Interview: Starling

Starling might be a band, but they are much more than that.

Dan, Craig, Sol and Vanessa are four close friends who bonded over music and decided to write, record and produce a record that tugs at the heart strings while forcing you on to your feet to shake that bootie.

Having tested the waters with their début album 'Public Service', the group return with their stonking sophomore effort 'Dream Again'. Vanessa James tells us more...



When did you first realise you wanted to make music?

I just always have been making music. I was shy growing up and rarely talked, the piano became my mouth piece and means of expression before I could read music. So I learned to compose and improvise at the same time I learned to talk really.

If you could go back to that day, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

Stay curious. Keep going. Record what you're writing, material is valuable.

What is your writing process?

Good old fashioned pen, paper, and piano. I have to find the sound inspiring first. I make sure LogicPro is set up ready to record if my hand can't keep up writing.

Then I just let it all flow out - the good, the bad and the ugly. Then go back over it all and pluck out the sparkly bits like a magpie collecting tinfoil magic.

I never know what it's going to be, sometimes a song, an instrumental piece, or just a theme. I just keep refining and refining till it completes itself, becoming what it wants to be.

Where do you look for inspiration?

If I'm writing for motion picture the inspiration is all in the film. For songs, I often get the inspiration from inside the music. Maybe a chord sequence or a little rhythm I fall into will spark the beginning of a song.

Generally I make sure to never close my ears or eyes to anything. Ever. It helps me find inspiration in the weirdest of places and often, inconveniently, when I'm falling asleep...and 'ping!'

If your music were a person, what would their personality be? Where do you think it would live?

The person would be a more liberated me. Maybe living in a cave of weird treasures or a secret land, dressed in floaty theatrical clothes, bouncing off the walls, splashing coloured paint and dancing to the beat of the rain without a care in the world. I'm a secret hippy.

If you had to cite your biggest three influences, what would they be?

The world, sound, and the piano.

What are your three favourite records of the moment?

From this year, I'd have to pick Alt-J's new album - very creative production, George Ezra has some lovely songs, and I heard this new Starling album is a masterpiece, apparently. Ah how I shamelessly plug.

What song do you wish you had written?

Definitely one of the classics. 'You Were Always On My Mind' or 'Edelweiss'. No, Bowie's 'Life on Mars'! So many.

If you could collaborate with any living artist, who would it be?

I'll say John Hopkins. He creates some incredible sounds and atmospheres from electronics. Truly Brian Eno's protegé.

Touring is a big part of a musicians life, what are your tour must haves?

I'm pretty low maintenance as long as I have warmth and a tennis ball to play with. But maybe some single origin Venezuelan 77% dark chocolate delivered on the back of an oompa loompa wouldn't go amiss.

What makes a good live show?

Energy and authenticity.

What has been your favourite performance to date?

Besides my performance of 'Mr Blue Sky' in first school assembly, I'd have to say our first EP launch as baby Starlings.

We had all our industry friends help us put on a great show, the lights were zingy, the sound was fat, we had giant balloons, retro sweets, and a room full of chanting, singing supporters.

There was the love.