stellastarr* is made up vocalist Shawn Christensen, bassist Amanda Tannen and guitarist Michael Jurin. Their latest album is called Harmonies For The Haunted.
Check out the official site for stellastarr*
Daniel Robert Epstein: Whats going on today?
Michael Jurin: Im actually in my apartment in Brooklyn. Its the quiet before the storm. We go on tour Thursday.
DRE: Are you psyched?
MJ: Totally psyched. We havent done it in a while. We havent really toured in about a year, so its about time now. Were getting the bug.
DRE: You guys have a little more buzz on you this time, how is this tour going to be different?
MJ: Were crossing our fingers because were about to find out. Its hard to really guess whats its going to be like before it happens. It seems like everythings going really well. Well see when the album comes out as well. Right now there are still a lot of new ears to entire thing. Every time we do a show, half the crowd has never heard of us before. But they seem really responsive so I imagine its just going to be even bigger and wider than last time.
DRE: Are you guys putting any extra pressure on yourselves?
MJ: Were definitely trying to do that. Not only do we have songs from the first album and songs from this album, but were also traveling with a light rig and were talking about trying to do a big set design and things like that. We want to up the ante as best as we can.
DRE: What was the first tour like?
MJ: It was cool and a very interesting learning experience. Youre never actually alone because youve got six people that are constantly around you and within arms reach.
DRE: Is that a good thing?
MJ: We get along pretty well, yeah. But whenever youre that close with people, like literally eating every meal with six other people or something, there will be tiffs, there will be tension at points but in general we get along very well.
DRE: Is the tension just from little stupid things?
MJ: Yeah, stupid little arguments. Like somebodys mad at somebody because they said something wrong to them. Then since youre sitting in the same van as them theres this weird quiet between them. You cant do anything about it; they have to make up for themselves, though in general we get along pretty well.
It was fun to open up for a band and see if any of their audience would like us and it seems to turn out really well actually.
DRE: Whod you guys open for?
MJ: The first one was with Longwave. Theyre good guys and then we went on a couple of tours with the Ravonettes. It was a good time. We toured with some good bands so they kind of showed us the ropes so to speak.
DRE: What are those ropes?
MJ: There are a few things I imagine but Im not sure it would be easy to explain. When we first finished touring, we took time off to write the new record because we felt it was time to change direction. Musically we started thinking about ways to go down other avenues. A band is like dating three other people at once. Youve just got to keep them happy so it does require effort on everyones part.
DRE: Whos the best kisser in the band?
MJ: Im going to have to say Mandy just because she doesnt have stubble.
DRE: What is the writing process in the band?
MJ: Basically whoever sings it writes it. Often Shawn writes his melodies first then he kicks out these lyrics. Its pretty interesting watching the songs slowly fall together. He grabs the melody very early. Mandy writes whatever she thinks, sometimes it coincides with Shawn and sometimes it doesnt. Then Ill do some back up and I write whatever I think as well.
DRE: With all the songs written by other people, is it tough to make them mesh together and flow on an album?
MJ: We do it very democratically because mostly the words and melodies are written individually. The majority of the music is created all together in the band. It will start with someones guitar riff or a vocal melody then from there we just keep checking at it. So we really do put it all together with everyone throwing in their two cents.
DRE: What kind of stuff do you have on the tour bus?
MJ: We watch a lot of movies on laptops. Right now were actually traveling in a van; we only got to travel in a bus once. We actually chose to travel in a van this time and Im not sure if it was the wisest decision.
DRE: Why the switch to a van?
MJ: Shawn isnt very fond of buses. Im not sure exactly why but they are a little difficult to sleep on. Theres constant noise and churning so I can imagine maybe he just didnt feel rested during that tour.
DRE: Does he need the most care?
MJ: Thats hard to say. I think a couple of us need a little care.
DRE: What about you?
MJ: Ive become a lot more durable than I thought I was. Im starting to become a little more I think the mediator of the entire situation. In other bands I was probably the one that needed the most care, now Im like Alright if it makes your life easier lets do that. So Im pretty easy going when it comes to that.
DRE: Does the band still live in Brooklyn?
MJ: Shawn is in Queens, everyone else is in Brooklyn.
