The music scene of Charleston, S.C. is the most active and diverse it has ever been. Orchestras, jazz lounges, pour houses and more entice music lovers with an eclectic mix of live opportunities. Its appeal drew in The Stews, a four-piece who formed in the midst of the pandemic and left university behind to live out their dreams.

While their initial timing wasn’t ideal to play local shows or tour the country, their ample free time allowed them to hone in on their songwriting and musical abilities. It wasn’t long before they were performing to sold out crowds in New York and Washington D.C. They released a self-titled EP in 2021 and their debut full-length, What Was, in 2022.

Their latest release, Chicken Fight, is a divergence from their previous sound. This time around, they really pushed themselves to be the best versions they can be.

“We had lots of great experimental discoveries during the process of recording, which spanned almost two years, but actually completing the record was so satisfying because of the relentless touring we were doing while getting in the studio whenever we could in between,” drummer Wyatt Griffith said.

The final moments of completing the last song for the album was the most rewarding because that meant they were one step closer to sharing the album with their fans. Since its release, they have spent the summer touring and receiving feedback.

“The reaction from our fans, specifically at live shows, has been the most meaningful,” Griffith said. “It’s been amazing hearing enthusiastic cheers and lyrics [sung] back to us when we play these new songs.”

Griffith said that they were most looking forward to playing “Lately” and “How It Ends” since they had worked out a continuous transition between the songs while in the studio. The transition felt like it was made with their live shows in mind, and they have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the reactions of those in the crowd. This was especially enjoyable at their album release show at New York’s Irving Plaza.

“It was one of those shows where there was such great energy all throughout the room and we felt like we were firing on all cylinders,” he said.

Another memorable performance during their summer tour was at Avondale Brewing Company in Birmingham, Ala. It was the final stop on their July run of shows and it was the most tickets they had ever sold.

Despite the pride they feel for this album, they have discussed the fatigue that plagued them during its creation process. Writing and recording Chicken Fight took a lot longer than they had anticipated due to their touring schedule, and would like their next release to be created while they are off the road.

“While we were very busy, and it certainly made finding the record easier, we found ourselves sometimes exhausted in the studio and not able to truly focus when we’d get in for a couple days straight from being on the road the weekend prior,” Griffith said.

Chicken Fight turned out to be quite the learning experience for The Stews. Writing and recording an album for two years involved patience, determination and the willingness to find a common ground. They have spent the summer sharing this album with fans across the country, and anticipate a different approach to music moving forward.