Sometimes I just can't make it from my work to a WFNM showcase at Hotel Ziggy in time to catch the full set of the opening band / artist. That was the case for Kingstarlight (moniker for Julian Bell) where I missed the first song of the set. When I walked into the venue, the vibes of the set got my pulse racing. I squeezed through the crowd to get to a spot to take my photos and enjoyed the rest of the set.
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| Kingstarlight at Hotel Ziggy |
Per his Spotify bio, he's taken all the music that has impacted his life and combined it into what he calls "all-spice." It is "a blend of genres that refuses to settle, rooted in the tactile grit of guitar-driven music but reaching far beyond it."
In July, he released his debut album Sound to System. He mentioned that he was playing the album from front to back so I would assume he opened up the night with the title track of the album. A song that sounds like it was meant for that dramatic-emotional moment in a motion picture. He played a solo set with backing tracks and an electric guitar. His denim attire projected a blue collar aesthetic. Yet, his falsetto vocals gave his songs a dance-pop vibe.
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| Kingstarlight at Hotel Ziggy |
He mentioned that his favorite song off the album is "Kickflip" as it was the song that was written the quickest -- musicians, he added, would understand his sentiments. A song about the difficulties of wanting to be a musician and maybe just wondering about other paths in life, "You make a billion dollars a year doing real estate development."
I'll give the song spotlight to "Daytrip." It has an 80s R&B sound that includes silky vocals. It all fits perfectly for a song about falling deeper and deeper in love while wondering if the other person feels the same.
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| Kingstarlight at Hotel Ziggy |
My heart it grew
Just like a root
Underneath a tree
Partial Setlist: Sound to System, Clouds, Daytrip, Slow Curve, Kickflip, Maybe I Think Too Much, Runway To The Stars, Bet On Red.
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