Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Stii.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Mary Stii (vocals, guitar) – I’ll be answering on behalf of the band for this interview.
I formed this project with some friends in 2024, just as I was beginning to explore my love for songwriting. I was also taking my first steps out of my shell when it came to performing live, and I have so many friends to thank for helping me find the confidence to do it. Soon after, our awesome bassist, Reana Konstantis, joined me in Floating. The rest of 2024 was a necessary period for growth as we figured out the scene and our true goals. By mid-2025, Jesse Wilburn (drums), Charles Pykus (lead guitar), and Johnny Danese (keys/synth) joined us prior to recording our first album, “La Di Da”, which we released in February 2026.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I love rollercoasters, so smooth roads have never been a prerequisite for my aspirations. Very early on in the band’s life, we went through a transitional period where some original members parted ways, but we didn’t really skip a beat. I’m a rather goal-oriented person in all aspects of my life, so once I set this goal, I had no plans to deviate. Reana and I had actually begun recording the first album with some prior band members, but once we established the final Floating lineup—Reana, Charles, Johnny, Jesse, and myself—we made the decision to record the album fully with our current band, which meant we actually re-recorded some elements. It was very important to me to cultivate a true bond with one another, and to allow us as a musical unit to build our sound together – especially since I knew this was just the beginning for us.
Aside from that bit of Floating history, I would just say the most challenging struggles have been trying to manage all of the musical commitments while all five of us work demanding day jobs. Pink Floyd’s “Time” comes to mind.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re Floating – a Philadelphia-based shoegaze indie rock band, with original music that we say is conjured from melancholic daydreams in waking life. Our band members include myself, Mary Stii (vocals, guitar), Reana Konstantis (bass), Charles Pykus (lead guitar), Jesse Wilburn (drums), and Johnny Danese (keys/synth). Our debut album “La Di Da” was released on Friday the 13th, 2/13/26. The album was recorded at Retro City Studios in Philadelphia, produced/mixed by Richie DeVon, and mastered by Elaine Rasnake.
Speaking on behalf of the band, we’re most proud of the progress we’ve made in such a relatively short amount of time. Within a year, we managed to record/release our first album, while playing so many shows with cool bands. We’ve far exceeded our goals for 2026, and that’s been wild to take a step back and reflect on.
I’d say what truly sets us apart within the indie rock scene is our distinct sonic identity. We often describe our sound as “Bluegaze”—a blend where blues-inspired undercurrents steer traditional shoegaze and dream-pop into a backroom of sorts that we have been actively exploring. At our core, we are all music nerds, and that would likely become evident regardless of the genres we find ourselves in.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I recognize how important creativity and hard work inherently are to finding success that feels meaningful to us within the music realm. I’m lucky to have found such talented people to make music with, and as musicians, we’re always reminding one another how important simply practicing our instruments on a regular basis is for the success of the band (and for the health of our brains.) I also consider it very important that our music resonates in a way that can genuinely make you feel something.
But that said, I’ve noticed that ensuring we manage our work in an organized, efficient and fair way may be almost as important as the creative elements when it comes to success. Johnny does a lot of managerial/networking work in the background, which has made a huge difference. I enjoy utilizing many of the same skills I’ve learned throughout my engineering career for leading this band. Interestingly enough, keeping things organized helps us as a band to be able to focus as much time as possible on the music itself. That’s the goal, anyway.
Not for nothing, but all five of us are generally on the same page, and we genuinely love and respect one another. I think that’s what’s been making this work more than anything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.floatingband.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floating.band/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583059870603&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=1xCwT67rs1t1r3Oa&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F17ggUVaTpC%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr#
- Youtube: https://tr.ee/18fHpvCEAE
- Other: https://linktr.ee/floating.band?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=404c03ee-02aa-4bc4-9415-4cbe07199576
