Meet Starlit, femme fatale singer from Los Angeles. Soon to be released is her full-length CD,
She Was A Spicey She Wolf. You can buy this album at her official website,
www.starlitmusic.com. If you want a dose of the music she has to offer,
click here to download "Muther."
Starlit started when I came out of the womb. All my experiences - all the heavens, hells, and changes I’ve lived through have lead to Starlit. I grew up moving all around the world - across Canada, the United States, the U.K., Europe and Africa. My mum is an anthropologist poet who encouraged my interest in different cultures and religions. She also encouraged me to embrace my individuality. A long history of alienation, repulsion, and disconnection for most of what I saw in the world and a genuine desire to somehow connect to humanity is where Starlit began and has always grown. As a child I used to religiously practice “Annie” in my apartment. I was sure the traveling show was going to pick me up. My deep passion for films met with the realization that I wanted to say my own words and not fake someone else’s through acting, and that led to Starlit. This followed by a period of mass amounts of daily writing of lyrics and poetry. Later, I met up with a guitarist named Ricky. We practiced and created dark, twisted, metaphorical songs poetically perfumed with brutal beauty. The tone was hardcore punk meets sinfully seductive. I have always been into mixing the horrors of reality with erotica, ending triumphantly with stoicism.
I understand Starlit only refers to you. Who else is involved?
Starlit is mostly my thing. I;ve stuck by it and put endless hours and love into it for years. Starlit’s like my oxygen. I am an unusual artist for various reasons, one of them being that I don’t really fall into the category of solo artist. Most solo artists these days (not Elvis or Janis Joplin from the past - much respect there) are like inflatable blow-up dolls. People tell them what to sing, how to dance, and write their music for them. I’ve always written all my own lyrics, with the exception of a re-make Starlit recently did and a David Bowie cover song Starlit has been asked to do for a tribute. I sing all my vocals, including backups and harmonies; I’ve written some guitar riffs and some keyboard ideas. I also choose my own clothes and dress the same offstage, and choose the visual themes of Starlit. With all that said, Starlit would not sound like Starlit without the massive contribution of two other gentlemen, Maxxx C. and Kieron Menzies. Max and I have known each other for over nine years, the longest I’ve ever know anyone. Max writes the majority of guitar and bass riffs, plus some of the live and synthetic drums. Kieron’s the producer I dreamed of meeting for years. He is basically like “Oz,” the magical man behind the scenes. He takes the heart, guts, balls, and soul that is Starlit, and helps tie it altogether. Kieron produces, engineers, and writes the majority of keyboards, synths, and programs for Starlit. Together, we have created Starlit as you see hear and feel it. When the members of Starlit tour, we are a band. A band like none other.
Tell us about your songwriting process.
For the most part, a song begins one of two ways. Either Max hands me a piece he has written, or I go to Max and request a song with specific tempos and feelings to compliment prewritten lyrics and themes I have written. I write lyrics mostly when I have had a bad experience. This allows me to release those feelings and make something out of them. Rather than be smothered or paralyzed by shit, use it as fertilizer. I encourage everyone to gain strength and grow from it. Later Max hands me back the first stage of the music. Sometimes it’s off, but most of the time it clicks. Lyrics which aren’t prewritten flow like water for the most part. When I am inspired by music, the lyrics pour out in my head like a mini film; I can see the characters, and vivid, detailed scenery. I also hear additional guitar riffs and other instrumentals, as well as particular drum rhythms in my head, which I relay to Max. We than approach Kieron who creates synths and keyboards around the vocals, guitar, bass, and drums. The magic continues when it’s time to record. I love when Kieron ties it all together; he also has a great way of pushing the ideas we have come up with even further.
What about LA helps or hurts you?
To me, a good band has kick ass lyrics, music, vocals, and visuals; it’s a whole package. I have a LOT of bands that I dig from the past, but asides from Starlit, not much new music. I’m not really in the scene, I don’t proscribe to the scene, and I’m not a proud member of ‘the scene.” I believe in making your own scene and kicking open new doors.
