Starling explore their collaborative writing process on Plexus, a new, entirely self-made EP (extended play). The Los Angeles four-piece produced the release themselves, with drummer Erik Sathrum Johnson handling mixing.
The alternative band’s music draws on grunge, songwriter-led material and shoegaze, combining bedroom production, angular guitar leads and vocal melodies. Their songs explore longing for contentment, people and places.
Bringing earlier recordings together
The band said recording Plexus involved greater familiarity with their shared working process, rather than a major change in approach.
Production and mixing aimed to combine the sonic qualities of their first EP, 2324, and their record Forgive Me,. Live tracking and studio punch-ins helped achieve specific ideas at key points in the songs.
Starling rarely use explicit musical references in rehearsals or recording sessions. Instead, inspiration comes from their current listening and performances they attend or watch online.
The influences listeners hear
The opening guitar part in “See the Water” has prompted comparisons with Talking Heads, but the band said it was not intended to reference “This Must Be The Place.”
Members said they first heard that comparison months after starting to perform the song live. They recognise the resemblance and said they had all attended a David Byrne show together the previous month.
Listeners more often compare the part to Modest Mouse, while one person mistook the song for a Strokes cover. Gitai, who wrote the part, said he had no conscious reference in mind.
A possible subconscious influence that later occurred to him was 100 Gecs‘ live performance of “Small Pipe” on Fish Center.
“We generally do not like to reference certain things when writing because clearly our subconscious does that enough.”
Routines on the road
Ahead of an extensive national tour, Starling described routines built around grocery-store meals, daily walks and stretching with a yoga mat after travelling in the van.
Their usual food includes:
- Microwave rice and tinned fish
- Boiled eggs and oatmeal
- Avocado and grapes
On show days, they usually share one fresh, hot meal out. None of the members particularly likes fast food; their preferred post-concert options include pho and vermicelli bowls.
Members manage their mental health individually through activities including meditation, journaling and calls to loved ones. One touring rule permits Kasha to stop the van once per tour to serenade cows.
Travel has also encouraged an interest in the places they visit, with the band watching history videos about those cities.
Starling said being from Los Angeles makes little difference at shows, although mentioning their hometown at bars or gas stations can draw strong reactions. For the members, it is where they were raised.
They described their most engaged performances as those involving frequent interaction with the audience, sometimes including joining the crowd while playing.
