VELVET STARLINGS Release New Single and Video ‘Checkmate’
L.A. based garage rock ‘n’ rollers VELVET STARLINGS have been busy over the last few months releasing 4 singles, all with accompanying videos. ‘Back Of The Train’, ‘Technicolour Shakedown’,‘She Said (She Said)' and ‘Colours On The Canvas’. They also released their new album 'Technicolour Shakedown' digitally via Golden Robot Records in September. Now the band offer up a new single off the album ‘Checkmate’.
‘Checkmate’ is a guitar driven garage rock number; ‘'We had the fuzzy Elastics style guitar riff for a long time and then it just fit in with a newer chorus idea. I think it’s all about buzz and addiction of playing the game, even when your opponent is obviously more experienced and skilled than you are. You’ve got the stars in your eyes and shooting around your heart, and it doesn’t matter how hard you try, the outcome doesn’t change. At the same time, you’re addicted to that feeling and buzzing on the next level game play even though you know you won’t win. We added final ear candy Dandy Warhol’s style “whoo hoo” bit during production and the puzzle was complete.’’- Lead singer and songwriter Christian Gisborne.
Technicolour Shakedown is the follow up to 2019’s EP Love Everything, Love Everyone. lead singer, guitarist & organ player Christian Gisborne – who turned 18 in May released his debut self-titled EP Velvet Starlings when he was 15. Speaking about the album Gisborne says “in the doom and gloom of Covid I found myself reminiscing all the time about the days when we would wait in line for hours to see our favourite bands. The songs on the first album reflect everything I felt I was missing out on.”
With a bevy of new songs written and ready to unleash, Gisborne was craving the comradery of a band. He turned to brothers Foster and Hudson Poling who play drums and bass respectively. They first met in line outside of a 2019 Cage The Elephant show and, discovering a shared love of The Who and SpongeBob, quickly found themselves making a plan to meet up at a rehearsal space to jam. Gisborne had previously used session musicians to augment his live set but as his friendship with the Polings grew, so did his realization that they were the perfect fit for this new era of Velvet Starlings.
Looking to 2021 and beyond Christian says, “I think a Rock n Roll renaissance is coming after this crazy year of lock down. We’re hoping that a full front-to-back of Technicolour Shakedown will evoke the feeling you get at a rock n roll house party – wherever the listener may find themself.”
ABOUT VELVET STARLINGS
Velvet Starlings is a 60s infused garage rock ‘n’ roll band hailing from Los Angeles and the beach cities of Southern California. They are becoming a staple in the blossoming neo psychedelic garage rock scene on the West Coast, with several tours under their belt, internationally and across the country.
The band was founded by young lead singer, guitarist & organ player Christian Gisborne who is known for his dynamic live stage performance, concert attendance record and impressive Lego collection.
Velvet Starlings is rounded out by brothers, drummer Foster Poling and bassist Hudson Poling, with the new addition of long time school friend, the always “stoked” & awesome Ashton Minnich on second guitar.
With so much love and music to give, you won't want to miss Velvet Starlings!
