Celldweller & 51 Peg Photos

(coming soon)

Fluffy Starr - Interview

Valdyr: I hear that a new video may be coming soon...what can you tell us about that?
Fluffy: Well, that one went up in the air. There was a chance to have a video made by a director who wanted to update his portfolio, similarly to how we got the "Perfect" video, but they can't get the appropriate funding at this time. It might be a possibility in the future. But...we may go ahead and make a video ourselves. Hell, if we can make music ourselves, why can't we make a video?! It won't be a big budget P Diddy thing, but it will be fun and creative. I have lots of ideas for it already.

Valdyr: What was it like working with Celldweller on his album?
Fluffy: Hell, it was fun! Klayton and I are good friends, so it was really easy. He told me what he wanted me to do and I did it. Then I just sent him my raw vocals and he did the rest. It can't get much easier than that! I think because we do have a good relationship, it made it very easy to communicate. We insult each other in fun all the time, so how can anyone get offended or overly serious?

Valdyr: And I hear that you'll be appearing on yet another album, Dead Inside The Chrysalis's "Humanoid Expansion Pack" coming in October...what can we expect from that?
Fluffy: You know what? I just heard the finished product. And I have to say that it's something quite unexpected from DITC. You will have to hear it to understand what I mean. It's like a cartoon soundtrack. Very cute! It has a thick yummy candy-coating. When I sang on it, it was just the concept, meaning that Manek sent me just the bare bones of what the song sounded like then. And let me tell you, it was a whole different song! It was in a different key, I think. So I was surprised to hear the outcome. But I like it! Afterall, I am a cartoon girl.

Valdyr: What's the likelihood that someone like Klayton, Manek, Jay Gordon, or another artist might appear on your album?
Fluffy: I don't know at this point. I haven't spoken seriously with anyone about this. I would like it though. It's all a matter of time. Both Klayton and Jay are on tour right now, and very heavily involved in their own projects. But you never know... Also, there is the matter of coming up with parts for them to either sing on, or produce. Jay and I have talked about him producing a song or two, but I don't know if that can happen on this album, as much as I'd love it to. And I really don't want to delay releasing this album any further.

Valdyr: So, the inevitable question: what's the status on the album?
Fluffy: We are waiting on one little piece of gear that we want to use to record this. It will really give us a great overall sound quality, which is very important to us. But the pre-production has begun. In our rehearsals, we are getting the arrangements down solid, and changing them where need be to make the song flow better. We are getting the drums and bass solid first. Then guitars. Then vocals. Vocals are always last, but always the most time consuming. So I am working with the songs on my own time too, and coming up with harmonies and things I will need for the actual recording. We are aiming to release it early 2005. I know a lot of people are waiting, but because we are a band who is self-taught and self-produced, it takes a longer time. Because we are actually learning as we go along. It's a lot more work this way, but then the listeners will get a 100% accurate representation of who Fluffy Starr (as a person, and as a band) really is. We've been through so many ups and downs with labels already, which has made us realize how important being true actually is (to us).

Valdyr: How's it been like lately playing live? Anything unexpected? Any future expectations?
Fluffy: It is incredibly fun! An amazing rush. The only thing unexpected is that I turn into a little monster up there. I didn't know I had that in me! Well...not to this degree. Playing live really teaches you not to care what other people think of you. It's a crash course in that! Fucking sink or swim. If you worry about what others are thinking of how you sound, look, or behave, you will sink. Another option is to be a pre-fab trained monkey sleazing out and lip syncing all your songs. If that is an option for you, then go ahead! But it's not for me. I want to get up there and really rock and make it worth every penny someone has paid to see me.

Valdyr: Do you have any possibilities about playing with a larger band or tour anytime soon, for instance, parts of the Celldweller or Orgy tours?
Fluffy: You are very sneaky... The subject has definitely come up, is all I'll say at this point. Nothing is set in stone. Going on tour is not an easy thing. Getting up there and performing is the easy part! There are a lot of business matters involved. So, we'll see!

Valdyr: What has been the most difficult aspect of living the life as a musician so far?
Fluffy: There is just a lot to learn with the way we've been doing it. Ourselves, I mean. It's frustrating learning stuff. It's tempting to just let someone else deal with it, but then I would waste so much of my breath trying to iterate what I want a producer to do. Now I can just say "Move aside. Let me do it." Perhaps in the future, if we have a chance to work with a very capable producer that we really trust, who gets our style, then it will be a different story. But for now, this works.

Valdyr: I know that you've worked with Jay Gordon on your music in the past...he gave you quite a cool shout-out in the Punk Statik Paranoia CD sleeve...what's your relationship with him like? Is there anything more coming in the future?
Fluffy: Jay has given us some great advice in the past. He knows his gear and he knows about sound and production amazingly well. He's given us some good suggestions. He never says "This is what you have to do". Instead he says "Try doing this and let me know how it goes. It may work. It may not." That is the only kind of person I can work with. I can't work with the other kind at all. We haven't really physically worked on a song together yet, but I really hope we can all coordinate our schedules and do that some day. I really respect Jay and value his friendship and vast knowledge. He's an amazing musician, but an even more amazing producer. His ideas are really mind-blowing. And of course, I would love to see what he can do with some of our songs. Who wouldn't?!

Valdyr: And I know that Lou Gordon's always been fond of you, too; what's it been like working with him and the rest of D1?
Fluffy: Lou Gordon... I honestly have a little place permanently carved out in my heart for him. It says Lou on there. It really does! He's been rock solid for us. Especially for me. He's given me some very sound advice, and all of it has come true. He was right about everything. He really knows what he's doing. He's been in the industry for a long time now, and he just knows his stuff. He is much more adamant than Jay when it comes to advice. He will shout at you to get it through your skull. But that's just his style. I know he does it because we are close. And I don't mind one bit. I love my Big Daddy. And as for D1, everyone I've dealt with has been most helpful and wonderful, like Grace and Teresa.

Valdyr: Musically, what's caught your eye recently? Have you found any local bands that you really dig, or maybe some other underground soon-to-be-star lurking on the internet? Or maybe a classic well-known favorite?
Fluffy: God, there are so many bands that I am into right now. I am a fanatical music fan. I buy CD's all the time. I really like Zeromancer right now. I have only newly discovered them. I like their old stuff better than the new stuff though. It's more gorgeous and fun. Sometimes I love fun music and sometimes I love darker music like A Perfect Circle, who I became badly obsessed with earlier this year. I still love listening to Marilyn Manson, Orgy, and Rammstein. Those CD's are always nearby. But I've been listening to some old singers lately too. Shirley Bassey, Etta James, Nina Simone, and Ella Fitzgerald to name a few. People don't sing like that anymore! And I really love it so much. The way they sang and even the way they acted. Such delightful drama queens! Damn dangerous!

Valdyr: If you had to pick one thing that you'd really want to work on improving, either in the band or in your own life, what would it be?
Fluffy: I'd like to become a better musician. I want to keep improving and evolving forever in this way. It really stimulates me and also keeps me sane, I am sure of it. Music is so pure. When you write something, then perform it. There is something so spiritual about it. It just feels right, you know? I feel lucky to have found it.

Valdyr: The fans are clamoring for some new music...is there a possibility for more audio or video clips anytime soon?
Fluffy: Anything is possible!

Valdyr: Thanks so much for your time, and keep rocking!