In this interview spotlight, I chat with The Starling Effect about their latest project (A Strange Habit of Disappearing), AI in music, dream collabs, and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

This AI thing is getting way out of control. I have students using ChatGPT to write death metal songs about country music…and country songs about being sad. You can feed some Ais a text prompt and create a Hollywood-quality short film. How do you feel about this new wave of technological innovation?

It’s honestly hard to know how to feel about it at this point, since the technology is still emerging. It’s too easy to have a knee-jerk negative reaction to something that is so new. Obviously there are concerns about the data that AIs are trained on, with privacy and intellectual property being two of the major ones.

We are probably going to reach a point where these models have become so sophisticated that we won’t be able to distinguish between AI-generated content and human creations. Even so, there will always be a place for human creative expression. And people are already finding innovative ways to use artificial intelligence in the creation of their work. Technology hasn’t killed art yet, and it never will.

I know it’s hard…but what’s your favorite song and/or favorite artist of all time? If not favorite, in your top 3?

I’m going to go with a top three, but bear in mind that if you ask me the same question tomorrow you’ll get a different answer. In no particular order, the greatest songs of all time (until tomorrow) are “Marquee Moon” by Television, “Feeling Gravitys Pull” by R.E.M., and “Troy” by Sinéad O’Connor.

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific or different with this project? What’s the back story?

I’m not sure if you’re referring to just our new single or to the Starling Effect in general when you say “this project”, but I’ll take it to mean the band itself. Until a few years ago, I never really wanted to be the front person in a band. I always saw myself as a guitarist and co-writer of songs. I did end up singing in a previous project, but I assumed that role almost by default when the previous singer left.

The Starling Effect, on the other hand, was formed consciously with me as the lead singer and primary lyricist. My initial idea was to combine elements of shoegaze and postpunk into a sound that was atmospheric and dreamy while still being driving and edgy. I guess I still have that template in my mind somewhere, but other elements have come to the fore, and each member brings individual influences to the table as well, from punk to prog. The Starling Effect sound is the sum of many parts.

What drives you to create? What keeps you going, especially on the bad days?

I’m not sure that I have an answer for that, actually. I am definitely driven by something that keeps me going. I guess it’s just a creative impulse. I would make music even if I knew no one else would ever hear it—which feels like the case sometimes, to be honest! I think I just don’t like the idea of being idle. And maybe I’m also driven by the desire to make something truly great. I might never accomplish that, but it won’t be for lack of trying.

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? Please plug them with a link so readers can check them out.

I lack sufficient confidence in my own abilities to think that I would ever be good enough to collaborate with any of my idols. That’s not false modesty, either. The thought of it is just too intimidating.

Having said that, I’ll say Michael Beinhorn. Not necessarily a household name, but he’s a producer with an astonishing track record. Not only did he produce And the Glass Handed Kites by Mew [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6gQnmt_0_sJCLNZbRuCOBzR36G1GTq_A], which is one of my favorite albums of all time (definitely in the top 10), he is also largely responsible for the sound of Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit” [https://youtu.be/GHhD4PD75zY?si=5SyzYe1P67oewUFR], one of the most groundbreaking productions of the 1980s. And he did Soundgarden’s Superunknown. So, yeah, I would love to be in the studio with the guy who produced “Black Hole Sun” [https://youtu.be/3mbBbFH9fAg?si=wk8dU33K00_Zcdiz] and see what he could bring out in our songs.

Where is the best place to stay connected with You?

We’re on all the usual social media platforms, which you can find on our Linktree [https://linktr.ee/thestarlingeffect]. I would encourage anyone who likes our music and wants to support us to check us out on Bandcamp [https://thestarlingeffect.bandcamp.com/], where you can support artists directly by sending a few bucks their way to download their songs.

I appreciate Your time. Want to say anything else before we sign off?

Support your local music scene by going out and seeing live bands when you can. You might discover a new favorite in your very own city.