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Starbenders

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Starbenders are an American rock band from the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.[2] The group was formed in 2013 by lead singer and guitarist Kimi Shelter and Aaron Lecesne.[3][4] After adding guitarist Kriss Tokaji and drummer Emily Moon, Starbenders were signed to Nico Constantine’s label, Institution Records.[5] With Constantine as their producer, the band has released three EPs, one full-length, one 7-inch, and six singles on Institution Records and two singles and two full-lengths on Sumerian Records.

Starbenders
Starbenders in 2024. Clockwise from top: Qi Wei, Kimi Shelter, Kriss Tokaji, Aaron Lecesne
Starbenders in 2024. Clockwise from top: Qi Wei, Kimi Shelter, Kriss Tokaji, Aaron Lecesne
Background information
GenresGlam rock[1]
Years active2013–present
LabelsSumerian Records, Institution Records
MembersKimi Shelter
Aaron Lecesne
Kriss Tokaji
Qi Wei
Past membersKyle Gordon
Katie Herron
Emily Moon
Websitewww.starbenders.com

Career

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Starbenders released their self-titled debut EP[6] in 2014 to positive reception[7] with the lead-off single Touch[8] and quickly followed with the singles Brake,[9] Paper Beats Rock,[10] and Powder[11] in 2015 while touring the United States extensively.[12] The band spent the remainder of 2015 recording 2016's full-length Heavy Petting, which was released by Institution Records. The record was engineered by Matt Goldman at Glow-In-The-Dark Studios] and Jeff Bakos at Studio B,[citation needed] and mixed by Mark Needham[citation needed] and Will Brierre.[citation needed]

The band led with the single Blood and released a music video for the track,[13] followed by videos for Paper Beats Rock, Powder,[14] and Time Stops,[15] which won "Best Music Video" at the 2016 Oregon Film Awards.[16]

Starbenders continued to be active through 2017, touring and releasing the singles Far From Heaven[17] and So High,[18] (again mixed by Needham).[citation needed] In late 2017 the band began work on their new EP JULIAN and released the title track Julian[citation needed] as a single in advance of the EP's official release in January 2018.[19]

Starbenders toured extensively in 2018 in support of JULIAN, notably touring alongside Charlotte Kemp Muhl's UNI,[20] Rosegarden Funeral Party on the Children Of The Night tour,[21] and Alice in Chains in support of the grunge icons' new record Rainier Fog.[22]

In 2018 Starbenders signed a distribution deal with Japanese label B.I.J Records for Japanese releases.[23] In April 2019, the band released the EP Japanese Rooms and embarked on an extensive tour of Japan to support the EP.[24] Despite only being available in physical copies in Japan, the EP was named LA Weekly's "Album Of The Week."[25]

 
Starbenders in Tokyo, 2019

In May 2019, it was announced that Starbenders had signed to Sumerian Records, and the band's first single and video on the label, "London," was released to positive reception.[26][27] The band then embarked on a US tour with labelmates Palaye Royale.[28] Starbenders continued to tour through 2019, supporting Jamie Bower's band Counterfeit on a North American tour and releasing the single "Holy Mother" in September.[29]

Starbenders began 2020 with a US tour with Asking Alexandria frontman Danny Worsnop.[30] On February 14, they released their debut full-length on Sumerian Records, Love Potions, produced by longtime producer Nico Constantine.[31] Reflecting on the thirteen months it took the band to record the album, Kimi Shelter revealed, "We really just put our all into it. We wanted to come in old-school with it, and make sure that we were really honouring the ghosts of rock'n'roll past. It was frustrating, but the process really made us. It was both parts: beauty and pain."[32] They collaborated with Remington Leith from Palaye Royale on Depeche Mode cover Precious.[33]

Love Potions was later re-released as a digital version with 7 additional bonus tracks, including the bonus track from the Japanese version True Love, an acoustic version of Bitches be witches and a remix of Push (both have already been released with the singles before).[34]

In April 2021 they digitally released an acoustic version of Time Stops and a coupling track together with The Mavens and Lilith Czar as singles for the soundtrack of American musical drama television series Paradise City.[citation needed] In August 2021 they released the digital single No one listened.[citation needed]

After that they intensely toured several countries. Their tour included a headliner US tour with 22 dates across the country[citation needed] and a their third tour in Japan in 2022 which was originally planned for 2021,[citation needed] but postponed to 2022. They were joined on the 10 dates in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya by Japanese artists such as 88Kasyo Junrei, SPARK!!SOUND!!SHOW!! and THE BOHEMIANS.[citation needed] In August 2022 they announced they would be the opening act for Palaye Royale's North American leg of their Fever Dream tour consisting of 25 dates.[citation needed] Later they announced they would make their European debut as opening act for the Fever Dream tour alongside English rock band Yonaka on 34 dates.[citation needed] This was followed by a Summer tour across the US together with The Haunt,[citation needed] several festival dates and a UK tour in October 2023.[citation needed]

Prior to the release of their third full length album Take back the night on September 22nd 2023, they released Seven white horses, If you need it, Blood moon, The Game and Sex as singles in 2022 and 2023.[citation needed] The 13 track album also included a cover of Alice Cooper's Poison. The Game reached #33 of the Rock Charts on Rock Radio.[citation needed]

In February 2024, drummer Emily Moon left.[citation needed] They also announced a US tour with Nita Strauss and Diamante.[citation needed] New drummer Qi Wei made her debut appearance with the band on this tour, and was confirmed as a member.[35]

Members

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Current members

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  • Kimi Shelter – vocals, rhythm guitar (2013–present)
  • Aaron Lecesne – bass (2013–present)
  • Kriss Tokaji – lead guitar (2016–present)
  • Qi Wei - drums (2024–present)

