An interview with London and Dave from WildeStarr.
"The bottom line is that I don't really want to play bass anymore full time like I did in VR, and go backwards career wise. Now, in WildeStarr with London... I have everything I want and need" - Dave Starr
Wildestarr is a collaboration between singer London Wilde and Dave Starr from Vicious Rumours fame. Together they are the band WildeStarr. Wildestarr has just released their debut album called "Arrival" and this is a good opportunity to do an interview with London and Dave.
Some questions for London Wilde:
Did you always wanted to become a singer?
I always liked to sing, but didn't have to confidence to imagine doing it professionally until I was a teen. I was really inspired by Ronnie James Dio when he was in Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Even then I wasn't sure how I was going to get the kind of a big voice out of me that I imagined in my head, but I was willing to try!
What do you do to keep your voice in top condition?
I have to admit I don't take as good of care of my voice as I should! The main thing for me is staying hydrated, drinking LOTS of water throughout the day. I just started using a humidifier last year, I run it overnight next to my nightstand, to keep my throat from drying out.
Since you are also responsible for the keyboard parts on WildeStarr’s debut album, what keyboard do you use and how do you see yourself, as singer or as a keyboard player?
I see myself as a singer who plays a little keyboard. I like the feel of a real piano, so I use a Yamaha ps-100 fully weighted 88 keyboards as my controller, and I used East-West's Collosus sound library on "Arrival". I like organic sounds, and mostly use symphonic strings, choir, and bell patches, or film score style washes.
Who are your favourite singers and why?
My favourite singers are Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford and Geoff Tate. Dio has such incredible tone and power to his voice, and a very emphatic way of enunciating words. Every thing he says while singing just commands attention! Rob Halford can project such an excitement and emotion with his voice, that is really unequalled. Rob's range is nothing short of phenomenal. Geoff Tate also has incredible range and tone, as well as amazing control. Every single nuance of every phrase Geoff sings is detailed and polished. He never takes shortcuts, or makes things easier on himself. Those are my three biggest influences.
To what kind of music do you listen yourself?
I listen to traditional metal favourites like Judas Priest, Halford, Dio, Black Sabbath, Queensryche, and such, as well as newer Symphonic metal bands like After Forever, Nightwish, Tristania, Dimmu Borgir, Tarja, etc. I also like Classical piano, guitar, organ and harpsichord music. Sometimes I listen to the radio and jump around from classical to pop and everything in between.
And did you have any other bands before WildeStarr?
WildeStarr is the first band I have been in that did anything! I had been in a few local bands from time to time that just fell apart before anything got going.
What are your other passions besides music?
I love animals, and art. I love being outdoors in beautiful places. I am a huge movie buff, and I like to read.
And is it easy to combine the band with your personal life?
The band seems pretty entwined with my personal life at the moment, which is fine with me. It can be difficult to balance everything, there are only so many hours in the day! Since Dave and I are married, it can be hard to separate the band relationship with the personal one. I love WildeStarr, the band has become such a huge part of my life, so for now I am happy to let it take center stage.
What are the highlights for you with WildeStarr?
Meeting new people through the band has been one of the highlights for me! Making music that people are enthusiastic about has been very rewarding. Music is such an important part of getting through life for many people, myself included. When someone tells me my music affected them positively, that is the greatest reward.
And some questions for Dave Starr :
The people who are into the more "traditional" metal should know Dave Starr for his work with Vicious Rumors. Why did you leave Vicious Rumours in the first place?
Its not so much that I left, I guess you could say that I moved on. After recording the VR WarBall CD in 2006, I wanted to get to work full time on WildeStarr... so thats what I did. I recorded many albums with VR over the years, lots of touring, shows, videos, you name it. I wanted to do my own thing, be my own boss, and play guitar. I wanted a new challenge and new frontiers, and thats what I have with WildeStarr. VR will always be a part of me, and I am ok with that... we made some great music together, but this is the real me now.
What are the differences between Vicious Rumors and WildeStarr music wise?
