Australian progressive instrumental guitarist and composer Rohan Stevenson joined Australian Musician’s Greg Phillips to discuss Promise Me You’ll Thrive, the sixth album from I Built The Sky, which was released on May 29. The new record follows 2023’s The Quiet Place Away, an acoustic-based album that marked a stylistic departure for Stevenson. While he admitted he was initially unsure how fans would react to that release, the overwhelmingly positive response encouraged him to carry elements of its orchestral and cinematic sound into the new album. Stevenson revealed that the album’s title actually came before any of the music. Promise Me You’ll Thrive became the creative compass for the entire project, with every song written to reflect the optimism and positive energy contained within that phrase. Although the new album returns to a heavier sonic palette, it retains the strings, textures and emotional depth explored on its predecessor, blending progressive metal intensity with rich orchestral arrangements. Check out Rohan’s chat with Greg below. Photos by Jason Rosewarne.
MORE ABOUT THE ALBUM INTERVIEW
The album’s expansive compositions evolved naturally rather than being constrained by running times. Stevenson explained that song length is never a primary consideration, allowing pieces such as the eight-minute epic “The Long Game” to develop organically. A songwriting retreat to Manns Beach in Victoria provided an enjoyable creative experience, although he ultimately discovered that most of the album was written back home, reinforcing the idea that inspiration doesn’t necessarily require a change of scenery.
A key feature of Promise Me You’ll Thrive is its collaborative approach. Stevenson was joined by drummer David Parkes, keyboardist Rohan Sharma, bassist Toby Peterson-Stewart and cellist Charlotte Jacke. Stevenson praised the musicians as among the best in their respective fields, noting that Peterson-Stewart’s bass performances in particular elevated the material beyond what he could have achieved alone.
The recording process was meticulous. Stevenson spent around three months tracking guitar parts in his home studio, using a custom-built Aviator guitar made for him by Czech luthier Jay from Aviator Guitars as the primary electric instrument on the album. Acoustic parts were recorded using a Maton Messiah and captured with a Neumann TLM103 microphone setup. Despite having access to modern technology, Stevenson emphasised that achieving the right feel and character in each performance remained more important than technical perfection.
A major contributor to the album’s powerful sound was producer and mixer Forrester Savell, renowned for his work with progressive acts including Karnivool. Stevenson described Savell as one of the best in the business and credited him with helping capture the album’s exceptional drum sounds and overall sonic depth.
Reflecting on six albums’ worth of experience, Stevenson believes Promise Me You’ll Thrive represents the culmination of everything he has learned as a songwriter and producer. The record incorporates greater dynamic range, more sophisticated arrangements, real drums, live bass performances and expanded instrumentation including synths, piano and strings. He sees the album as evidence of the importance of continually refining both musical ideas and production techniques.
Looking ahead, Stevenson hopes to take the music to audiences worldwide. While rising touring costs present challenges, discussions are already underway for Australian and international performances in 2027. He credits much of I Built The Sky’s global following to years of consistently releasing guitar-focused content online, particularly through YouTube, while continually pushing creative boundaries.
Beyond his solo project, Stevenson also discussed his role as guitarist with Sunk Loto, with whom he will tour in August while also contributing to new material. Despite the differing musical approaches, he enjoys moving between the two projects and views both as opportunities to continue evolving as a musician.
The new album Promise Me You’ll Thrive stands as Stevenson’s most ambitious and fully realised work to date, an uplifting, technically accomplished album that balances virtuoso musicianship with emotional depth, while reflecting his ongoing commitment to artistic growth. The melodies are drop dead gorgeous, the playing both slick and sensitive, resulting in a world class production Rohan and his team can be proud of.
Fuel to Fly from Promise me You’ll Thrive