The Starlight Magic Hour

‘The End of The Party’, such is titled the new offering from Starlight Magic Hour, begins with some form of flacciddiscordant whistling, and ends with a cult-worthy treatise on humanity. Having been described as everything from the Fall to the Pogues, and eventually just Lou Reed doing Berlin, what is clear is the lack of need for comparison. What this Manchester-ish band have done is put out a piece of art, both supremely personal and smarting in raw nerve against the banal wind of reality. Starlight are a band imagined for the late nights of a sleepover, when your friend’s mum is getting bdsm-fucked and you’ve been left up late to watch a low budget horror film. Listen to this band for their horrific narrative, but get hooked for their ability to compile all ascribed influence and come out with something that makes you feel [ORIGINALLY] sick.

Q: Listening to the new EP, what really comes across is the desire to embed a listener into the narrative, and the world it inhabits. Could you tell us a bit about the theme, and the inspiration behind it?

A: The narrative we have planned for our albums has been discussed a few times, it will be there throughout the songs and albums we put out in the immediate future. Lyrically, things have to have a start, middle and an end for me. Lyrics are everything to me and they have to come from something or somewhere real to really connect with people. Lyrics can take you anywhere emotionally and mean a million different things to a million different people but they’re personal to me. If other people can connect with that in any way, then that’s good. I feel the story has become more selfexplanatory with the release of the EP.

Q: Coming from Salford, you’ve managed to make a name for yourself more in the London set rather than in Manchester. How, if at all, has the reception to you guys changed on the back of the EP?

A: I’ve noticed a slight change, there seems to be more Manchester bands and gig goers that are into what we’re doing now. It’s a strange one though because there’s no doubt London has always given us the better reception. Most people think we’re a London band, I don’t think it matters too much. The gap between the Northern music scenes and Southern ones needs to be bridged because there are plenty of great bands knocking about all over Britain.

Q: I know narcotics have been a pervading influence in the formation in the way Starlight have created, and the way you live. How has being known as a troupe known for hedonism informed the music you make?

A: There have been undeniable problems within the band, things that have held us back. At first it may help in the creation process when you’re sat on Logic but eventually it’s nothing more than a burden. In the end it’s inhibiting. Unfortunately, being in a band isn’t just about the live shows where you can let loose, you need to deal with the promoters, labels and people generally; and nobody wants to work with someone who can’t wrap their tongue around a word. Being barred from a venue in Blackpool gave us the shake-up I needed. I say I because I can’t imagine how much worse it was for the rest of the guys.

Q: Something that strikes is the willingness to, musically and lifestyle-wise, inhabit the ‘outsider’ role. Beyond that, what do the Starlight Magic Hour stand for? And what, if anything, is the message you are trying to get across?

A: The main theme we’re trying to get across on these specific albums we have planned is the cycle of abuse. People often mistake our message as one of hate but it’s the opposite. The larger message is one of love. If you can show mercy to those that have caused you harm, you’re breaking the cycle. Everybody wants to be loved.

Words by Dan Pare | Illustration by Kingston Poplar