As far as what I think helps or hurts me, I think that everyone and their mother has an opinion. They want to tell me how and what to do. The thing is – unless it’s Max, Kieron, or my husband (and even then, I don’t always agree with them), or someone in my inner circle who has worked, sweated, loved, and sacrificed over Starlit, I’m not going to listen to their uninvited opinion. It’s between me and God. If someone likes or loves Starlit, that’s awesome, and I am appreciative, but if they don’t, boo fucking hoo. I don’t care. I have seen many people who have praised me and Starlit, but when I don’t listen to their advice, they freak out and turn malicious. I’ve even seen some of those people make it their life’s focus to badmouth Starlit. I then take that and write a kick ass song about it, while the person is left pathetic and full of misery, with a serious void in their life.
It has been challenging for me. I’m female and like dressing sexy. I don’t do it for anyone but me. I like corsets, bussels, and platform boots, along with the occasional devil horns. I have a passion for fashion, and I’m no afraid to express myself through how I dress – nor am I afraid to look sexy. A girl wearing a short skirt is not an invitation for rape or even lude comments. Not every woman with ample boobs wants a guy to say something crass about them. I certainly don’t. For the most part, the reaction has been appreciative, but there’s always that occasional flaccid little boy with a one incher mistaking me for his 1900 number, and there’s always that bible thumper declaring me as Satan incarnate. Whatever. I’m not going to let other people’s ignorance dictate my wardrobe. Stereotypes aren’t going to affect me as much as they will affect them, because the reality that I am so much more is going to bite them in the ass. There have always been stereotypes, categories, and labels, and I’m here to break them.
What are your influences?
My influences come from many different areas - personal, spiritual, and musical: Stoicism, overcoming obstacles, the desire to make a positive difference on this planet, hope, the desire to create innovative and revolutionary music that inspires billions for centuries, the desire to constantly evolve as a person - as a singer and a musician, the rarity of kindness and compassion in others, the noble charaacter and unconditional love of animals, and otherworldly oral sex with my husband Bad shit like animal cruelty, torture, murder, society’s lack of humanity, rape, incest, destruction of the environment, racism, greed, selfishness, gluttony, and hedonism inspire me because they bother me so much.
On a musical level, the list is long. In my early childhood, I was into musicals. My first band was hot before my time – Kiss. I loved the way they looked. Classic rock was the first genre that I sunk my teeth into, such as The Doors. I was convinced Jim Morrison was the second coming of Christ. I loved Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin’s voice, Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, The Beatles. Then all the hippie shit – I liked Cat Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Carole King, Crosby Stills & Nash, Neil Young, The Eagles, and The Grateful Dead.
After that I was into roots reggae - Bob Marley, Hugh Mandell, Black Uhuru.Mutabaruka. Later came old school punk. I especially liked political punk like Crass as well as The Exploited, Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Buzzcocks. The Ramones were my ultimate punk favorite with close seconds in The Pixies, Joy Division, Husker Du and Agent Orange. Next began my romance with Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy, Ministry, Rob Zombie, Static-X, Hansel und Gretyl, and Metallica. Burlesque and cabaret. All this makes Starlit.
Do you have plans to be signed in the future?
I will be signed; it’s in my destiny. I don’t know when and I don’t know by who; I just know that it’ll happen. All great leaders with something new to offer always came up against resistance in the beginning. It’s my fate to play in front of the largest audiences ever in history. You can’t stop fate.
What does the color white remind you of?
When you break up white light in a crystal prism, you discover every color. That to me is unity.
What advice do you have for those just starting out in the music business?
Listen to your heart, follow your soul, and embrace your individuality. Being successful is not selling out; it’s doing something you really believe in. You may get down and disillusioned at times, but always get back on track. Never give in; never give up. If it hasn’t been done, then be the first to do it. When it is hardest to believe is when you gotta believe it the most. Most things worthwhile take time to really develop. Your life is precious. Your possibilities are limitless.
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