The Stay Homas members no longer reside in that Balmes Street penthouse where they reenacted the 2020 lockdown, insisting they’re “divorced” while clearly taking that home with them wherever they go. Their second album HOMAS centers on that idea, placing the word home in bold as a mood. “A record about us taking people home or bringing our home to theirs,” explains Klaus Stroink, one of the band’s members.
Three years later, the group has not slowed down, expanding to six members and releasing a steady stream of singles and an EP, so HOMAS doesn’t simply drift into silence. All fourteen tracks are fresh, reflecting Stay Homas as a melting pot of styles and emotional states. Guillem Boltó recalls that the initial aim was to merge the sound a bit, but the project evolved. “We discovered that while writing the songs, we still had a lot of different concerns and we wanted to show them all.”
get lost in music
HOMAS blends influences from bands that defined a previous era, nodding to the energy of two thousand-era groups like Green Day and Blink-182. It pairs intimate acoustic moments with bold electronic eruptions and even pushes into a punk-pop edge with songs like “I don’t care.” “It’s a touch of a 2000s vibe, yes, but it’s from 2023 because the sound rejects heavy auto-tuning,” says Stroink. With such a wide sonic palette, the question of Stay Homas’ identity lingers. “We’ve been trying to pin that down since we started,” admits Rai Benet. “We’re on top of that. People seem to hear connections beyond genre, beyond sound… I don’t know. I think we’re more lost than people realize.”
In the early days, Stay Homas carried a positive message about reframing pandemic hardship, even inviting listeners to “enjoy confinement” in the track Be patient. Now the new repertoire shifts toward moodier terrain, with more emotional depth and melancholic undertones, according to Klaus Stroink. The album is notably inclusive in its collaborations, featuring just one guest appearance from The Tyets. “That choice felt right for the record — it belonged to us, in a way.”
All you can eat buffet
All three musicians come from Catalan festival roots, having played with outfits such as Doctor Prats and Búhos, yet Stay Homas adopts a distinct approach that sets them apart from current live urban music trends. They have carved out a space away from the mainstream, embracing a freedom that challenges listeners to search for them. “This is a test of sorts, because people can’t find you easily, but we’ve pushed ourselves to do whatever we want until the outcome is ours,” says Rai Benet. His concept is a mix and match, a “snack” and “free buffet,” drawing on a blend of his previous bands’ sounds with urban and rock influences to form their own signature plate.
Politics seem off their radar at a time when political signals are everywhere. Rai Benet observes, “A political slogan often reads like marketing rather than genuine politics.” He notes that some families have mobilized around political moments in recent years, but once those moments pass, the drive to rally fades. “There are concerts where you raise a flag and you know it will be well received.” Benet adds that the pressure to adopt a political stance to make music could feel overwhelming, and choosing not to go that route might even label a band as a “sold-out” act.
Stay Homas looks ahead to a busy summer touring schedule, with Cabró Rock, Canet Rock, Sons del Món, Cap Roig, and Cambrils on the roster. In Barcelona, Cruïlla on July 8 could bring a reunion with Rubén Blades, a moment Benet recalls warmly. “He takes care of us and loves us,” Benet says. “That Cruïlla day was one of the best moments this band has had.”