Stars Go Dim has just dropped his new album - ‘Roses’ - a warm, golden journey of heartfelt classic pop, infectious funk and nostalgic soundscapes. We caught up with the pop band on his departure in sound, collaborating with legends like Elton John, old-school influences, and more…
Tell us about your upcoming album, ‘Roses’ What was the inspiration behind it? I feel like this album is the culmination of a lifetime of loving music and finally taking the reins on my own sound and creating exactly the music I wanted to create. Songs that move me both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It's the first album that I've produced 100% myself, along with some incredible collaborators and I think it's the most honest description of what I really believe to be true and God, life, and how this whole thing really works. It's obviously heavily influenced by vintage soul, funk, r&b, etc - and we did our best to put a modern take on music that feels very unique and real.
You’ve toured the world, written and played with the likes of Justin Bieber, John Mayer, Googoo dolls, Elton John, Natasha Bedingfield and more. Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with in the future? I've been incredibly lucky to have a career that has now spanned decades, somehow! I think someone I'd love to collaborate with now is John Bellion. He's just incredible.
Your previous project, ‘Grace In The Wilderness,’ was a huge success, featuring ‘Yes He Does’ - an international #1 radio single. How is ‘Roses’ different both sonically and lyrically? I loved the album, Grace in the Wilderness, but this is a big departure from that project sonically. It's a move into a direction that I feel is more honest and fresh for me as an artist. Lyrically, I always do my best to write from a place of knowing - and I think I did that on the last album and may have done it better on "Roses" than any album yet.
What does your songwriting process often involve - did you come across any creative breakthroughs in the album’s writing process? This project was different than many albums I've done before in that I was really searching for something new... something that MOVED me - quite literally. I've always loved soulful and funky music and when I began writing songs with vintage chord structures and began orchestrating, arranging, and producing them out - something came alive in me and I knew I was onto something special. It did take a while to get there and once I decided that was the direction I had to convince everyone else to go with me! So I quickly realized my vision was far too specific to give away to anyone else, so I convinced the label to let me produce - which was a big deal. I also knew that I don't know everything, so I brought in some of the most talented collaborators I know to help with the songs. This was one of the most rewarding processes of creating that I've ever had in my career.
Lead single “Mama Don’t Lie” has a piano-led retro sound. Does this mark the beginning of a new chapter and tease the remainder of the album? ABSOLUTELY!
The music videos for each track are filmed in a glowing, white room surrounded by roses, backing singers and a piano. How does this reflect the title and the essence of your live shows? My hope is to be able to tour this album in a very similar way. Hopefully the album will be successful enough that I can afford to bring out 12 of my friends to help me pull of all of the songs each night! We have done a couple of private events for this album and it is a 12 piece band! It's incredibly fun and exciting to play - so my hope is to be able to bring that same energy live, if and when possible.
Your music has such an uplifting energy. What’s one emotion you hope listeners will take away from it? I think every song on this album will emote a different feeling. I was intentional about trying to create songs that actually made it easy for you to feel and respond to - and my hope is that regardless of what it stirs inside of you, is that it does just that - stirs you in some way.
Who were your key musical inspirations for “Roses?” So many - Chicago, Earth Wind and Fire, The Eagles, Stevie Wonder, Hall & Oats, Lauren Hill, the Beatles, the Beegees - it was really a mix of so many greats.
If “Roses” could soundtrack any movie, what would it be and why? Oh man... maybe "Almost Famous" or "Dazed and Confused" just because those are the only movies I can think of set in the 70's, haha.
‘Roses’ Is Out Now
here.
