When Jafar and Justin Tessier (drums/vocals) formed The Blue Stones, they were facing uncertainty about who they were individually. What they did know for sure, though, was that they wanted to make music together - and, so they did. Following the success of their debut album, Black Holes, the band quickly found a following in the alternative rock world that led to them sharing the stage with the likes of grandson, Welshly Arms, and Reignwolf. As the band were working with Paul Meany on what would become their sophomore-effort, Hidden Gems, they realized they wanted to take the sound they had become known for and give it a new edge. Across the ten songs on the album, the band pairs rock songs built to be played in a stadium with layered, R&B leaning numbers and moody, grunge tracks. The songs resonate with a powerful emotional intensity both sonically and lyrically, with Jafar penning his most personal lyrics to date. Centered around self-confidence, the album works through accepting your strengths and weaknesses, touching upon heartbreak and bad habits.