Starbenders

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]

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]