Fast-rising Bostonian rocker Austen Starr is taking the music world by storm with her latest Frontiers Music Srl collaborative singles and music videos, and with that, her upcoming debut album I Am The Enemy—releasing Friday, Feb. 13.
In this interview, Starr, who wrote her first piano-based song at the age of 11, discusses her new album, anxieties and feeling insecure while recording, pop star to rock star transition, and looking ahead to perform live and release another album.
I really appreciate your time for this interview!
Thank you so much for interviewing me!
After listeners hear your debut album, I Am The Enemy, what do you hope they will take away from the album—both musically and lyrically?
Musically, this album is full of catchy hooks and great riffs; there are a lot of upbeat and energetic tracks.
Lyrically, the themes can get pretty dark.
I’m hoping listeners will be able to appreciate the dialectic of the power of the music and the struggle of the lyrics.
I also hope the combination is able to show listeners some of my story and invite them to explore their own.
With lyrics and soundscapes—evocative of pathological behaviors and thought patterns—I hope this album plays a part in breaking the stigma of mental illnesses, including the subclinical.
What were your biggest challenges with putting this album together and how did you overcome those challenges?
Overall, it was a relatively seamless process.
The biggest challenge was definitely on me: tracking the vocals.
I hate the sound of my voice, so it was really tough having to not only listen back and try to pick what was “good” and could make the cut, when I thought all of it was horrible, but to even begin the process of singing into a mic.
Tracking the vocals took a lot longer than it should have, because the insecurities got overwhelming on several studio days, and I had to bail.
Thankfully, the vocal tracking sessions took place at my dad’s studio [Marblehead] and he was the engineer, so he understood and it wasn’t super embarrassing.
I don’t consider the fact that I finished the album to mean “overcoming” this challenge, but ignoring it.
Joel [Hoekstra] would check in on how the vocals were coming along and I wouldn’t have anything new to send over for months at a time.
Eventually, he just said, “It doesn’t matter what you think of it. Just do it.”
So, it got done.
Which of the 12 songs on the album is your favorite and why that song?
The eternally unanswerable question!
I don’t think I have a favorite song on this album.
However, “Medusa” will forever hold a special meaning to me as the song that served as the catalyst for this whole debut!
What moment did you first become interested in music as a passion that you wanted to pursue?
I don’t think there is a particular moment I can point to, either there wasn’t one or it was when I was too young to remember.
All I know is, I was singing concerts to plush animals through a Spice Girls’ toy microphone as a toddler, my favorite movies while growing up were all the “popstar-girl living her dream life” ones, and “Lucky” by Britney Spears is one of the first songs I can remember obsessing over.
The transition from wanting to be a pop star to preferring rock music occurred along the same trajectory as my anxiety taking hold of my life.
It gave me the opportunity to scream out the feelings.
Who are your music artist inspirations?
For this album, I was primarily inspired by relatively modern acts: Paramore, Green Day, My Chemical Romance.
And really, just “Pop-Punk and 2000s-style Emo” as a whole, plus The Pretty Reckless.
What plans do you have in store for 2026?
Lately, I’ve been collecting potential band members to support live dates, and I’m hoping to get back onstage (music-wise) very soon!
It’s been mostly dance for the last several years.
Meanwhile, I have already written more than enough lyrics for an entire second album.
I’m really looking forward to creating new music, and the first album isn’t even out yet!
Let’s hope the vocal tracking goes better next time. [laughs]
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you to anyone who chooses to spend any amount of time listening to the music I’m putting out!
I’m incredibly grateful to you all.
It’s fairly terrifying to be releasing an album.
I hope everyone listening can find at least one track to keep with them.
Thanks again for all your time!
Thank you, Neil! You rock!
Pre-Order I Am The Enemy
Watch “Read Your Mind”
Watch “Medusa”
Watch “Remain Unseen”
Watch “I Am The Enemy”
Tracklist
1. Remain Unseen
2. Medusa
3. I Am The Enemy
4. Read Your Mind
5. Get Out Alive
6. Effigy
7. Running Out Of Time
8. All Alone
9. Not This Life
10. The Light
11. Until I See You Again
12. Read Your Mind
(Acoustic, Bonus Track Japan)
Band lineup:
Vocals: Austen Starr
Guitars: Joel Hoekstra
(Whitesnake, Cher,
Iconic, Revolution Saints,
Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
Bass/Drums: Chris Collier
(Mick Mars, Lita Ford)
Keyboards: Steve Ferlazzo
(Hugo's Voyage, Avril Lavigne)
Background Vocals: Chloe Lowery
(Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
Connect With Austen Starr
https://www.facebook.com/austenstarrx13/
https://www.instagram.com/austenstarr13/
Photos: Anthony Grassetti
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