Starcrawler On Alternate Revenue Streams, Cost Of Touring And Storytelling

Forbes Business Hollywood & Entertainment Starcrawler On Alternate Revenue Streams, Cost Of Touring And Storytelling Jim Ryan Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I write about the business of music Following Jul 19, 2023, 06:43pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Starcrawler Photo by Barry Brecheisen Over the course of three studio albums since 2018, Los Angeles rock quintet Starcrawler has shown immense growth, incorporating their punk roots alongside catchier, more melodic songwriting, danceable grooves and gorgeous pedal steel guitar on their latest studio effort She Said . Under the direction of producer and composer Tyler Bates, storytelling on the album’s ten new tracks combines with strong videos to lend the project a cinematic feel.

Writing for film, television and streaming outlets, the group has embraced alternate revenue streams at a time when it’s become difficult to monetize recorded music and touring costs continue to soar amidst pandemic and inflation. Henri Cash of Starcrawler performs on day three at Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ). Saturday, July 8, .

. . [+] 2023 in Québec City, Canada Photo by Barry Brecheisen “Everything is more expensive,” said guitarist Henri Cash backstage on day three at Festival d’été de Québec ( FEQ ), prior to a main stage festival slot alongside artists like White Reaper and Foo Fighters last week.

“For instance, our whole record, the theme is pink, right? When we tour leaving L. A. with our gear, all of the gear is pink.

We have it set up so where it feels like a stage. But if we wanted to crate things here, it would be thousands and thousands of dollars,” he explained, highlighting the difficulty involved with touring internationally. “You’ve just got to make things work financially.

So I went to the fabric store and got pink fabric to put on our cases. It’s not as exciting but…,” said the guitarist trailing off. “It makes a difference,” confirmed singer Arrow de Wilde.

I spoke with Starcrawler (who perform in Salt Lake City on August 9, 2023 and at Louder Than Life in Louisville on September 21) backstage in Québec City about working with Bates, alternate revenue streams, storytelling and the increasing level of difficulty for artists touring amidst pandemic inflation. A transcript of our conversation, lightly edited for length and clarity follows below. MORE FOR YOU New Apple Exclusive Reveals iPhone 15 Design Surprise The Worst Scene From The Flash Is Now Going Viral Phoenix Salt Lake City Set High Temperature Records Here s Where Else Records Could Fall Jim Ryan : Film work, Netflix – you guys have written for both.

How important is it to do that and find those alternate revenue streams? Arrow de Wilde : We love doing that stuff. It’s always cool hearing your song in a movie or a TV show no matter what it is or how big or small. Henri Cash : We’ve also had the opportunity to record for TV.

It’s great. With “Pet Sematary,” we were asked to record that song for the movie. So going in with a picture in mind is really cool, starting out with that.

Arrow de Wilde of Starcrawler performs on day three at Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ). Saturday, . .

. [+] July 8, 2023 in Québec City, Canada Photo by Barry Brecheisen Ryan : You guys get into touring a bit in Dave Grohl’s documentary series What Drives Us . Coming out of pandemic, there’s inflation, everything costs more, it’s just generally harder to tour, especially internationally.

What’s your experience been like on the road over the course of the last year and a half or so? Henri : Everything is more expensive. You just can’t be a princess. And you just can’t spend as much as you’d like to.

For instance, our whole record, the theme is pink, right? When we tour leaving L. A. with our gear, all of the gear is pink.

We have it set up so where it feels like a stage. But if we wanted to crate things here, it would be thousands and thousands of dollars. In the 90s, if you wanted to crate gear, it was less.

But now, especially after COVID, crating and stuff has gone up a lot. You’ve just got to make things work financially. So I went to the fabric store and got pink fabric to put on our cases.

It’s not as exciting but… Arrow : It makes a difference. You don’t see the rental company’s weird logo. Especially if you’re playing with a bigger band, you want to kind of take it to their level a little bit – even if it’s just a little fabric.

It adds a little more production value to the whole thing. Starcrawler 2 Photo by Barry Brecheisen Ryan : Tyler Bates brings such a unique background to the table. What was it like for you guys working with him? Arrow : I agree.

He was very comfortable to be around. Just immediately we became like family I feel like. Working with him is not only super easy but a great experience.

He has great ideas. He’s a great producer. MORE FROM FORBES Foo Fighters, Weezer And Imagine Dragons Shine As FEQ Wraps Up In Quebec City By Jim Ryan Ryan : One of the things that really struck me again this morning listening to the new album is the idea of storytelling.

It really comes through on this one. Especially coupled with the videos, there is a sort of a cinematic feel. How important is the idea of storytelling to you guys? Arrow : I think it’s super important.

We have some songs where there’s a lot of storytelling. And then some are pretty simple, just cut and dry. I don’t really think there’s a right or a wrong way to it.

Singer Arrow de Wilde of Starcrawler crowd surfs on day three at Festival d’été de Québec (FEQ). . .

. [+] Saturday, July 8, 2023 in Québec City, Canada Photo by Barry Brecheisen Ryan : I was reading the story behind “Stranded” this morning. How did that one kind of come together, Henri? Henri : I got in a small car accident with this guy named Harrison Whitford, who plays guitar with Phoebe Bridgers.

We’re both young men who hadn’t been in car accidents before – and awkward guitar players. So the interaction was very awkward. It was like, “Oh sorry about that… I think I take a picture of your license?” But we figured it out.

It happened during COVID and there was nothing really to write about. Because we hadn’t really gotten to live during those years. So this was something that weirdly came out of it – even though that song is not about that experience.

It starts as that and then it drifts off to another place. It was just an experience when there was nothing for so long. Follow me on Twitter .

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