For me personally, the differences are huge in that I play all the guitars and bass in WildeStarr. And, London and I wrote all the tunes together. I did not get to write much in VR. I think you can hear VR influences in what we do, and thats only natural. I played with some very talented people in that band over a long period of time, and I'd be a liar if I said VR did not help shape me as a musician and as a song writer. In some ways, I think what we are doing is maybe a bit more progressive and modern sounding. VR never really used keyboards, and I am doing much more harmony guitar work then we did in VR.
Is your work with Vicious Rumors a closed chapter for you or can we expect some Vicious Rumour songs at WildeStarr gigs?
I have learned in my life to never say never. I left the door open when I left in 2007, and I am on good terms with Geoff Thorpe. He was initially disappointed when I left, but he understands... especially when he heard the CD! He might end up playing with London and I in WildeStarr at some point, we shall see. We are talking about it. If we do that, we could throw in a few VR tunes in our set list. Regardless what happens with Geoff….I guess we could throw in a few VR tunes that I co-wrote anyway if we wanted to. The bottom line is that I don't really want to play bass anymore full time like I did in VR, and go backwards career wise. Now, in WildeStarr with London... I have everything I want and need.
To what kind of music do you listen yourself?
I don't listen to music much since I am so busy with WildeStarr. It seems that most of the time when I listen to music, it is new songs that I am working on. When I do listen to other music, I tend to go for the older stuff like Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, UFO, KISS, BOC.... the classic metal and hard rock that I grew up with.
What gear do you use on stage and in studio?
On "Arrival", I used a 1977 Gibson Les Paul Custom and a 1977 Greco Jeff Beck Les Paul Standard. I did all the guitar tracks with those two guitars. Both of them have EMG 81 and 89R active pickups. I use D'Addario strings and COOL guitar picks. I did not use any amps on the album, I used a TECH 21 GT-2 SansAmp and a Line 6 POD XT. For the bass, I used the same custom made 8 string that I played on the last 3 albums I have recorded. It has EMG active jazz bass pickups. No bass amp was used, we went direct into the board. WildeStarr has yet to hit the stage, so to be honest... I have no idea what I will be using for amps! I will cross that bridge when I get to it!
What are your other passions besides music?
London and I have 4 beautiful Russian Wolfhounds, a very rare and exotic breed. They are a big part of our life. Staying clean and sober (4 - 1/2 years now) is very important to me. I think a big passion for me is life itself. Just being alive, and getting up every day and taking on the challenges that come my way without drugs or alcohol.
And is it easy to combine the band with your personal life?
London and I are married, and have been for over 8 years. She is my soul mate, my wife, and my best friend. We are actually saying this for the first time here in this interview! Nobody ever asked us about this in interviews… and we never said anything! I guess we kept it a secret, but now its out!
It seems at times that WildeStarr is our whole life. The last few years have been crazy, to say the least. Not easy at times, but we deal with it! Its a tremendous amount of work, but its fun and rewarding at the same time. We try to separate our feelings about the band, the song writing, and the music business, from what goes on in our personal life. Of course, that can be easier said then done at times since our recording studio is right here in our home! We argue and fight about things just like any couple.
What are the highlights for you with WildeStarr?
There are many of them. After years on bass…. I’m finally playing guitar and writing songs, working with London, reading all the great CD reviews, doing lots of press, and talking to fans on the internet!
Some questions about the band and the album:
Why did you name your band Wildestarr? It is of course a combination of your names but was is clear from the start that you would name your band Wildestarr? (Some time ago I had a conversation with Morten Veland from Sirenia and he was complaining that all the "good" names were already taken and that’s why he called his new project Mortemia)
Dave: Wow… nobody ever asked us that! In the beginning…. It was not our intention to be a duo, that’s just the way it worked out. So… putting our 2 names together seemed to make sense!
London: When Dave and I were getting married in 2001, my friends were joking that I should hyphenate my name..Wilde-Starr. Somehow everything we did together became WildeStarr. So when the band was still just Dave and I after a couple of years, it seemed natural to just call it that.
