NYC-based art-rock auteur Brion Starr recently shared ‘Nocturne’, the fourth single off his forthcoming album ‘A Night to Remember’.

Produced by the legendary sonic mastermind Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T. Rex, Sparks), ‘A Night to Remember’ is Brion Starr evolving, discovering a new sound, a new way of writing and working with his favorite producer of all time. The album marks Starr’s first music since the release of his 2020 sophomore effort, the aptly-titled 2020.

Their latest album ‘A Night To Remember’ is a meditation on night itself, a spinning sci-fantasy through this future darkness we all contemplate, a journey to the end of the night told as a story of one evening in an internationalist future city with no up and no down, no beginning and no end. Passing through the seedy clubs, with all their trappings, are you being followed? Have you lost your mind? Blackout and wake on a train. Is this a dream? We are nocturnal. There’s fire in the streets. So find the ones you love and hold them tight. Yes, the kind of night where you land right where you’re meant to be.

Recorded at the Chateau d’Herouville and produced by Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T. Rex, Sparks). ‘A Night to Remember’ will be released November 19th via Taxi Gauche Records.

Starr’s current collaborators include Jaie Gonzalez (Splashh), Hayden Tobin (Hanni El Khatib), Pete Sustarsic (Public Access TV), James Hurst (Beach Party), Ben McConnel (Beach House), Grace Kennedy, Charlie Sands, and composer Nigel Wilson.

“A phenomenological look at the night”

It must have been a dream come true to have legendary Tony Visconti producing your new album, ‘A Night to Remember’?

Brion Starr: It has been a most rewarding creative partnership. It was very much meant to be. Tony says it’s “cosmic” and I must agree.

There’s always an interesting story behind your albums. What’s the concept of ‘A Night To Remember’?

‘A Night To Remember’ can be seen as a film and a study, it is a story of night itself, a personal one. All that night was, is, and will be. A phenomenological look at the night and all that goes with it.

“‘A Night To Remember’ is a complete break from everything”

Do you see it as a continuation of ‘Rope Memories’?

‘A Night To Remember’ is a complete break from everything we have done this far as a band. It is a standalone piece of work, each record is meant to be entirely new, always changing. The only albums I’ve ever made that are a continuation are ‘Global Identity’/’Rope Memories’ which were meant to be a double album but some tricky record label business man split it in two.

Your previous album tells the story of a successful advertising agent… How do you get ideas for songs?

We actually came out with another album between the one you’re talking about and this one! Nobody can keep up really. I’m a speed freak. Ideas? Believe it or not, they all come from up here (points to brain).

Your new album was probably recorded during lockdown. How are you coping with the current pandemic and what are your predictions for the future? Do you think the music industry will adapt to it?

Our new album was not recorded during lockdown. It was recorded at the Chateau d’Herouville, just north of Paris nearly 2 years ago (where Tony worked on Iggy/Bowie/Bolan records in the 70s) it’s release had to be delayed because of the plague days. I’ve not really been effected by all that, we released another album in 2020, aptly titled ‘2020’ to hold fans over. It is mostly material I had filed away, outtakes and covers, it was fun to put that together. As far as the future goes, Tony and I were just talking about this in another interview, I’m sure the pop stars will continue to dehumanize music and the industry will embrace the soulless tunes that go along with that because they are easier for people to digest. Tony’s more optimistic, he sees a time of renewed interest by labels of the iconoclastic, which I would wholeheartedly welcome because along with that goes decadence and big budgets, which I’m a fan of.

Can you share some further details on how it was recorded?

Certainly, we recorded this album live in a big haunted room in the castle (Le Chateau d’Herouville). We ran everything through synthesizers (including the drums and vocals) to make a sound which I find very pleasing and not quite like anything I’ve ever heard before really. It’s quite danceable as well.

“Let’s take the night and make it our new world”

What do you want people to take away from the album?

Well, speaking of dancing, I want people to listen to this record and dance. I want to see people happy again, I want celebration, excess, and orgy. It doesn’t quite feel yet that people are letting loose in the same way. Let’s take the night and make it our new world. Everything is possible in the night.

What are some future plans in this uncertain future?

My future is certain, I’m staring it right in the face. The plague did not really effect me, I never stop working. I’m recording an EP right now, as well as an ambient record, writing a screenplay, and we will go back into the studio with Tony next year to make the next full length album. Thanks for the questions!

Klemen Breznikar

Headline photo: Edouard Plongeon

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