Starbenders
Starbenders are an American rock band from the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. The group was formed in 2013 when lead singer and guitarist Kimi Shelter contacted her former bandmate Aaron Lecesne about doing a new project.[2][3] After adding guitarist Kriss Tokaji and drummer Emily Moon,[4] Starbenders were subsequently signed to former Lady Gaga music director/guitarist Nico Constantine’s label, Institution Records.[5] With Constantine serving as their producer, the band has released three EPs, one full-length, one 7-inch, and six singles on Institution Records and two singles and one full-length on Sumerian Records.[6]
Starbenders | |
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![]() Starbenders in 2018. Left to right: Kriss Tokaji, Kimi Shelter, Aaron Lecesne, Emily Moon | |
Background information | |
Genres | Glam rock[1] |
Years active | 2014–present |
Labels | Sumerian Records, Institution Records |
Website | www |
Members | Kimi Shelter Aaron Lecesne Emily Moon Kriss Tokaji |
Background
Starbenders released their self-titled debut EP, mixed by Jeff Bakos,[7] in 2014 to positive reception[8] with the lead-off single Touch[9] and quickly followed with the singles Brake,[10] Paper Beats Rock,[11] and Powder[12] in 2015 while touring the United States extensively.[13] The band spent the remainder of 2015 recording 2016's full-length Heavy Petting, which was released by Institution Records. The record was engineered by Matt Goldman at Glow-In-The-Dark Studios and Jeff Bakos at Studio B,[14] and mixed by Mark Needham (Fleetwood Mac, The Killers, Stevie Nicks)[15] and Will Brierre (Sick Puppies, Imagine Dragons).[16]
The band led with the single Blood and released a music video for the track,[17] followed by videos for Paper Beats Rock, Powder,[18] and Time Stops,[19] which won "Best Music Video" at the 2016 Oregon Film Awards.[20]
Starbenders continued to be active through 2017, touring and releasing the singles Far From Heaven[21] and So High,[22] (again mixed by Needham).[23] In late 2017 the band began work on their new EP JULIAN and released the title track Julian[24] as a single in advance of the EP's official release in January 2018.[25]
Starbenders toured extensively in 2018 in support of JULIAN, notably touring alongside Charlotte Kemp Muhl's UNI,[26] Rosegarden Funeral Party on the Children Of The Night tour,[27] and Alice in Chains in support of the grunge icons' new record Rainier Fog.[28]
In 2018 Starbenders signed a distribution deal with Japanese label B.I.J Records for Japanese releases.[29] In April 2019, the band released the EP Japanese Rooms and embarked on an extensive tour of Japan to support the EP.[30] Despite only being available in physical copies in Japan, the EP was named LA Weekly's "Album Of The Week."[31]
In May of 2019, it was announced that Starbenders had signed to Sumerian Records, and the band's first single and video on the label, "London," was released to positive reception.[32][33] The band then embarked on a US tour with labelmates Palaye Royale.[34] Starbenders continued to tour through 2019, supporting Jamie Bower's band Counterfeit on a North American tour and releasing the single "Holy Mother" in September.[35]
Starbenders began 2020 with a US tour with Asking Alexandria frontman Danny Worsnop.[36] On February 14th, they released their debut full-length on Sumerian Records, Love Potions, produced by longtime producer Nico Constantine.[37] Reflecting on the thirteen months it took the band to record the album, Kimi Shelter revealed, "We really just put our all into it. We wanted to come in old-school with it, and make sure that we were really honouring the ghosts of rock'n'roll past. It was frustrating, but the process really made us. It was both parts: beauty and pain."[38]
Charitable causes
Starbenders regularly advocates various charitable causes through music and performances. Charities and non-profits worked with include Children Of The Night, Girls Rock Camp, Open Door Inc, Lost N Found Youth,[39] and My Sister's House.[40]
Discography
Studio Albums
- Heavy Petting (2016)
- Love Potions (2020)
EPs
- Starbenders (2014)
- Julian (2018)
- Japanese Rooms (2019)
7-inch
- "Powder" (2015)
Singles
- "Brake" (2016)
- "Blood" (2016)
- "So High" (2017)
- "Far From Heaven" (2017)
- "Down and Out" (2017)
- "1969" (2017)
- "Julian" (2017)
- "21st Century Orphan" (2018)
- "Never Lie 2 Me" (2019)
- "London" (2019)
- "Holy Mother" (2019)
- "Cover Me" (2020)
- "One of Us" (2020)
- "Push" (2020)
- "Can't Cheat Time" (2020)
- "Bitches Be Witches" (2020)
References
- https://www.deadpress.co.uk/album-review-starbenders-love-potions
