Just one, really. Astariel. Occasionally Mr. Starkandy (guitarist and producer) lends a hand
Influences
Bowie, bis, getting fed up with the pretentious glitterati, indie bars, Pulp, Mansun, Paul Draper, fantasies about Paul Draper, Ladytron, Steve Strange, Visage, Midge Ure, Utravox, John Foxx, Suede, Manic Street Preachers, Laurie Anderson, electroclash, Miss Kittin, Tiga, Patrick Wolf, Kate Bush, comtemporary dance, postmodern theatre, writing
Sounds Like
Depeche Mode, Bowie, Soft Cell, Goldfrapp, Gary Numan, Visage, Steve Strange, Japan, David Sylvian, Nine Inch Nails, Duran Duran, Trademark, Yazoo, Human League, Bis, Midge Ure, Ultravox, John Foxx, Billy MacKenzie, The Associates, Ladytron
Astariel was born into a town ruined by post-Thatcherism, and grew up in a hellish social climate. In his home town, there were two factions; the 'trendies' (now known as the 'chavs') and the 'moshers' (or those nu-metal kids that seemed to have evolved into emo). Belonging to neither, he was a social outcast at a young age, and often dreamed of leaving. So, like every good smalltown boy, he packed his bags and headed towards London.
London seemed fresh and exciting at the time, as things geared towards a new movement called 'electroclash'. Astariel found that individuality was a highly valued prize, and quickly gained infamy in the set-to-know. However, it all slowly came crashing down; too much, too soon. Electroclash folded and became old news, as did Astariel. So he slinked off to the sidelines and lamented his decline. All he had was a packet of B and H, a bottle of vodka and an acoustic guitar.
A very slow process started in Astariel's music career... Should he become an acoustic singer-songwriter? It was never in him to be that kind of act. What he wanted was to form an electro/ rock cross over... Something that people could dance to combined with the guts and emotional integrity of indie. The end result is something like what you hear now; gutsy electro with pop synchopation and technological menace.
"I've always been stubborn," says Astariel, "And I would always ardently be myself in everything I did. This is no exception. I'm often quite confrontational onstage because I want to challenge audiences, and some of my material surprises people when it's melancholic but in a 4/4 timing with a dance-y beat!."
He says about his music "I'm a romantic in the way I view the world and a cynic about romance, so most of my songs seem to take on a darker element. It's not intentional most of the time. I can't write a proper love song for example; usually people always write 'I love you' or 'I miss you'. It's never 'I fucking hate you for being such a cunt so I went out and got drunk' which is more along the lines of something I'm likely to write. I prefer to be honest and not treat my audiences like idiots."
Astariel usually gets compared to Bowie, Depeche Mode and Soft Cell because of his distinctive, full vocal, and is one of those landmark 'original' voices.
Onstage, Astariel has appeared as anything from a pseudo-samurai to a 1920s vaudeville cabaret star. It certainly isn't a traditional gig where 5 people turn up, play and then leave. He has graced the stages of The Pleasure Unit, Bull and Gate, The Sun, Monkey Chews, The Watershed and Leonard's in London, The Horseshoe Inn in Wellingborough, as well as appearing at The Pink Festival in Cambridge in 2006.
O thnx mate :) I like this backwards trip in "Aceface". In general I like all songs because I like the old school.And "knock It On The Head I like a lot that drop of Murphy. Production is very good.Specially songs with voice rarely good. Cheers Nenad
Yeah, I read it. I know what you mean. I think in English you say something like: flogging a dead horse? Anyway. Just wanted to write you a quick message, need to see you. Like… now. And don’t do that whole: “I’m busy” crap, because I know you’re not. LOL.
Thx for the add! :) Comment or msg me, let me know what u think! :) My dance remixes are available on Traxsource, and my album is available using PayPal, as well as on iTunes and SNOCAP (on my page:)) - mshy
and there's a FAN PAGE someone started, so u can join there too!
And this song... is so freudian. Albeit innately! HAHAHAHAAAAAA... ahh, those were the days. I love you Allan. We must get high and write another wrong song. Maybe, we can right it about the political situation in Uganda? Xxxx
Oooh! King Astariel requires all comments to be approved! No wonder that one I wrote about you, the rolling pin, the vaseline and the Deep Heat never made the cut.