And how would you describe your music?
Dave: Intense, dramatic, melodic, powerful.
London: I would say we are based in traditional metal, with modern and symphonic elements.
Who is responsible for the songs and music in Wildestarr?
Dave: For the most part, I write 99% of the music. London writes 99% of the lyrics and vocal melodies. Of course, we help each other out when we need to.
London: Dave writes the music, and gives me raw guitar tracks of his ideas. I add the melodies and lyrics, then we go over it together, make changes and adjustments.
Why did you name the album "Arrival"?
Dave: It just seemed to make sense. It was the name of the song that ended being the title track, and that song is also the first video. Its our first CD. I guess it was an easy decision!
London: The very last thing on our minds was what to call the record, but toward the end when we had gone through so much to get it done, "Arrival" seemed to sum up the occasion perfectly.
And what are the differences between "Arrival" and the previously released demo "Generation Next"?
Dave: "Generation Next" was the demo single we released on myspace back in 2007. The song got us lots of attention, but it was just a low budget demo version. We re-did the song for the CD and it sounds 100 times better.
When "Generation Next" was released Wildestarr was a duo and when you two started to work on "Arrival" you were joined by drummer Jim Hawthorne. Did he have any influence on the music on "Arrival"?
Dave: Not really. We hired Jim to play the drums. But over time, he also helped us out with some of the recording, engineering, and mixing of the album as well. He was a huge help, but as far as the song writing and music goes… he knew we were already pretty set on what we were doing when he was hired.
London: I do think Jim added to the sound of the record in more subtle ways, even though he was not involved in the song writing. I believe every person who contributes in a band adds a personal mark. Even though Jim was a hired gun, he loved the music, and wanted to make it the best he could, and I feel his passion in there as well when I listen to the record.
Is "Arrival" a concept album or are it ten individual songs?
Dave: I don’t really consider it a concept album. But, like most albums…. I think there is a thread that runs through everything on the record. That’s really up for the listener to figure it out.
London: I don't consider "Arrival" to be concept album, however, I DO feel that the listener is taken on a journey of sorts if you listen from start to finish. I think that's kinda cool!
Where did you get the inspiration for the songs and lyrics?
Dave: In writing the music… I just go back in time and take all my inspiration and influences from my musical heroes over the years.
London: I draw my inspiration for lyrics from life experience mostly. The music itself inspires the mood and direction I want to take the listener. When I work on a song, I turn off my conscious mind as much as possible, and let my sub-consience take over.
And what are your favourite songs on "Arrival"?
Dave: For me, I would say "Rose in the Dark" is my favourite. That song is so intense on so many levels!
London: I like the way "Rose in the Dark" turned out. It just sounds really full and orchestrated, has a lot of interesting changes, and variety to it. I also like "Arrival" and "Rise".
How has the press received "Arrival"?
Dave: The reviews have been nothing short of amazing! We did not really know what to except, but reading all the great reviews has been very gratifying. We knew we had a great CD… but we did not know what others would think! Many people in the press said "Arrival" was in their top 10 list for albums of the year. A few people said it was the album of the year.
London: The majority of the press has been very positive! Definitely exceeded my expectations!
What are Wildestarr’s plans for the future?
Dave: At this time, we are writing songs for the next CD. We hope to have it out by the end of the year.
London: We are writing the next album right now, and plan on putting together a touring line up as well.
And would you do a tour in Europe if you had the change?
Dave: Yes, most definitely!
London: Yes, we plan to tour in 2011 after our next release, and we are really looking forward to it!
And the last question is there anything the reader should know that I have not asked?
Dave: We just want to thank everyone out there who has bought the CD and shown support for WildeStarr! YOU PEOPLE ROCK!
London: Thanks Femmetal for the opportunity to spread the word about WildeStarr! We think we have something to offer that is unique. Peace and Love, and we hope to see some of you out there on the road in 2011!
