Starwind

Tell us about where you are from and how you got to this position today.
I was born and raised in a small town in Iowa named Cherokee. I joined the Air Force when I turned 18 and was shipped off to England for two and half years. During my time in England I traveled to many different places and saw different parts of the world people wait their entire lives to see, it was an eye opener. After my time in England I moved out to Northern California and this is where the music production began. During my years in school I was in choir and I played the saxophone, I was first chair every year until I graduated, never studied a scale in depth, just enough to be the best, I had a natural talent for music. During my years in England I taught myself how to play the drums and the guitar. I take what I know about music and notes and what I love about rock music and apply it to the electro pop sound I make today. I produce all my own music and record all my own music, I firmly believe in originality and standing out from the crowd.

What are you currently working on and what can we expect to see?
I am currently working on my fifth and final electro pop album and at the same time my first rock album as a band under a different name. After I completed my first album, I knew I had more in me so I continued making full length albums all with different concepts and stories involved with the story telling aspect of my music. I’ve been told my final two albums are grammy worthy and the level of quality and depth the music goes into is far more mature and grown then what I started with in “Play This At Your Party”.

What is one of the most drastic changes you’ve made about yourself in the last year?
I have to say the most drastic thing I have changed in the last year was separating from the military to pursue personal dreams. It has been extremely difficult getting my name out there, finding the right people to help, making money and raise a family all while at the same time focus time and energy into making music that people will not only enjoy but invest their time into.

Tell us about one of the hardest challenges you had to face in the industry?
The hardest challenge I have faced so far is just getting my name out there, I lack time to invest into a full time music career because my family comes first, you have to make money to spend money. I signed to Island Def Jam Digital Label to help me get my music out the door and they have been great, especially getting my single “No! It’s Spiked!” onto iTunes quick so my fans in Northern CA and Iowa can get a piece of me. The full album “Play This At Your Party” will be available late December, I cannot wait!

What was one of the biggest set backs in your career and how did you bounce back?
The biggest set back I have had is that within just this year I have produced all five of my electro-pop albums and that the last two are on another level of amazing music, I mean they are beyond what you hear on the radio right now. So I had a choice, I could release one of the albums now and people would instantly melt to the sound of music on each song and possibly sky rocket me into the spot light, or release what I started with to show fans this is where I started and this is where I’m going. One of my favorite things to do is to play somebody a first album of one of my favorite bands and then play them the most recent album so they can see growth in music and now that I’m on the other end of the spectrum I understand the importance of showing growth in your music.

What are some things artists need to be careful of?
Group gigs, I put together a group, produced music for the entire album, we completed and recorded a whole album of music but, the other members just seem to only care about money and fame, not the art in music and that is what music is all about, contrary to popular belief. Also, never compromise who you are as an artist, if you make your own music, don’t let somebody tell you what your music should be about.

What would you spend a million dollars on?
I would spend a millions dollars on paying my cars off, love new cars, just not the price tags that come with them. After that, I would have a club built, I have some pretty unique marketing ideas for a night club and I could guarantee success with it. I would probably buy a very nice, modest home for my family to live in, also invest and save the rest for future use and to funnel back into my music career.

What was your biggest risk taken in your career?
The biggest risk I have taken so far is following my dreams, but life isn’t any fun or fulfilling if you don’t at least try. Try, and try again, stretch inches into miles.

What suggestions do you have for other artists like yourself?
Advice I give to other indie artist like myself is just never compromise who you are as an artist, never let someone write your music for you, or tell you how to perform it, because then your just a poster boy for somebody else, a puppet, a Beiber.

What are the best ways to sell your products as an artist?
The best way to sell music is the word of mouth route, everybody talks music, people find connections through music, friendships are made through music, babies are made with music playing, some people find their soul mate just by the music they have in common, just get your music in peoples lives.

What is one of your favorite ways to promote yourself and your music?
The internet is a trendy friendly way to let people know what you’re doing with your music, where they can get it, and a very easy way to keep in touch with friends and fans. One of my favorite ways of promoting is asking people what kind of music they listen to, if it is up my alley, I personally bring them to my car in groups, or one on one, to listen to my music and future music so they see where my music is going as a whole, all are impressed.

Any last comments or statements?
I would like to thank WWS Magazine for giving me this interview, its been a huge mile stone in my career and I couldn’t appreciate it more. My debut album “Play This At Your Party” will be available on iTunes late December, my single “No! It’s Spiked!” Is available now. Thank You. - WWS MAGAZINE