But I grew up in Philadelphia and its a great town with great people but nobody pays attention to what anyones doing. There are so many artists and musicians there but no one writes about them. Theres no attention paid so its like watching good bands die, so I decided I had to get out of there.
DRE: How did you hook up with the other band members?
MJ: I was only in New York for about a year or two when stellastar was formed. I somehow lucked into it.
DRE: What was it like getting your record deal?
MJ: Unbelievable. That is literally the thing you fight for your entire life and, you sit there at your day job sitting there going If that happened, I could quit right now. Just stand up and quit. You prepare all this mentally in your head. It actually went a lot smoothly than that for me. I had a day job but my boss totally knew about the band so he helped me out. He was glad to see the band take off.
DRE: What was your day job?
MJ: I worked at a corporate office for a drug store chain.
DRE: You worked for the man.
MJ: Yeah, kind of. I was the assistant to the head buyer which basically meant I was the gate keeper. If someone wanted to sell him some products or show him some samples they have to get through me first.
DRE: Oh my gosh, thank goodness you got out.
MJ: Exactly. Right there I really tried to make it sound as good as I could make it sound. Because what it comes down to at the end of the day its like more samples huh, great. Ill set up an appointment. Thats more what it was like.
DRE: You probably heard a lot about the music business before you started, is anything like the way you pictured it?
MJ: Its funny. Its a slightly different angle on everything. Each little thing is slightly obscured. The record label actually is very supportive to us on creative things. But they do pull on us in different ways. We have a new video for the song, Sweet Troubled Soul, which we think is really rad but its a little experimental. There are probably less clear shots of us than a major label would want. I think therere still going to let us do it which is awesome. We have creative control so we can say Were doing this anyway and theyll support us.
DRE: Who directed the video?
MJ: This girl named Adria Petty. We just worked with her on a bunch of ideas and came out with this really cool thing. Its like half miniatures and stop animation so its pretty crazy. She really started kicking out some great ideas that we were just traded back and forth on each other.
DRE: What do you know about SuicideGirls?
MJ: Its a website. I know that they throw parties every once in a while and that girls dance in very small outfits. I havent been to one yet.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Check out the official site for stellastarr*
Daniel Robert Epstein: Whats going on today?
Michael Jurin: Im actually in my apartment in Brooklyn. Its the quiet before the storm. We go on tour Thursday.
DRE: Are you psyched?
MJ: Totally psyched. We havent done it in a while. We havent really toured in about a year, so its about time now. Were getting the bug.
DRE: You guys have a little more buzz on you this time, how is this tour going to be different?
MJ: Were crossing our fingers because were about to find out. Its hard to really guess whats its going to be like before it happens. It seems like everythings going really well. Well see when the album comes out as well. Right now there are still a lot of new ears to entire thing. Every time we do a show, half the crowd has never heard of us before. But they seem really responsive so I imagine its just going to be even bigger and wider than last time.
DRE: Are you guys putting any extra pressure on yourselves?
MJ: Were definitely trying to do that. Not only do we have songs from the first album and songs from this album, but were also traveling with a light rig and were talking about trying to do a big set design and things like that. We want to up the ante as best as we can.
DRE: What was the first tour like?
MJ: It was cool and a very interesting learning experience. Youre never actually alone because youve got six people that are constantly around you and within arms reach.
DRE: Is that a good thing?
MJ: We get along pretty well, yeah. But whenever youre that close with people, like literally eating every meal with six other people or something, there will be tiffs, there will be tension at points but in general we get along very well.
DRE: Is the tension just from little stupid things?
MJ: Yeah, stupid little arguments. Like somebodys mad at somebody because they said something wrong to them. Then since youre sitting in the same van as them theres this weird quiet between them. You cant do anything about it; they have to make up for themselves, though in general we get along pretty well.
It was fun to open up for a band and see if any of their audience would like us and it seems to turn out really well actually.
DRE: Whod you guys open for?
MJ: The first one was with Longwave. Theyre good guys and then we went on a couple of tours with the Ravonettes. It was a good time. We toured with some good bands so they kind of showed us the ropes so to speak.
DRE: What are those ropes?
