thomas at their commune in the late 80’s, led the pair to explore music, helping with the painful transition of leaving the tight-knit commune behind and starting a new life on the ‘outside’.  

Devaki’s spiritual upbringing and musical ability found fresh life with Thomas’ impassioned song-writing and rock, reggae influences and the two have been writing and performing music together ever since. Thomas spearheaded their musical partnership with a band called Samsara, a frenzied mash-up of soca, reggae, rock, funk & soul. The couple toured for 10 years across Canada and internationally, writing, recording and selling scores of albums – gaining recognition as leading musicians and cultural pioneers in their region. Together they co-founded and directed a renowned gathering, the Komasket Music Festival for 10 years, winning awards and presenting leading international artists.  Thomas has written/recorded 7 albums, over 150 songs and worked with legends in the music industry including Jon Anderson (Yes), Buffy St Marie, Arrested Development and The Wailers.  

The couple relocated to London UK over 10 years ago for a new adventure and a strong urge to give more focus and stability to their now 4 grown-up sons’ education and home life.  Balancing work and raising their sons, the couple took a break from their music for a while, although writing and playing music at home and with friends and family never stopped.

This is how they met Alex, a family friend who shared their musical passion and became a regular jam partner at the Thomas house-hold. Taking a break for a year and playing with bassist/vocalist Miguan Ascani.

Their combined love of music and strong community spirit,  joined with hard earned wisdom and an expanded heart brings to life the band Stunflower - a transformational, eclectic sound with a unique and heartfelt quality.