What are your names?
Christian Gisborne – Vox, Guitar
Daniel Kostenko – Drums & Percussion
Tiaday Rocke – Bass
What is the band’s name?
Velvet Starlings
How did you come up with the band’s name?
It’s a reference to “tired Starlings” from White Room by Cream
What is your genre of music?
Indie, psych, blues, surf, garage rock revival
Give us a little bio about you as a band.
Well I am Christian Gisborne, I like Lego, keyboards, Star Wars and Ty Segall.
You have released your new single ‘Karmic Lemonade’, tell us more about the single.
It’s from our new EP ‘Love Everything, Love Everyone’
What is the meaning behind the single?
So ‘Karmic Lemonade’ is about a relationship’s ability to go from sweet to sour. It’s like an ice cold sip of lemonade when things are good. My approach to thinking about karma is somewhat mathematical. I like to think 50% of the time things will be bad and 50% of the time things will be good and in the end everything balances out.
It’s about relationships, what’s your best relationship advice?
I guess I’d say just to be yourself and nothing but yourself because the second you try to be something you’re not – you’re lying to yourself and to the other person – making it bad for everyone.
Describe the track in two word.
Sweet/sour
What was the writing process like?
Karmic was written in 2018 around the same time as bitter Pills, they are sort of brother – sister tracks. Written about the same situation.
What was the recording process like?
Brilliant! We did drums in one day, then bas s/keys in one day, then guitar, then vocals. So it really only took 4 days for the entire record
Who did you work with on the single?
Josiah Mazzaschi! He engineered the whole record.
Tell us about the music video?
Super fun shooting the music video! We worked with Joseph Calhoun who was 19 at the time. He came all the way from France to shoot ‘Karmic Lemonade’ and ‘Bitter Pills’. We also worked with an amazing actress, Olivia Villalobos. And my brother got paid 50$ to help with setting up the entire time we were trying to leave early to see Jack White’s other band, The Raconteurs, One of my all time favourite bands. (Side note: I ended up seeing them 5 times in 2019 🤎🖤🤣)
Will we see an EP or Album and if so, what can we expect?
The EP ‘Love Everything, Love Everyone’ was out in May last year! Look out for the debut album, expected to be out next year at latest.
Are you a signed?
Yes! A cool Independent label out of Venice Beach CA Soundx3/Rock’n’Rolla Records -distributed by The Orchard
Do you have any online shows coming up? If so where can we find them?
Yes! Every Thursday I go live on our Instagram but we have various pre-recorded shows and full live streams coming up that we will be promoting on a pre-destined date!
What else can we expect in 2020?
We’re heading into the studio in Sept! So hopefully some new music? A single at least
What made you go into music?
Well first I fell in love with The Beatles and obsessed over JUST them for a couple years, then I started playing guitar and had to learn every song
Do you have any collaborations coming up with any upcoming artists?
Not any planned just yet, but always down to try something!
Would you be up for collaborations if other musicians wanted one with you? and who would they have to contact?
Yes!! And just contact me – or our Instagram, there are a couple admins but I’m on there all the time.
Which instruments do you play?
Live: Guitar, Keys
Studio: Guitar, Bass, Keys and Drums
Who are your influences?
All things Jack White, Ty Segall, The Who, The Doors, Cage The Elephant are some of my favourites
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
Listening to music, seeing bands live, and sometimes when the worst thing ever happens to you and you feel so terrible, you just gotta pour it into a song.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
LEGO, love going to the movies. I do really enjoy watching other bands live and listening to music while simultaneously doing regular things like making food or going for a walk.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more into the music scene?
I’d say ‘Sixteen Saltines’ by Jack White. I heard it and played the hell out of it on iTunes and then one day I googled ‘Sixteen Saltines LIVE’ and saw the entire crowd going crazy!!! That spawned my love of watching TONS of YouTube for hours every day.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Well as an artist, I’d say just make what you like, don’t make what you think someone else likes. The best bands just make what they dig until someone else notices it.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“You miss 100% of shots you don’t take – Wayne Gretzky” – Michael Scott
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
Well you gotta go to Venice beach! It’s definitely still got the vibe.
Your coming off tour;
1/ Where do you go first? 1. Normally go for a walk and reminisce about what happened on tour from beginning to end listening to the exact same music I listened to on tour, for added nostalgic effect.
2/ Who do you see first? My brother maybe??
3/ What do you eat first? Straight to Whole Foods.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
1. If the sound guy’s ‘setting-up’ playlist has songs I know on it.
2. The crowd!
3. I never forget the name of the venue, even if it’s very hard to for me to pronouce
4. If we cover a song, I definitely won’t forget
5. What we ate that night
Adell Silberberg
January 22, 2021 at 11:03 pm
very good post, i certainly love this website, keep on it