10 Quick Ones with DAVE STARR and LONDON WILDE from WILDESTARR – November 2017

According to a recent press release: “US Metal powerhouse WildeStarr will release their new album Beyond The Rain on December 8th on Scarlet Records. The first single from the forthcoming album release is the title track “Beyond The Rain”, which has a new lyric video as well. WildeStarr is the combined talents of 3 of the most dynamic musicians in Heavy Metal today: Dave Starr on all guitars & bass, London Wilde on vocals, and powerhouse drummer Josh Foster. Over the course of three studio albums – Arrival (2010), A Tell Tale Heart (2012), and now Beyond The Rain – WildeStarr have established themselves as the masters of their craft with melodic and aggressive Metal full of dark drama, and conveyed via a huge wall of sound.”  We get Dave and London to answer our 10 Quick Ones about new music, their influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Dave: Beyond the Rain is our new CD. Its a great concept album. But its not fictional like many concept albums, this is London’s real life story about the life and suicide of her brother Gary. I think this is a difficult topic that we have handled well, and many people will be able to relate to.

London: We always add what we call “ear cookies” or “cookies” for short as we refer to them in the studio. Our sound is very layered and if you listen enough times, you may pick out little guitar riff or vocal harmonies here and there that you didn’t notice before.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Dave: A friend loaned me his KISS ALIVE! album back in 1976, after telling me how great they were. That was it, it changed me forever. I was totally blown away!

London: Music was a family hobby. I grew up surrounded by musicians. My grandmother played a mean honky-tonk piano, while my grandfather plucked the banjo. My father was an amateur Elvis and Johnny Cash performer, and music was always being played live at home. My brother picked up the drums at age 7, and my other brother was playing guitar by age 6. I wasn’t sure what instrument I wanted to play. It wasn’t until I was 14 when I decided I wanted to be a singer. It was Ronnie James Dio that inspired me, the song was the epic eight and a half minute long “Stargazer” by Rainbow.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Dave: Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, KISS, after that, just about anyone who makes great music!

London: My main vocal influences are Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford, and Geoff Tate. I call them the “Holy Trinity” of vocalists.  I aspired to that level of range and ability, which took me decades to achieve. Those are all very big shoes to try on!

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

Dave: The late great Phil Lynott would be my choice, but since that’s not gonna happen, I’d say Rob Halford.

London: I would have to agree with Dave, it would be the ultimate dream for me to do some kind of duet with Rob Halford!

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

Dave: Intense, melodic, aggressive, with a huge wall of sound!

London: I would describe it as melodic metal grounded in traditional roots with some modern twists.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Dave: To me, being creative is very important and rewarding. Its also great to talk with fans who love the music I have made over the years. To know you have made a connection with someone through your music is really an amazing thing!

London: The best thing about being a musician is being able to reach people emotionally. There is nothing more satisfying than someone telling you your music helped them get through the day, or inspired them in some way.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Dave: Interesting question! My wife (London) and I both cook, I don’t drink anymore, and I always have a guitar around to pick up and write with!

London: Dave is definitely the first to crack out the acoustic guitar! Josh is the first to EAT, although Dave is the most likely to cook. I am the LAST to do a singalong. I hate that actually. I sing really loud, and Dave always looks like his ears hurt. I am the first to get the drinks in though!

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

Dave: Actor

London: Supreme ruler of a small country.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

Dave: There are lots of them, things that went wrong or could have been handled better. But, that’s life. All the good and the bad we go through in life makes us who we are today. So, I don’t stress on those things, since it really doesn’t do me any good. I’ve got my hands full with today and tomorrow!

London: Yes, I would like to do over the decade of the 80’s. I wish I had had more confidence in myself. I got rejected constantly by bands because I was a woman, and the bands always saw their image as being male fronted. I wish I could go back in time and start my own band. I probably would have been a major artist at the time if I only had the confidence level I have now.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Dave: Not sure about that! If I went back in time and took part in the recording of a great album that would alter it!! You know what they say, history cant be changed!!

London: Probably the album Boston which was the debut album from the band Boston in 1976. I would have liked to have been there to learn their recording tricks and secrets, because the band recorded it themselves in their own studio, which is what we do. It sounds amazing, and has held up through time as still sounding modern. It’s such a work of art sound wise, and also I love Brad Delp’s voice. It would have been awesome to witness that history being made.

WILDESTARR LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

Category: Interviews