An interview with Val Starr of The Blues Rocket
The joy in your playing has brought joy to so many others, including and especially me. What do you think is its secret?
That is such a wonderful thing to hear. I think the secret is to always strive to be a better person, not only in music, but in life. I have always been a very upbeat, happy and positive person. I love to write about life experiences and try to share my recipes for good living like in my song “Gratitude”. Blues is not all about hard times and sorrow; it is about sharing real feelings, experiences, and wisdom and deep emotions.
What are the experiences of your life that led you to see music as a spiritual endeavor?
I’ve been singing since I was a little girl. I sang all through school and performed in school musicals. If you’ve ever performed before, it is indescribable to see and feel how music touches people’s souls. Every time I perform, it is a spiritual experience.
Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your music?
When I was young and had dreams of being a music star, my more “realistic” self took over and spoke to me. I knew how hard it was to make it big as a performer and I didn’t want to spend life being down and broke, struggling to survive. So I decided to get a job working in the music industry. I worked for several big labels, ABC, Chrysalis and Polygram, primarily in promotion and went on to be a successful independent radio promoter, all the while, honing my craft and playing live. I then went on to launch one of the first online radio networks, Gotradio.com. I personally program the blues channel, Bit o Blues. It wasn’t until later in life, that I was really able to concentrate more fully on my music and as a result, wrote, recorded and released nearly 100 songs and 7 successful chart topping blues cd’s in a 12 year period.
Where does your creative drive come from?
I often wake up in the morning with songs ideas in my head. My poor husband (and bass player) barely has time to get coffee, before I’m dragging him into the studio to record a bass line on a new demo. I absolutely love to write, especially clever lyrics and story lines. Then it’s all about finding the right rhythmic groove to put the words to.
But in your formative, figuring things out, years, whose sense of rhythm did you admire? Who has impacted you rhythmically?
In my earlier days I was influenced more by rock music and blues rock by band such as Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. My female heroes are Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Janis Joplin, and Joni Mitchell. Later, as I begin to program an online blues station at GotRadio I discovered wonder female blues artists like Debbie Davies, EC Scott, Sista Monica, EG Kight and, Deborah Coleman. I love beautiful harmonies, and I feel I am somewhat unique in my incorporation of harmonies into my blues.
What are you doing to keep it relevant today, to develop it and present it to the youth?
That is such a great question. In blues, there is a fine line between staying true to the genre and being fresh and original. I really feel that the Blues Rocket accomplishes both as a contemporary blues band. But I learned a long time ago that you can’t fool people with music that is not true to yourself. So I am always true to myself when I write and produce my music. I’m not a gospel or rnb styled blues singer. I don’t think I have the typical female “blues” voice, so I just sing it as I see and feel it. The young people and all people really, respond to music if it’s genuine.
Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album?
My husband, John Ellis and I work very well together in the studio and we have a lot of fun. We had just gotten our new puppy, Luke and he couldn’t understand why we were spending so much time sitting in front of the recording console and speakers. He would bring me every toy in the room to try to get me to play with him, and if we ignored him, he would start to bark. To keep him quiet, I would play tug with him and he would drag me all around the room while I was sitting in my office chair. At least I was able to hear the mixes from different angles! hahaha
How it was formed your new album Val Starr & The Blues Rocket – To The Blues and Back Again 2024,
I write a lot of music and not every new song goes on a new album, so I have a cache of music. I usually think of an album theme, in this case – living life to the blues and back again. I then looked at songs I had already written and began to write new songs to compliment the theme and direction of the album. I wanted songs that spoke about what I had learned and had experienced in life. I sequenced the album very carefully to take the listener on a musical journey of life. The last song, Did You Ever Notice, is really an epiphany song, written in a moment of depression, but realizing that friends and angels were always with me, even if I didn’t know it at the time.
Val Starr & The Blues Rockets – buy new CD
Do you share the opinion that your live albums are some of your best records? What is it about you and your music that works so well for live recordings?
This question is not applicable to me because I have yet to release a live album, and look forward to doing one. I believe that the blues genre is really one of the only genres that live albums sometimes are even better than the ones recorded in the studio, because of the raw emotion that comes with live blues shows.
And how did you select the musicians who play on the album?
This album, I had 5 different guitar players and I handpicked my guest guitar players that best suited the songs. My band guitarist, Tim Brisson is amazing, but doesn’t play slide, so I chose Dave Segal, on “Bluesin” for his slide work and his twangy Americana style on “Worn Down Blues”. B. Christopher and I shared a common experience and he was the only guitarist I wanted for “Bitter Pill”. Stephan Kimball is a very young blues guitarist and I wanted his youth and passion on “The Blues That Moved Me”. They all did incredible! I had the pleasure of playing with Pamela Charlles Arthur at a Sacramento Blues Society event, and was dying to use her on my album. She did not disappoint and she plays with us now at live events. Choosing my bass player is a no brainer! John and I have been together for over 45 years and he is the soul of the music, as is the bass in all blues!
How have you managed to so successfully pull so much of your life and personality through so much of your music?
Again, thank you for noticing that! I just always stay true to me and the blues. Hey that sounds like a new song!!
Did your sound evolve during that time?
Absolutely, I started off writing more rock infused blues, and then just fell in love with the good old blues shuffle. I also like jump/swing as it allows me to easily incorporate fun harmonies, sax and keys. We like to describe our type of blues as California blues.
What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?
Completing and releasing a new album is always a highlight in my life. I really want to get a chance to play to blues audiences in Europe. I hear that they are amazing and so appreciative of the music. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband and life partner, beautiful children and grand children and incredible friends and fans.
Your life is an open book or that your life is always open to new experiences, or something else?
I’d like to say that my life is an open book, because I feel like I have learned some secrets to happiness. I want the whole world to be happy and if I can pass along some wisdom in my music, then that would be amazing.
What would you say characterizes Blues scene in comparison to other local scenes and circuits?
I think the blues scene, although relatively small compared to other genres such as country, pop or hip hop, is a very loyal scene. Blues lovers are strong in their support of the genre, support local shows and events and buy the music (many still buy CD’s!!).
Do you think there is an audience for young people to become future audiences and fans?
Yes I do! I think young people discover music in different ways now, and are not defined by or limited to one particular genre or style of music. Young people just like good songs, which is great. So if you can find a way to get one great song to young people, I don’t think they would care at all if you were a “blues” artist.
By Laura Wulff
