Five Fits With: Slowly Slowly frontman Ben Stewart

The Melbourne-based singer-songwriter chats to Esquire about the music he grew up on, getting hyped before a show, and the ’80s and ’90s-inspired pieces he’ll be wearing for the band's 'Forgiving Spree' tour

By Tyler Dane Wingco

Published: Feb 13, 2025

Esquire's Five Fits With: Slowly Slowly lead singer Ben Stewart — Esquire’s Five Fits With: Slowly Slowly lead singer Ben Stewart. Photography: @lucystars

GROWING UP IN Melbourne’s north-east, Ben Stewart, lead singer of indie-rock band Slowly Slowly, was caught between two worlds – style wise. There were his Italian uncles and Nonno in boxy leather jackets, Calvin Klein muscle tops, perfectly ironed knife pleated trousers, their blow waved hair combed back. It was a sharp look that made an impression on young Stewart; convenient, because now, Italian tailoring from the ’90s is a menswear holy grail. Then there was the 2000s Aussie fashion he and his friends from school would wear, pairing Ripcurl T-shirts with knee-knocking board shorts, and growing out rat-tails and bowl cuts.

He looks back on Melbourne suburbia without a hint of cringe. Instead, as he walks around the streets of Sydney’s Redfern and Paddington in some of his latest pick-ups, the singer-songwriter balances a charming sense of correctness with just the right amount of edge. When shopping for new pieces either to wear on stage or to write and record music in, Stewart admits to looking for that “clash of European semi-formal and skate apparel”. Intersections don’t get much better than this.

With the release of Slowly Slowly’s fifth studio album Forgiving Spree, the frontman took Esquire through five of his favourite fits ahead of the band’s tour next month – starting in Dublin and finishing at home in Melbourne – while telling us about where his interest in music and style began (and how they intersect), the formative music he listened to growing up, and what to expect from his ’80s and ’90s-inspired tour wardrobe.

Fit one

Esquire: Firstly, where did you grow up, and where do you currently call home?

Ben Stewart: I grew up in Melbourne, Australia in a suburb called Croydon. I also spent a lot of time in Reservoir, where my grandparents live and that’s now where I reside; funnily enough in the same street as my Nonna, I’m literally across the road from her. It would make so much sense for me to live elsewhere, proximity to my studio and the rest of my family, but I feel very at home in Reservoir. I love its messy culture clash.

What was considered ‘stylish’ or ‘cool’ when you were growing up?

I was always torn between two styles growing up, there was my Australian friends and then my Italian family. I loved the ’90s Italian fashion I saw my uncles wearing: boxy oversized leather jackets, big earrings, muscle tops (lots of Calvin Klein) and the blow waved hair à la Saturday Night Fever. When I would hang with my Australian school friends it was so different: bowl cuts, Ripcurl T-shirts, board shorts, rat tails, and eyebrow rings.

Everything from all angles was very suburban in hindsight until I found my musical idols which informed everything in a much more authentic way. In the suburbs it was more about adhering to the code – outliers were not celebrated.

When did you first become interested in clothing and style?

I was always very picky. There are a few formative memories. I remember watching Michael Jackson’s VHS ‘Dangerous’ when I was around three years old, I became obsessed with earrings and gold jewellery. When I first discovered rap with Run DMC, Tupac and Eminem, I remember everything having to be baggy and donning those synthetic jerseys by Ruff Riders and Fubu. I liked the tough and clean-cut look of Deftones, but then also was really drawn towards the more feminine style of Prince, Bowie and MJ. I don’t think I really found what I really liked until I was older. As I mentioned earlier, clothing and style were initially ways to fit in, but then as I found my confidence later in life it became a way to forge my own taste.

Fit two

Who are your personal style icons?

It sounds funny, but I really idolised my Nonno as he had such a polarity in his style – he oscillated between really casual and then scrubbed up really nice for family events. I still wear his gold Seiko watch every day. There were rules though. He only wore Italian leather boots (never sneakers), straight leg suit pants (never jeans), lots of classic polo tops with cuffed sleeves (never T-shirts) and the colours were always complimentary.

