The Artist Explains: Starling - 'Swoop'
After returning to the scene in October with her single ‘No Leader’, rising alt-pop artist Starling is back to give us another teaser from her eagerly-awaited debut album ‘To Be Alive’ with new track ‘Swoop’. With bold, bouncy baselines to create this captivating sound, it certainly lays down the intention Starling has for her album. She took a moment to talk to us in more depth about the track.
Hey Starling - how are you? Your new track ‘Swoop’ is out now - can you tell us what the track is about?
Swoop is about going for the life you want unapologetically. I was tired of hiding my ambition - almost like it's not cool to be hungry. This song is about my owning it - owning who I am, what I want and going for it. We dumb down our desires to protect us from other peoples judgement - I didnt want to do that anymore, its ok to want it all.
This single is the second teaser of your debut album ‘To Be Alive’ - how is that coming along and when can we get to hear it?
Oh yes "To Be Alive" will be out next year however you'll hear a song a month for nine months as we waterfall every track - after all each song has a message that links to the essence of the albums title. "To Be Alive" is about owning it - your shadow, your pain, your desire, your beauty.
It was produced by Damian Taylor and David Kyle Payne - who between them have worked with the likes of Bjork and Sigala plus more. How did this partnership come about? How was the experience of working with them?
I was introduced to Damian Taylor by my management - we met over a zoom call and talked about all the things from quantum to philosophy and more and then a few months later I flew there to make the record. David Kyle Payne based in London, finished it with me here in the uk - he is like my musical brother originally in my band he knows what Starlingsworld embodies. The combination of Damian and David is the sonic dream I had always wished for.
Any behind the scenes stories from the recording process?
Next door to 123 studios where the live part of the record was made was a small restaurant in a shed called "spaghetti and tiramisu " which sold only spaghetti and tiramisu - we would go there for our "lucky charm" meal - it was almost like a little ritual omen thing that would mean for great vocal takes - so we told ourselves, of course it was just an amazing ritual to eat shit tons each day.
What do you hope your listeners take from this song? Does it have a certain message you wanted them to hear?
That it's ok to go for what you want - to swoop in and shine. Life is too short to shrink and hide - shine and inspire others to shine too. There is enough opportunity for all of us.