IT took super-producer Rick Rubin to get Angus and Julia Stone back making music again - but the Aussie siblings didn't know who he was at first.

After two well received albums the brother and sister duo had headed off to make solo records, and seemed content to stick to their own paths.

But Rubin, who's produced acts like Public Enemy, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Johnny Cash, liked their music so much he reached out and said he was interested in working with them.

"To be honest, we didn't grow up reading the inserts of records so while the name was familiar it wasn't like we instantly knew all the amazing stuff he'd done," admits Julia, the elder of the two siblings.

"It wasn't until a mate said we should check out his Wikipedia that I realised 'oh, he did this record and that record' that we'd grown up listening to.

"That's when it started to sink in that it was an amazing chance to work with him.

"Meeting Rick was so nice as he's such a lovely person, and that helped to bring Angus and I back together."

The resulting self-titled album is a terrific record, featuring more electric guitar than the siblings had ever used before, as well as more familiar acoustic elements and lovely harmonies.

It also marks the first time Angus and Julia have actually written songs together.

In the past they'd write tunes separately and then bring them to the other, whereas this time they collaborated more, in keeping with the spirit that marked their reunion.

"By the time of this record, it didn't feel like such a weird thing to write together," adds Julia.

"I think that was because of the time apart - we really needed that, and the space to figure out who we were without each other, and when we did that there was no struggle over 'this is my song and this is yours'.

"We both just feel a lot more comfortable, performing as a solo artist and getting up onstage alone really helped us find who we were independently."

The duo's decision to go their separate ways seems to have increased their confidence, meaning that their new record has a spring in its step.

They'll be bringing songs from it, and previous hits like Big Jet Plane, to the O2 Academy this Sunday, something that pleases Julia, as she's got family connections here.

"I've always had a real love for Scottish people - my aunt married a Scotsman and moved to Elgin, so we went and visited them in the past," she says.

"He had family in Nairn so we went up there, and when we first started out several years ago Scotland was one of the first places we toured - there was me, Angus, my boyfriend and our manager, and the four of us were trekking around in a truck.

"It was an absolute blast - people there are really open-hearted it's a joy to come back and play shows there."

Speaking of family, the siblings had a surprise earlier this year when their dad John joined them on the tour bus for a couple of weeks.

Some folk might cringe at the thought of their parents going on the rod with them, but the songstress says it was fun.

"I guess I'm the sort of person who wakes up and is excited by life in general, but my dad's on the next level," she says.

"He's the first one awake and the last one to sleep because he just can't get enough of meeting people, and going to places and making music.

"By the time I'm awake he's usually got a story to tell, like he went to get coffee and the guy that works there has a band, and their music is amazing, and we should check them out."

Yet although the band are known for their melodic tunes, there's a more mischievous side to them.

The video for recent single Heart Beats Slow was inspired by the likes of Pulp Fiction, and featured the duo riding dirtbikes and firing guns.

"We grew up on a farm riding dirtbikes, and although there's probably a perception that Angus and I are peace loving kids, and we are, growing up on a cattle farm meant we knew how to shoot a gun by the time we were 12."

Angus & Julia Stone, O2 Academy, Sunday, £20, 7pm