MJ: There are a few things I imagine but Im not sure it would be easy to explain. When we first finished touring, we took time off to write the new record because we felt it was time to change direction. Musically we started thinking about ways to go down other avenues. A band is like dating three other people at once. Youve just got to keep them happy so it does require effort on everyones part.
DRE: Whos the best kisser in the band?
MJ: Im going to have to say Mandy just because she doesnt have stubble.
DRE: What is the writing process in the band?
MJ: Basically whoever sings it writes it. Often Shawn writes his melodies first then he kicks out these lyrics. Its pretty interesting watching the songs slowly fall together. He grabs the melody very early. Mandy writes whatever she thinks, sometimes it coincides with Shawn and sometimes it doesnt. Then Ill do some back up and I write whatever I think as well.
DRE: With all the songs written by other people, is it tough to make them mesh together and flow on an album?
MJ: We do it very democratically because mostly the words and melodies are written individually. The majority of the music is created all together in the band. It will start with someones guitar riff or a vocal melody then from there we just keep checking at it. So we really do put it all together with everyone throwing in their two cents.
DRE: What kind of stuff do you have on the tour bus?
MJ: We watch a lot of movies on laptops. Right now were actually traveling in a van; we only got to travel in a bus once. We actually chose to travel in a van this time and Im not sure if it was the wisest decision.
DRE: Why the switch to a van?
MJ: Shawn isnt very fond of buses. Im not sure exactly why but they are a little difficult to sleep on. Theres constant noise and churning so I can imagine maybe he just didnt feel rested during that tour.
DRE: Does he need the most care?
MJ: Thats hard to say. I think a couple of us need a little care.
DRE: What about you?
MJ: Ive become a lot more durable than I thought I was. Im starting to become a little more I think the mediator of the entire situation. In other bands I was probably the one that needed the most care, now Im like Alright if it makes your life easier lets do that. So Im pretty easy going when it comes to that.
DRE: Does the band still live in Brooklyn?
MJ: Shawn is in Queens, everyone else is in Brooklyn.
But I grew up in Philadelphia and its a great town with great people but nobody pays attention to what anyones doing. There are so many artists and musicians there but no one writes about them. Theres no attention paid so its like watching good bands die, so I decided I had to get out of there.
DRE: How did you hook up with the other band members?
MJ: I was only in New York for about a year or two when stellastar was formed. I somehow lucked into it.
DRE: What was it like getting your record deal?
MJ: Unbelievable. That is literally the thing you fight for your entire life and, you sit there at your day job sitting there going If that happened, I could quit right now. Just stand up and quit. You prepare all this mentally in your head. It actually went a lot smoothly than that for me. I had a day job but my boss totally knew about the band so he helped me out. He was glad to see the band take off.
DRE: What was your day job?
MJ: I worked at a corporate office for a drug store chain.
DRE: You worked for the man.
MJ: Yeah, kind of. I was the assistant to the head buyer which basically meant I was the gate keeper. If someone wanted to sell him some products or show him some samples they have to get through me first.
DRE: Oh my gosh, thank goodness you got out.
MJ: Exactly. Right there I really tried to make it sound as good as I could make it sound. Because what it comes down to at the end of the day its like more samples huh, great. Ill set up an appointment. Thats more what it was like.
DRE: You probably heard a lot about the music business before you started, is anything like the way you pictured it?
MJ: Its funny. Its a slightly different angle on everything. Each little thing is slightly obscured. The record label actually is very supportive to us on creative things. But they do pull on us in different ways. We have a new video for the song, Sweet Troubled Soul, which we think is really rad but its a little experimental. There are probably less clear shots of us than a major label would want. I think therere still going to let us do it which is awesome. We have creative control so we can say Were doing this anyway and theyll support us.
DRE: Who directed the video?
MJ: This girl named Adria Petty. We just worked with her on a bunch of ideas and came out with this really cool thing. Its like half miniatures and stop animation so its pretty crazy. She really started kicking out some great ideas that we were just traded back and forth on each other.
DRE: What do you know about SuicideGirls?
MJ: Its a website. I know that they throw parties every once in a while and that girls dance in very small outfits. I havent been to one yet.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
(note my user name. )