A Conversation with Starset’s Dustin Bates – HuffPost 9.9.14
Mike Ragogna: Dustin, your band’s debut album Transmissions includes the hit “My Demons” as well as other potential rock radio favorites. Were you surprised by its success right out of the box?
Dustin Bates: To be entirely honest, I actually wasn’t surprised. Don’t take that as arrogance, though. I was just confident in the record and thought it had a real shot. So much that I spent a considerable amount of money recording and marketing the project independently before we had a label. I wouldn’t have done that if I didn’t think it had the potential for some decent success. That being said, I am incredibly grateful for the success that has happened. Nothing in life is guaranteed, and that goes 10,000% for music. On the other hand, the level of success we are seeing now, and the potential on the horizon is surprising and can be greatly attributed to our fantastic label, Razor & Tie.
MR: How was the album’s material created and during the recording process, how did working with Rob Graves affect the project?
DB: I wrote the record–along with a few great friends–using inspiration from the Message, which we are helping to promote in conjunction with The Starset Society. I also incorporated the story of Thomas, the person who provided the Message. Rob is an amazing friend and producer. He took it and helped me realize the full cinematic scope of the vision. There are many layers to the record, including symphonic and electronic elements, all of which Rob was a maestro at incorporating effectively.
MR: Did this album turn out as Starset pictured it or did it change significantly during the process?
DB: We allowed it to evolve and morph as we went along, but I would say it turned out roughly as it was envisioned. It was certainly enough to wet my appetite for the cinematic rock sound, but I intend to push the limits and dig even further into our niche corner of the music spectrum on the next record.
MR: What’s the story behind the band’s name?
DB: It is a derivation of The Starset Society, the group that spearheaded our formation. STARSET alludes to the planet PROX, which does not rotate and is thus in eternal sunset, or starset, in the temperate regions where future colonization will occur.
MR: How deep does your interest in astronomy or maybe even science and sci-fi run?
DB: I love most things science and space. I love it so much that I attended the International Space University and then went back as a teaching associate. I also have a master’s degree in electrical engineering and was actually working on a PhD and doing research for the Air Force when I got a record deal and decided to pursue music. My interest in sci-fi is a bit more pedestrian, but I still enjoy it.
MR: How much of an effect on your musical perspective and creativity did Columbus, Ohio, have on you personally?
DB: Though the band is based out of Columbus, I grew up near Youngstown, Ohio, which is a dying industrial city in the heart of the rust belt. I think the vibe of that area instilled some of the darkness that pervades much of my music. But it is also a strong place with strong people, which may have helped to inspire the positive themes of overcoming.
MR: If you were a tour guide for the album, how would you describe its tracks, etc.?
DB: Well, first, I really do hope the album is a journey. I set out for it to be much more than a mere collection of songs. But I don’t think it needs a tour guide. The numerous hills and valleys, light and dark places, tensions and releases are best experienced without my input. That being said, the novelized account of the Message which will be released soon by The Starset Society will provide further guiding for those who want to be more than a passive listener.
MR: What is your advice to new artists?
DB: Focus on songwriting. The song is the most important piece of the equation. This advice likely sounds obvious to non-artists, but I constantly see artists focusing too much energy on the wrong things. Getting big gigs and selling tickets, for instance, does not matter very much in the long run. Finding a “manager” will not do as much for you as writing a great song. Besides, the managers will come if you have the songs. Getting things like the performance, sound, look, and stage presence down are fantastic, but they all exist so that you can most effectively convey your songs. If your songs suck, nobody cares. Oh, and have fun and don’t quit your day job prematurely.
MR: What’s the best advice ever given to you?
DB: I think the most effective advice I’ve ever received has boiled down to “you can do it” and “don’t give up” from those whom I respected and trusted. As simple as it is, coming from the right people, it can provide a considerable amount of confidence when in the trenches working hard towards achieving difficult things.
MR: Where does the band go from here?
DB: We are about to head out on a Canadian tour with Lacuna Coil. After that we plan to continue touring, writing, and spreading the Message to the best of our ability.