Glasgow’s Starry Skies return to grace our ears with the sophomore album Be Kind, set for release on October 12th (2018) via Fox Star Records.
Deciding on the theme of the album being the need for more kindness at a time when we need it the most, songwriter and singer Warren McIntyre explains: “There are not enough people being kind to each other… It’s really clichéd but it’s nice to be nice. I decided I wanted to be more straightforward lyrically and send a simple message about spending the rest of my time on this planet being as kind as I can as much as I can.”
Fusing together an eclectic range of genres, Be Kind will tug at the heartstrings in all the right ways. From the gentle, folk-strewn strings and languid vocals of the twinkling title track and album opener, to the more uptempo, instantly catchy Americana-inspired cheer of ‘Glitter And The Glory’, it oozes an emotion-rich, hearty spirit.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Starry Skies about their upcoming album, motivations, challenges and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
Since I was a young kid I’ve loved a wide mix of styles from early Elvis and rock and roll to the Sex Pistols. Then I started to get into the songs of Willie Dixon, Dylan and other folk singers like Don Mclean and Nick Drake. This has been mixed up with other favourites such as the Stooges and Neil Young so in the end the Starry Skies have ended up a mixed up soup of all of these sounds. As an aside I once hung out with Iggy at a studio in Glasgow when he put the stooges back together briefly 10 years ago and that was quite a thrill.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
I started a band called the Revs when about 12 years old. I played drums and out set was mostly punk stuff by the Clash and the Fall with some more melodic Cure songs thrown in. Then after I sold my drum kit at 15, I didn’t play again until the son of my dad’s best friend brought his acoustic guitar to our house. He played house of the rising son and a velvets tune and that was me hooked again.
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
My songs are is usually influenced by things happening at the time either in the news or with friends. Sometimes it can be years later that it’s clear what song was reflecting or is about. Reckon that songs are just mirrors of what is going on outside or insdie your head and sometimes they are clear and sometimes not. My taste in music changes day to day and if I see a great garage punk band like Filth Spector I feel like throwing my acoustic away and playing like the Stooges again.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
Guess the theme of the record is being kind, fair and thinking of other folk. Not always in a gentle way though, as a song like Bombs Betty started out really angry about how our country is killing kids in the name of freedom and democracy. Basically I’m just trying to send little seeds of beauty, kindness and positiveness through the songs in combat to the selfishness, greed and dumbed down right wing political agenda that’s on the rise these days.
What was the last song you listened to?
Vincent by Don Mclean. It was the reason we named the band the Starry Skies and I listen to it quite often.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
All three are good for different occasions. CD’s are great for the car and that’s one of my favourite placed to listen to music. MP3’s are handy I guess for sharing tracks with friends but Vinyl is great for listening to full albums and there is nothing like putting on a new album, checking out the artwork and listening as two distinct sides. It was tempting to make the order different for the CD version of the album but in the end we decided to keep it as the Vinyl version.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
Bit of a cop out answer, but they all serve there purpose and none are going away anytime soon so we’ll continue to have Starry Skie songs and records on all platforms available.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
Time is the main challenge as previously I would just pack up a van with a PA, instruments and head to Europe for weeks at a time. We would just set up in town squares in between booked shows and always meet hundreds of be friends and fans that way. People in the band have more responsibilities now like jobs and partners so there is less freedom to just head off into the sunset to visit new cities on spec. But the internet has made it much easier to connect across the world. Over the last week we have been gettin loads of radio play for new self titled single ‘Starry Skies’ in New York and elsewhere and this would have been harder previously.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
The new Starry Skies facebook page is probably the most direct way to get news as we don’t really do twitter but we’re a friendly bunch of folk so if you message through facebook we’ll put you on our mailing list and send extra tracks and other stuff.
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
Be kind to everyone you can, including yourself, as anger rarely changes anything for the better. And now more than anytime I remember, in the words of Mr. Sam Cook “a change has gotta come”.
