{"id":169,"date":"2020-09-18T12:13:50","date_gmt":"2020-09-18T02:13:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/?post_type=articles&p=177477"},"modified":"2020-10-11T15:30:24","modified_gmt":"2020-10-11T15:30:24","slug":"starley-one-of-one-interview","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/starley-one-of-one-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Starley: “I was that scared about a song of mine coming out, with my voice on it.”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Credit: Hannah Scott Stevenson \/ @_hannahscottstevenson_<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was 2016 when Summer track ‘Call On Me’ was blasted across Australian, and international sound waves. Behind the pop-infused, soulful melody was Sydney singer\/songwriter, Starley. The catchy pop hooks and dance sensibilities caught the attention of the world where the now-32 year-old garnered top 10 chart placements in over 30 countries and became the second most streamed song by an Australian artist on Spotify with over half a billion streams. I recall this achievement back to the artist on a phone call, which was met with a nostalgic response.<\/p>\n

“It was absolutely insane,” she replies.<\/p>\n

Starley reveals to GRAZIA she was working for her father at the time, making blinds. With the first paycheck that came from the hit, she bought herself a Gucci bag and just four years later, would go on to shoot in over 20 Gucci looks in the lead up to her debut album, One of One<\/em> – a seemingly perfect intersection of her past and future self.<\/p>\n

In an exclusive first, GRAZIA speaks to Starley on the greatest advice she’s ever received, her forthcoming project, and why she won’t ever be put in a box she didn’t create for herself.<\/p>\n

GRAZIA: What was your first memory of music? When did you decide you wanted to become an artist for a living?<\/h5>\n

Starley: “I guess that was at a super young age. I was around 5 or 6 and I watched this movie called ‘La Bamba’ which is the story of Ritchie Valens and his life. When I watched that movie, it was the catchy music. And then the fact they came from a poor environment and he bought his mum a house when he became a singer. I wanted to do the same thing, so it made me dream really big from a young age.”<\/p>\n

Who has had the most influence over your music growing up?<\/h5>\n

S: “I don\u2019t know if I could name one particular artist who had the most influence, but Mariah Carey was my favorite artist of all time and she still is. Singer, songwriter and a female; I was such a big fan of her growing up, I pumped her music. Destiny\u2019s Child, Phil Collins, I used to love him because he was also a singer-songwriter. Prince. Super soulful artists but Mariah Carey has always been my standout number one.”<\/p>\n

READ: ZARA LARSSON IS OLDER, WISER AND IN LOVE<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Do you find that you take inspiration from Mariah Carey when writing your own music?<\/h5>\n

S: “I don\u2019t know if I do or if I don\u2019t. I think maybe it\u2019s the catchiness, because her songs are super melodic and I\u2019ve always been really interested in that and the kind of idea, the mathematics behind melodic music and how catchy things are. So, it could be subconscious I think because I\u2019m sure it has affected me as I’ve listened to her my whole life.”<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CE5FRPPDIp9\/<\/p>\n

What is the most important piece of advice you received when you started in the industry? And how has it shaped your career and you as a person?<\/h5>\n

S: “I guess I started on this journey at a young age, didn\u2019t make it until a lot later than I expected but I\u2019d say the best advice I got was from my own father.<\/p>\n

“He told me not to back down when I believe in something, from anyone.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Just because you think they might have more experience than you, if you believe in something and you\u2019ve written a particular song or feel a type of way about something, you have to speak up and stand up for yourself. All the time, that advice had helped me throughout my career, just standing my ground and making sure that whatever I do is authentic to me and not letting anyone push me around.”<\/p>\n

Your debut-single, ‘Call On Me’ sent the world into a spin reaching Top 10 status in over 30 countries and becoming the second most streamed song by an Aussie artist on Spotify with over half a billion streams. How did it feel to have your first single be met with such a reaction?<\/h5>\n

S: “It was absolutely insane, when I put that song out I was still in my parents\u2019 house, I was working for my Dad making blinds. I had moved back from England, with my tail between my legs and I just had this one last show to sign with an indie label and put out some music.<\/p>\n

“But when the song first came out I was under the covers of the bed, I didn\u2019t want to get out of bed, I was paralyzed.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I was that scared about a song of mine coming out with my voice on it. Then to be met with such warmth and love from everybody. Then the remix came out and the way that was received as well, it changed my life and I didn\u2019t expect it but at the same time, that\u2019s when the best things happen. Because it was so authentic and it was a real story about my life and I was using that to connect with something greater than me.”<\/p>\n