Former members

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  • Kyle Gordon – lead guitar (2013–2016)
  • Katie Herron – drums (2013–2017)
  • Emily Moon – drums (2017–2024)

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Heavy Petting (2016)
  • Love Potions (2020)
  • Take Back the Night (2023)

EPs

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  • Starbenders (2014)
  • Julian (2018)
  • Japanese Rooms (2019)

7-inch

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  • "Powder" (2015)

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak Chart Positions Album
US
Main.
Rock
[36]
"Brake" 2016 — Heavy Petting
"Blood" —
"So High" 2017 — Non-album singles
"Far From Heaven" —
"Down and Out" —
"1969"
"Julian" — Julian EP
"21st Century Orphan" 2018 — Japanese Rooms EP
"Never Lie 2 Me" 2019 —
"London" 2019 — Love Potions
"Holy Mother" —
"Cover Me" 2020 —
"One of Us" —
"Push" —
"Can't Cheat Time" —
"Bitches Be Witches" —
"No One Listened" 2021 — Non-album singles
"Seven White Horses" 2022 — Take Back the Night
"If You Need It" —
"Blood Moon" —
"The Game" 2023 39
"Sex" —
"We're Not OK" —
"Body Talk" —
"Cherry Wine" —
"Tokyo" 2024 — Non-album singles

References

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  1. ^ "ALBUM REVIEW: Starbenders - Love Potions". Deadpress.co.uk. 15 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Meet the Artist: Kimi Shelter, Starbenders". She Will Rock You. 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  3. ^ "Atlanta, GA four piece 'Starbenders' talk all about their inspirations, advice and most importantly their brand new single 'Julian'". MusicOTFuture. 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  4. ^ Katy Costikyan |. "The Starbenders talk music, art, upcoming show". The Red and Black. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  5. ^ "Vampire Glam: StarBenders Comes to the Odditorium (8/23)". Ashevillegrit.com. 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  6. ^ "Starbenders Could Be a New Favorite with "Touch" | Brightside". Brightside. 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  7. ^ "Week in Pop: Deadphones, Jesus Sons, Lykanthea, Switches - Chatter - Impose Magazine". Impose Magazine. 2014-10-31. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  8. ^ "Sweet and simple proves effective in Starbenders' "Touch" [Premiere]". Earmilk. 2014-10-17. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  9. ^ "Starbenders share raucous new song "Brake" — listen". Consequence of Sound. 2015-08-05. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  10. ^ "Starbenders, "Paper Beats Rock" - Video - Impose Magazine". Impose Magazine. 2016-10-17. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  11. ^ "Starbenders share new song "Powder" — listen". Consequence of Sound. 2015-05-05. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  12. ^ "Starbenders, The TVD First Date - The Vinyl District". The Vinyl District. 2015-08-14. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  13. ^ "INDIE EXCLUSIVE: STARBENDERS' "BLOOD" VIDEO PREMIERE - INDIE Magazine". INDIE Magazine. 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  14. ^ "Starbenders get in the Halloween spirit with erie "Powder" music video - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  15. ^ "[PREMIERE] Starbenders Bring Punky-Glam Rock Back With Their 'Time Stops' Video". Galore. 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  16. ^ "Oregon International Film Awards | Oregon Screenplay Contest - 2016 Oregon Film Awards". Oregonfilmawards.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  17. ^ "Exclusive! StarBenders Debut "Far From Heaven"". GuitarPlayer.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  18. ^ "Listen/review: Starbenders - So High". Lost In The Manor. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  19. ^ "StarBenders release spacey new song "Julian"—listen - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  20. ^ "Interview with UNI on Loving Oysters, Fool-Proof Music Video Casting and Making Retro Cool -". mxdwn Music. 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  21. ^ Fletcher, David (2018-07-18). "Starbenders and Rosegarden Funeral Party Are Helping Children of the Night Through Music". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  22. ^ Starkey, Glen. "Rising singer-songwriter Amalia Fleming plays SLO Brew Rock on Aug. 25". New Times San Luis Obispo. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  23. ^ "第6世代のロックバンドたちと共に、エージェント機能を持つ新インディーズレーベル【B.I.J.Records.】を発足". SankeiBiz（サンケイビズ） (in Japanese). 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  24. ^ "J-WAVE NEWS". J-wave.co.jp (in Japanese). 26 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  25. ^ Callwood, Brett (2019-04-23). "Album of the Week: Starbenders' Japanese Rooms". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved 2019-04-29.
  26. ^ "Starbenders- Sumerian Records". Sumerianrecords.com. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  27. ^ "10 new songs you need to hear this week". Alternative Press. 2019-05-18. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  28. ^ "Starbenders Announce Signing To Sumerian Records". LockedIN Magazine. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  29. ^ "Song Premiere: Starbenders - "Holy Mother"". New Noise Magazine. 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  30. ^ Trapp, Philip (10 October 2019). "Danny Worsnop Announces Solo U.S. Tour Dates for January 2020". Loudwire. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  31. ^ Pettigrew, Jason (2020-02-14). "Starbenders are the loud AF time machine you've ever heard". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  32. ^ Fraser Lewry (14 February 2020). "10 songs that inspired Starbenders' extraordinary second album Love Potions". Classic Rock Magazine. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  33. ^ Love Potions (Zodiac Deluxe) by Starbenders on Apple Music, 2021-02-14, retrieved 2024-02-08
  34. ^ Love Potions (Zodiac Deluxe) by Starbenders on Apple Music, 2021-02-14, retrieved 2024-02-08
  35. ^ Follmer, Nate (2024-03-16). "It's a Woman's World and We're Just Rocking In It – Nita Strauss' Spring Tour Stops at Lovedraft's Brewing". Pittsburgh Music Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  36. ^ "Mainstream Rock Airplay: Week of January 20, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
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