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About STARMAPS

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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug?
Rach – I started playing the piano when I was 7, but it was classical stuff that I wasn’t really into. I remember listen to my Dad’s Beatle vinyl records as a kid and also loving the pop charts as a teenager. From about the age of 16 or 17 I started writing songs on the guitar (they were not great lol) and from there my main goal in life was to play in bands.
Dan – Pretty much… I was rocking out to Bon Jovi and Guns N Roses when I was 5 years old and that naturally spawned into a music obsession. I didn’t start writing until I was 17, but it was definitely engrained in me from the get go.

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
We are melodic indie electro pop, using a mix of traditional rock instruments combined with electronic synths, drums and sounds. We try to create songs that evoke feelings something, whether it be happy or sad, fun or darkness.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today? 
Rach – I love seeing Bloc Party play live. Their energy, rawness and emotion are amazing!
Dan – Both Idles and The Hives are two of the best live bands going around.

Your debut Single ‘This Is Love’ has just been released! Describe its origin and evolution. 
“This Is Love” is a snapshot of love in its early stages: the raw passion, the longing, and the learning how each other connect. Where every interaction leaves another element to hold onto, with hope it will last beyond that moment.
We actually wrote a version of the song together over 10 years ago, and when we reconnected recently, we decided to rework it into the STARMAPS vibe.
Sonically, the track sounds familiar yet unique, with STARMAPS blending synths, guitars and vocal hooks, leaving the emotion on the dance floor.

Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
We have an album written. We have another 2 songs almost ready for release, so they will be coming out over the next few months.
We’re working with Laps (an Italian producer based in London) and John De Michele (an American sound engineer, based in Adelaide), who are both busy guys, so we get sessions going with them whenever we can.
We’ll start tracking & mixing the rest of the songs in the second half of the year, and get the album out in 2024.

Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
We currently have a couple of Adelaide shows lined up while Rach in town, and are in talks with show opportunities interstate.
Down the track we plan to do a UK tour and possibly even meet halfway (between Adelaide / London) for a tour.
Each show will be case by case, depending on what the vibe calls and what people want from us.
The great thing about this project is we can play with just the 2 of us for a more electro vibe, or build it into a full live band with an extra guitarist, bass player and live drums. We’re really excited to see it translate into a full live band, as both have our roots in playing live with this set up.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
Rach – Joy Division. Brilliant dark chaos.
Dan – Prince. He was a mastermind of pop.

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist? 
First, we want to get a few live shows under our belt, then focus on getting current songs released. We’d love to tour in different parts of the world, keep writing new songs and also do some collaborations with other artists.

What’s been the career highlight so far?
We’re just at the start of it, so releasing the single is the highlight!

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Rach – Silent Alarm by Bloc Party; Dan – Sam’s Town by The Killers
Artist – Rach – Kim Gordon – Sonic Youth; Dan – Laura Jane Grace – Against Me!
Movie – Rach – Love Actually; Dan – Death Proof
Place to visit – Rach – Singapore; Dan – Tokyo
Venue to play – Both – Crown & Anchor
Food – Rach – Sushi; Dan – Ramen
Drink – Rach – Red Wine; Dan – Uraidla Beers
Person in History – Rach – Dr Ramani; Dan – Adam Goodes
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?)  Rach – I don’t have one, but I would get a frog with my son’s name with it; Dan – I have 9. My most recent ones are a maneki neko and a Siamese tiger.

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Follow STARMAPS
Instagram

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Press Release 30th July 2023 (below) HERE

STARMAPS
release debut single
‘THIS IS LOVE’

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AMNPLIFY – DB