Musician - Producer - Visual ArtistSongs, stories, paintings and a life in independent music - from The Mardous and Poptones to Madrid's anti-folk scene, Andy Burrows and Matt Haig, and a new chapter as a solo artist.
Biography
A LIFE IN SONGSRoss John Stewart is a British singer-songwriter, composer, producer and visual artist whose career has moved between London’s indie scene, Madrid’s anti-folk circuit and contemporary songwriting.
THE BEGINNINGRoss John Stewart emerged from London’s early-2000s independent music scene as singer and bassist with The Mardous.The band became part of the extraordinary British guitar-music explosion of the period, eventually signing to Poptones, the label founded by Alan McGee.They played alongside many of the defining acts of the era, while recording an album that, unexpectedly, would remain unreleased for almost two decades.
MADRIDAfter The Mardous, Ross moved to Madrid and formed The Ezra Beats, developing a more experimental and unconventional approach to songwriting.The band became part of Madrid’s alternative and anti-folk scene, combining humour, folk, punk and indie influences with spontaneous live performances.
WORDS & MUSICRoss later collaborated with Andy Burrows and writer Matt Haig on Reasons To Stay Alive, contributing spoken-word vocals to the project and subsequently joining Burrows on the UK tour.It was a natural meeting of the two things that have always run through Ross’s work: songs and stories.
SOLOHis solo recordings have taken those ideas further, moving between intimate songwriting, folk-influenced arrangements, alternative pop and spoken word.His releases include Chewing Gum, The Goldfinch and the Sunrise EP which saw him collaborate with Doc Brown.Ross' visual art has resulted in exhibitions, album covers, and music video direction. He continues to draw and paint regularly - often combining art with music.
NOWIn 2025, The Mardous’ long-lost debut album was finally released.Almost twenty years after the original recordings were made, Ross’s early songs found their way into the world — while a new chapter of his own music was beginning.
This is where the story continues.
The Mardous - 2000s to 2026
Formed in London in the early 2000s, The Mardous emerged from the city’s restless guitar scene with a sound that was direct, melodic and unmistakably their own. Sharing stages with the likes of Arctic Monkeys, The Cribs and The Libertines, they built their reputation the old-fashioned way — through live shows, packed rooms, relentless gigging and songs that connected with people.The band's debut single 'Revolution over the phone' entered the indie charts at number 5. The Mardous played Glastonbury Festival in 2005 .But life took them in different directions.Nearly twenty years later, the story picks up again.In 2026, The Mardous return with “Passer By” — their first new original recording since 2006. Recorded in Greenwich, London and produced by Euan Hinshelwood and The Mardous, the track is not an exercise in nostalgia. It is a continuation.There is history in the music, but no attempt to recreate the past.“Passer By” captures what has always been at the heart of The Mardous: sharp songwriting, infectious melody, guitar-driven energy and the chemistry that only comes from musicians who have known each other for years. It sounds like a band rediscovering something they never really lost.The Mardous occupy an unusual space — a band with the history of a classic guitar group, but with a fresh chapter still being written.
The Ezra Beats - from 2009
Before returning to music with The Mardous, Ross spent several years based in Madrid, where he co-founded The Ezra Beats with AmyJo Doherty and Martin Dalla. Formed in 2009, the band developed a distinctive blend of anti-folk, indie, punk and acoustic songwriting, building a reputation for spontaneous, unconventional live performances across Spain. (FanMusicFest)The Ezra Beats quickly attracted national attention, appearing in Rolling Stone, El País, El Mundo and on TVE, while their live performances took them from intimate Madrid venues to festivals and stages across Spain. They were also invited to perform live for Julio Ruiz’s legendary Disco Grande on Radio 3/RNE, including a special 40th-anniversary broadcast from the RTVE studios in Madrid. (FanMusicFest)The band’s growing reputation also took them beyond Spain, with European performances forming part of a period in which Ross developed his experience as a songwriter and performer outside the UK. The Ezra Beats ultimately became an important chapter in his musical journey — connecting his London roots with the independent music scenes of Madrid and Europe, and laying the groundwork for his later work with The Mardous and as a solo artist.
REASONS TO STAY ALIVE
Andy Burrows & Matt Haig - 2019
Music and literature came together in Andy Burrows and Matt Haig’s Reasons To Stay Alive.Ross contributed spoken-word vocals to the project and subsequently joined Andy Burrows on the UK tour. This collaboration marked an important point in Ross’s creative development, bringing together his interest in songwriting, performance and storytelling.
Featuring contributions from musicians including:Dom Howard — Muse
Tom Smith — EditorsWATCH / LISTEN
ART
A visual practise running alongside the music.
Painting has become an increasingly important part of Ross John Stewart’s creative life, particularly through observational watercolours, acrylic landscapes and studies of people, places and moments.The work draws on the atmosphere and immediacy of artists such as Turner and Monet, while remaining rooted in personal observation, memory and the everyday.
Press / Media
Contact
For bookings and enquiries: [email protected]
The Mardous
The Ezra Beats
Ross John Stewart
