It’s the classic pop star fairytale. You’re bussing tables at work when suddenly someone drops out of performing so you take to the stage, sing your heart out and the crowd goes wild. And that’s exactly what happened to London-based singer, Starling.
Now getting ready to release her new EP, “The Body”, at the end of this week, Starling’s alt-pop style is making her one of the most exciting artists out there. A lover of art, and especially visually vivid artists, her tracks are an explosion of technicolour pop with a distinctive edge. Unapologetically honest, her music is ballsy and beautiful. As she describes her latest single, “Large It”, “It’s a song about getting wrecked and not giving a shit. But on a deeper note it reflects the turning point of my liberation. Caring not about what people think and more about what I think.”
With “The Body” out on Friday 31st March, we grabbed a minute with the rising pop sensation to find out all about her.
Your music has thus far been unapologetically and refreshingly honest. What inspired your forthcoming EP, “The Body”?
My first EP “The Heart” was my pain expressed and this EP is more like freedom. Both are reflections of where I am at. Still dark because that seems to be the core but way more vibrant in its carelessness and kind of powerful in that I feel like I can be me, rather than some idealised version of myself.
You write your own songs. Tell us about your creative process.
I do. Mainly from my dreams. I have a diary by my bed and write all sorts of whack when I wake. It can be surreal or a complete scene with all the details. Sometimes I bring that into the studio. Sometimes I just sing a melody into my phone walking in the street. More often than not the song will be some telling of the day for instance no rest for the wicked was written the morning after my break up so just wrote how it felt to not ever win at love. Had to get that rage out of me.
“It’s, like, this don’t give a shit element that I find sexy. And inspiring.”
You’ve previously cited Florence and the Machine as a role model, from who else do you draw inspiration?
Patti Smith, Fiona Apple, PJ Harvey, Blondie. These are my kind of women. They are more concerned about what they think of themselves then what others do. It’s, like, this don’t give a shit element that I find sexy. And inspiring. They are individuals in an otherwise quite conforming culture. And, as well, they create their own world you just want to disappear in.
So, you fell into music by covering a gig for someone who had dropped out, whats your favourite thing about performing live?
The audience, I’m in love with them. I feel like fire. The adrenaline is mad but I’ve got to a point where I can be present with it all whereas in my past I was so nervous and frozen.
How would you describe your sound in three words?
Dark. Driven. Colourful.
What else is in store for the rest of 2017?
My third EP in the Autumn. And behind the scenes preparing my album ready for next year.
