@, the Philadelphia indie-folk duo formed by singer-songwriters Stone Filipczak and Victoria Rose, are defined as much by their mystery as by their music. Even their name — a single, unsearchable symbol — offers little explanation, while their songs rely on ambiguity, changing momentum and unexpected arrangements.
That approach is immediately apparent on “Bird”, the opening track from their new album, “Autosmile”. The song begins with delicately picked acoustic guitar and an eerie vocal about dead baby birds appearing on a porch. Its central hook then opens into a more expansive melody, strengthened by Rose’s harmony, before returning to the song’s earlier tension. The contrast captures the duo’s tendency to introduce musical ideas and then quickly withdraw them.
Their music also plays with disrupted time signatures and lyrics that remain unclear while retaining a visceral impact. Those qualities have helped make @ one of the more intriguing names in contemporary folk.
The pair’s story outside the recordings is similarly unconventional. Their debut album, “Mind Palace Music”, appeared on Bandcamp in 2021 before spreading through word of mouth. It was later reissued by Carpark in 2023, while “Autosmile” arrives through 4AD.
Although both musicians live in Philadelphia, they write and record separately in their own homes, a setup they say gives them more space to think. Rose works as a beekeeper when she is not making music, while Filipczak is a self-taught computer programmer.
In conversation, the duo come across as quiet and close-knit, often extending one another’s thoughts. At times they give conflicting answers before gradually arriving at a shared view, reflecting a creative partnership that seems intuitive even when they find it difficult to explain.
Rose describes the effect of that collaboration simply: songs she writes change when she works with Filipczak, becoming something different from what she initially imagined.
Sources: NME.