Quick Hit Band Interview: Velvet Starlings

Velvet Starlings at Hotel Cafe (Rove LA/Baltisoul event)

Interview with the band (with Christian). Enjoy:

What is currently having an influence/impact on you? My “Generation” and authenticity of what the message should be. It would be cool if everyone opened their eyes to be honest with themselves and to be cool with not following the social media herds. Really, it is as if we are living in a time where "following" is the coolest thing. We might even "like" things just because someone might not like us if we don’t. I feel the next Lennon, Dylan, Joni Mitchell or Cobain might come around if we start going against the grain a little bit. Everything seems a bit manufactured and contrived, and it isn’t just music, it’s everything right now. We need some authenticity. Per Lennon, "Give me some truth.”

What’s your favorite Velvet Starlings' song and what makes it the favorite? Off our current EP: “Sold Down The River”

“Sold Down The River” is our most controversial song, at least lyrically, as it’s chorus message is kind of on the nose. It’s got a Lennon solo era vibe. It was our idea of an anthem for anyone who feels like our generation has been ‘sold’ out or sold an idea of something that isn’t real, whether it is of a political or religious nature, or the establishment's idea of what you should be taking to heal your body, mind and soul; or silly out dated ideas, such as what is right or wrong when it comes to relationships.

It feels sometimes like you’ve been waiting or hoping for something to change, but it never does. Too many false promises, lies, betrayal and deceit from a corporate America and government that have no conscience. What is left for our generation and those that come after us? We can no longer accept what is being "sold" to us. “We’ve been searching for a diamond in a coal mine and we’ve been praying for a single ray of sunshine.” It’s all in the lyrics. Anything we’d been thinking about along those lines made it in.

In fact, there were twice as many lyrics as the verses needed. Definitely some socio-political commentary along with some attempts to be Dylan-esque with a heavy splash of Lennon “We’ve been sold for pennies on the dollar when they promised us a new tomorrow. We’ve been Sold Down The River, been sold to the highest bidder. It’s hate and gold that make the sinners don’t take all from the givers. We won’t be Sold”.

If you’re talking musically at the time, we’d been messing around with a few song ideas, as we are always continually writing. A lot of our writing includes the Vox continental, in this case, the organ riff with the main verses and choruses of the song finished. Then the rock n roll bridge sort of happened which was needed to get the point across, as halfway through, it goes to an unexpected groove completely off the map of the typical pop rock arrangement.

Own final thought:

4 favorite songs with color blue in their titles -

“Love is Blue” - Paul Mauriat, 60s / harpsichord & general European Bacharach vibe . . . Beautiful instrumental.

“Blue Orchid” - Jack White, it’s just an awesome song with rocking riff.

“Behind Blue Eyes” - The Who, one of my favorite or rock ballads of The Who or anyone for that matter.

“Blue Monday” - New Order classic, Peter Hook bass line.