- "ATLANTA, GA FOUR PIECE 'STARBENDERS' TALK ALL ABOUT THEIR INSPIRATIONS, ADVICE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THEIR BRAND NEW SINGLE 'JULIAN'". MusicOTFuture. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- Contributor, Katy Costikyan |. "The Starbenders talk music, art, upcoming show". The Red and Black. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- "Promark Drumsticks : Artist Details : Emily Moon". www.daddario.com. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- "Vampire Glam: StarBenders Comes to the Odditorium (8/23)". ASHEVILLE GRIT. 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- "starbenders albums and discography | Last.fm". Last.fm. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- "Starbenders Could Be a New Favorite with "Touch" | Brightside". Brightside. 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Week in Pop: Deadphones, Jesus Sons, Lykanthea, Switches - Chatter - Impose Magazine". Impose Magazine. 2014-10-31. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Sweet and simple proves effective in Starbenders' "Touch" [Premiere] - EARMILK". EARMILK. 2014-10-17. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Starbenders share raucous new song "Brake" — listen". Consequence of Sound. 2015-08-05. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Starbenders, "Paper Beats Rock" - Video - Impose Magazine". Impose Magazine. 2016-10-17. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Starbenders share new song "Powder" — listen". Consequence of Sound. 2015-05-05. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Starbenders, The TVD First Date - The Vinyl District". The Vinyl District. 2015-08-14. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Bakos Studio". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "L.A. Mix Engineer, Mark Needham Chronological Discography". www.markneedham.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Will Brierre / Mix Engineer - Discography". Will Brierre - Mixer / Engineer / Producer. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "INDIE EXCLUSIVE: STARBENDERS' "BLOOD" VIDEO PREMIERE - INDIE Magazine". INDIE Magazine. 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Starbenders get in the Halloween spirit with erie "Powder" music video - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "[PREMIERE] Starbenders Bring Punky-Glam Rock Back With Their 'Time Stops' Video". Galore. 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- User, Super. "Oregon International Film Awards | Oregon Screenplay Contest - 2016 Oregon Film Awards". oregonfilmawards.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Exclusive! StarBenders Debut "Far From Heaven"". GuitarPlayer.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Listen/review: Starbenders - So High". Lost In The Manor. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Starbenders Release New Song "So High" (Mixed by Mark Needham) | BRIGHTMAN MUSIC | PRODUCER MANAGEMENT". brightmanmusic.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Starbenders premiere new single "Julian"". Ernie Ball Blog. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "StarBenders release spacey new song "Julian"—listen - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "Interview with UNI on Loving Oysters, Fool-Proof Music Video Casting and Making Retro Cool -". mxdwn Music. 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- Fletcher, David (2018-07-18). "Starbenders and Rosegarden Funeral Party Are Helping Children of the Night Through Music". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- Starkey, Glen. "Rising singer-songwriter Amalia Fleming plays SLO Brew Rock on Aug. 25". New Times San Luis Obispo. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "第6世代のロックバンドたちと共に、エージェント機能を持つ新インディーズレーベル【B.I.J.Records.】を発足". SankeiBiz(サンケイビズ) (in Japanese). 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "J-WAVE NEWS". www.j-wave.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-04-29.
- Callwood, Brett (2019-04-23). "Album of the Week: Starbenders' Japanese Rooms". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
- "Starbenders- Sumerian Records". www.sumerianrecords.com. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
- "10 new songs you need to hear this week". Alternative Press. 2019-05-18. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
- LockedIN. "Starbenders Announce Signing To Sumerian Records". LockedIN Magazine. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
- "Song Premiere: Starbenders - "Holy Mother"". New Noise Magazine. 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
- Trapp, Philip. "Danny Worsnop Announces Solo U.S. Tour Dates for January 2020". Loudwire. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
- Pettigrew, Jason (2020-02-14). "Starbenders are the loud AF time machine you've ever heard". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
- February 2020, Fraser Lewry14. "10 songs that inspired Starbenders' extraordinary second album Love Potions". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
- "Friday Night Classic: StarBenders Organize Benefit for Lost-n-Found Youth | Immersive Atlanta | Atlanta Music, Arts and Culture". Immersive Atlanta | Atlanta Music, Arts and Culture. 2017-03-28. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- "A conversation with Starbenders about music as activism". ArtsATL. 2017-03-29. Retrieved 2018-08-24.