In terms of celebrity icons, Cillian Murphy always remains timeless. Austin Butler I feel has a niche I enjoy. Those being more formal, in terms of casual style, I like ’90s Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp. And then really casual you gotta give love to Adam Sandler for keeping it real. I love the style of the characters that John Travolta has played over the years – Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction, Michael, Grease, Swordfish – I feel like he always pulls it off. Musician wise, I can’t shake a love for those big bold looks by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but given you need a really nice rig to pull those off. I err towards more of a Springsteen.

What kind of music was playing at home when you were growing up, and how has it influenced your own sound?

Lots of Michael Jackson, The Beatles, The Beegees, Lionel Richie. Also, I was the prime age for The Backstreet Boys, NSYNC and Five – which I am not complaining about at all. I think everything was quite tame, pop and easy listening, so when I first discovered aggressive music – and loud drumming – I was in awe. So I spent a lot of those formative years listening and creating music for musicians, as in trying to make things as complicated and aggressive as possible. As my love of songwriting has grown, I am looking more to those early years and blending all of those colours to create what we now know as Slowly Slowly.

Fit three

When did you first find a passion for music?

I was always very obsessed with my favourite songs in primary school; learning every lyric, making up dances, singing in the mirror. Then when I got a little older, and learned that I could make my own music it really became all-consuming. At my school, from year seven onwards we had access to the music room at recess and lunchtimes – this is where I spent all my free time, both before and after school as well. It was a golden time in music, where you were still finding a lot of organic instrumentation in pop records. You could really see yourself in the shoes of your idols, because it wasn’t behind a smoke screen of technology. Nowadays, I know a lot of music is recorded and created in the box; although I feel the hurdle is lower for recording, you don’t see what you are creating mirrored in the world as plainly – as we would often, from the garage.

How do you continue to nurture that passion?

I make time everyday to just wander around and record a silly quick idea. I don’t overthink it and I give myself a timeframe. I also have a gear acquisition problem, with all sorts of vintage recording equipment – all the new toys and instruments often spur ideas. I like playing instruments I don’t know how to use yet – you often get so many happy accidents. The best music writing is unplanned and non self aware in my opinion.

Do you have any rituals to get yourself in the mindset to write and record music?

I write in isolation most of the time and bring the songs to the others, fully fleshed out. I usually just pound a heap of coffee and turn my phone off.

What about any rituals before going on stage?

We [Patrick Murphy on drums, Albert Doan on guitar, and Alex Quayle on bass] usually chug a tumbler of whisky each and then just pace around trying to get our game faces on. In that 15 minutes before stage time, we always go into our own individual worlds and it gets a little serious. I don’t take performing lightly – I like giving all of myself every show and I know the other boys join in that sentiment.

Fit four

How would you describe your personal style in three words?

Comfort. Classic. Italian.

Where are your favourite places to shop?

Most of the time you’ll find me thrifting or in a vintage shop though. Especially for the stage, I like to think that no one else at the gig is wearing the same shirt as me.

What are some of your favourite brands right now?

Brand wise, I really like Sandro and Come Sundown. I think that sums up my clash of European semi-formal and skate apparel.

Fit five

How does being a musician influence your personal style?

Being on stage and being a front person of a band I think has pushed me to really find what I like – I don’t think I would have otherwise. Having to cycle through so many outfits without repeating also forces you to find your taste. I’m pretty active on stage so I have to dress for utility as well as keeping it fresh.

Tell us about your upcoming tour wardrobe. What vibe are you going for?

This tour I want everything to be clean and classic. I know with the production elements we are wanting it all to be bright, backlit and silhouette focussed – so maybe some pieces with cool shape. Our new record Forgiving Spree has some throwback moments genre wise, so I think I’ll look to the ’80s and ’90s for inspo. I’m seriously disorganised and make all my decisions at the last minute, so I’m afraid there isn’t much to share on that front. I’ll scramble around the week before. But hey, you gotta leave room for some studio magic. When I plan it never works out quite the same.