Starless is more than Animation.
Starless
Interview conducted on July 7, 2022
By Dan Locke
A magnetic mix of dream pop and electronic, Starless’s music evokes a haunting and thrilling dreamscape through intriguing melodies. Brianna, the singer and songwriter behind Starless, reveals dark truths in the human experience through her lyrics, exploring our primal drives and unsteady hearts. Los Angeles, California-based “Starless” is not the first time her voice has made waves. Many might recognize this emerging singer-songwriter’s voice as her real name, the multi-talented Brianna Knickerbocker. Brianna Knickerbocker first shined a light in the entertainment world as a well known Anime and Videogame voice actor, with popular roles like Rem in Re:ZERO, Hu Tao in Genshin Impact, Rin in Catherine Full Body, Sakura in the Fire Emblem game series, and many more.
What was your up bring like?
My mom was always videoing me! I was constantly performing songs I had written, plays I wrote, short films, endless little skits. I was constantly creating, and my mom loved documenting all of it.
How did you discover music?
I first listened to Madonna, I loved her songs and music videos:)
Your first career is a Anime and Videogame voice actress. How did you discover you had that talent?
I guess a few years into voice acting I realized oh maybe I might be good at this? It was so exciting.
How was it to be rewarded in 2015 with the Staff Choice Award and People Choice Award for Breakthrough Voice Actress?
It was such an honor!
Who do you feel is your most popular role?
Rem for sure, the waifus of all waifus haha:)
How did you start to write music?
I always wrote melodies in my head, so that’s how I got started writing music, just starting with interesting melodies I wrote with my voice.
How did you pick your name you use for Music?
I wanted to come up with a word that felt dark and mysterious and evocative, to match my dark electronic pop energy of what I imagined creating for my music. Starless just felt so perfect to me.
Do you want to keep both parts of your career separate?
I think they naturally stay pretty separated. But if I got to have Starless music in a game or to sing for an acting gig I would be in heaven!
What was your first performance at like?
I actually haven’t performed live yet! I’ve held concerts on my discord though and that’s been really fun!
Describe your music.
A dark dreamscape of pop interwoven with exciting electronic elements.
What makes a good songwriter?
I think someone that likes reimagining and playing with notes, chords, melodies, and enjoys storytelling.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
The first song I ever released was Always The Same with Stoned Bears (Pierre and I also collaborated on my Youngblood cover and Deeper!). I record all my song’s vocals from my home studio.
What is the process of writing your music?
I always hear interesting melodies in my head, so I record them and then put lyrics to them and send it over to Paul, then he puts music to my ideas. It’s a really wild experience just hearing this idea in your head and watching it build into an entire finished song for everyone to hear.
How was it to work with Paul Muriuki?
Paul and I have been working together ever since Games, one of my first releases! We have the most incredible creative compatibility and I absolutely adore working with Paul.
Tell me about the song “No No No”?
Fun fact No No No is Paul’s favorite song we’ve ever worked on!
Why are your videos either lyric or visualizer?
They’re visually representative to Starless, meant for entertainment.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
That’s a huge part of music now.
The symbol # is known as the number sign, hash, pound sign and a sharp sign in music. The symbol has historically been used for a wide range of purposes Since 2007, widespread usage of the symbol to introduce metadata tags on social media platforms has led to such tags being known as “hashtags”, and from that, the symbol itself is sometimes called a hashtag.
Are people forgetting that the # is a part of music?
Not sure!
Digital vs. vinyl?
Digital
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
I think everything is recovering from covid:)
Do you think that Covid-19 has been a plus to an artist career?
Not sure about that one! Depends on each person’s circumstances, I guess.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
Stayed in touch with friends and created a LOT.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Writing for music videos is top of mine because I’m self producing my music video for Vampire right now after my Kickstarter got funded. I really hope to write more music video concepts/narratives and make more after this.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Maybe online concerts? I would try that.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
I don’t think it’s still a thing.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
I’m down!
Are you performing your music at the Anime conventions?
I’m not actually, could be fun:)
In the past if a musician stops doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
God I would be sad not working on music though haha. I guess I would just concentrate on acting and maybe making music videos for other artists.
What is your happy place?
Pole dancing:)
Red Hot Chili Peppers are about to sell their entire song catalog for $140 Million. In the past year a lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks ($100 Million) , Bob Dylan (over $400 Million), Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, K.T. Tunstall, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Neil Young song 50 percent of his worldwide copyright and income interest in his 1,180-song catalogue to Hipnosis Songs Fund limited. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative then the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning.
Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
Oh I’m not sure! That’s a tough one. I’m thinking probably not, that way I can do whatever I want with my music, I keep creative control.
What is your feeling about TikTok? With Sony Music and Warner Music strucking an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
Love TikTok! I post on there all the time, its one of my favorite platforms.
Also, TikTok has launching TikTok Radio (ch. 4), a full-time SiriusXM music channel. The station will be available is vehicles and as a streaming channel on the SiriusXM App, desktop, and all connected devices.
The station will be part of a new TikTok collaboration with SiriusXM and its subsidiary, Pandora, to jointly promote emerging talent. Do you think this platform could became a force in the future of streaming music?
Could be!
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Huge thank you to all my stargazers (music supporters) and my acting supporters <3 Stay in touch with me here:
