Starbenders are a rock-n-roll dream come true for every hard luck dreamer occupying this third stone from the sun. The Atlanta-born glam/punk rockers have been trailblazing since 2013, with over two dozen releases under their studded belts.
Taking scene by scene by storm across the globe, they have received rave reviews from Alt Press, Ladygunn, Louder Sound, Galore Magazine, GuitarPlayer, LA Weekly, Metal Nexus, V13.net, among others, and most recently, landed a spread in Japan’s teen magazine INROCK.
Now the band is gearing up to release “We’re Not Okay” on June 15th, via Sumerian Records, from their upcoming studio album “Take Back the Night” (out on September 22nd, 2023).
Watch the official video for “We’re Not OK” below.
“Take Back the Night” was born in the wake of the band’s most challenging obstacles to date. From life threatening necrotizing bacterial pneumonia to addiction to two years of the world in limbo, it felt like the punches kept coming and coming. The band made a conscious decision that they were going to practice radical acceptance and stick together no matter what. The frustration and worries we choked down on the daily were transmuted into the compositions and sounds of the new record. All the triumph over serious obstacles made the rocket fuel that propelled their most cohesive and aggressive record ever.
“Singer/songwriter Kimi Shelter is the love child Johnny Thunders and Joan Jett should have had, raised with an impeccable education from Blondie Elementary School, Def Leppard High, Bowie College, and a Ph.D from Siouxie Sioux University in Fuck All Y’all. Aaron Lecesne brings ripping bass lines, vivid musicality, fashionista chic, and lightning rod stage energy. Kriss Tokaji is the literal embodiment of a Guitar Adonis whose fretboard mastery easily places him at the pinnacle of today’s young guns, a legend in the making. Then we have Emily Moon, the siren behind the drums, channeling her spiritual father (and namesake), Keith Moon, in a gorgeous tornado of sound and fury. This band has toured the world with everyone from Alice In Chains to Palaye Royale, destroying the entire house every time. They’ve issued twenty-six releases in eight years – singles, EPs, and LPs, including their 2020 full-length, ‘Love Potions’, for Sumerian Records. Another album’s worth of new material is currently awaiting release. With a work ethic as relentless as their fabulous vision, there is much more magic yet to come”, says William DuVall (Alice In Chains).
“When I initially wrote ‘We’re Not OK’, I was thinking about the struggle I’ve had with spirituality. Sometimes I feel like a poser when I try to tap into faith”, states Shelter.
She continues: “That small voice going, ‘you really don’t believe’, ‘you know it’s not going to be any different’… and on and on. I brought my mentor and dear friend, James Hall, in to co-write. He was able to bring more light to that feeling of hopelessness that we all feel. What’s important is coming together to be ‘less not okayv and riding out the storm. The answering of prayers can be very subtle, we just have to keep our minds open to the possibility of things changing and working themselves out. We tapped into this further with the music video. Starbenders had the honor of working with Gilbert Trejo. He immediately picked up on the sentiment of the song and wanted to show us floating through Hollywood, going through it. The band is depicted as eventually finding one another and carrying on along the walk of fame. Definitely deep rock n’ roll poetry”.
Pre-order & pre-save “Take Back the Night” here.
Tracklist:
1. The Game
2. Sex
3. Body Talk
4. We’re Not OK
5. Cherry Wine
6. Seven White Horses
7. The End Is Near
8. Blood Moon
9. If You Need It
10. Marianne
11. Poison
12. Midnight
13. Say You Will
