A rts & E ntertainm ent R. Star born into local music scene

DIANA ASHJIAN A&E EDITOR DA725@CABRINI EDU

While some performers see a bright yellow spotlight as the most meaningful point of destination for their careers, others consider the many different shades and contrasts of their very lives to be gifts manifested into brilliant works of art.

R.Star, a Long Island, N.Y. native, just so happened to be illuminated by stage shades of purple and blue as his autobiographical lyrics shook plenty of Philadelphia’s finest wine-sipping yuppies at The World Café Live on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Gracefully hungry for reciprocated energy from the crowd that viewed, R.Star turned his face away from the microphone as his vocals hit a range that stay restricted from most of the world’s population at even the most intimate of moments.

“Come and take a ride with me I promise you some ecstasy,” is just some of what R.Star’s raspy vocals assure. Such poignant lyrics were deeply complimented by R.Star’s skillful stints with his piano as well as his guitar throughout his opening act for the artist Julia Othmer.

Currently, the emerging indie rock artist was honored when chosen as the headliner for “A Rebel with a Cause” college tour promoting Alicia Key’s Keep a Child Alive charity tour (keepachildalive.org.) The tour will hit select locations this spring, but the national United States and Canadian tour will kick off in the fall.

The one-time Maverick signed recording artist and member of the alternative band “Stage” who now records solo at home far from demands attention from any crowd. Rather he builds momentum off of the thousands of fans already based throughout Philadelphia, New York, Massa- chusetts and Texas who demand attention from him one by one. speaks, writes, dreams, strums and plays his inspiration everyday; the very life he lives.

“The entire process of making and performing a song is magical and mutual,” R.Star said.

“Some days I own it, some days I’m just catching up. But being on a stage feels like breaking every rule I ever knew,” R.Star said.

Booked in five different cities until the “ARebel with a Cause” tour is set, he is returning to Philadelphia April 1, and performing at The University of Pennsylvania for the Relay for Life Benefit Concert at 11 p.m.

Records, his music is told to sound like a cross between Tori Amos and Pearl Jam and can be heard as well as viewed by video on www.Myspace.com/rstar.com and/or www.rstar.net.

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R.Star

When asked what it is that genuinely inspires his work, R.Star spoke of dreams, fantasies, nightmares and an educated background in philosophy and sociology Describing his music as something he is attached and close to, R.Star looks to the lyrics he has yet to script as the fuel that keeps the rhythmic soul of his artistry alive and burning.

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