# An interview with Val Starr of The Blues Rocket: To The Blues and Back Again – new CD – Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2024/07/23/an-interview-with-val-starr-of-the-blues-rocket-to-the-blues-and-back-again-new-cd-photos/
- Published: 2024-07-23T11:47:26+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**An interview with Val Starr of The Blues Rocket**

**The joy in your playing has brought joy to so many others, including and especially
me. What do you think is its secret?**

That is such a wonderful thing to hear. I think the secret is to always strive to
be a better person, not only in music, but in life. I have always been a very upbeat,
happy and positive person. I love to write about life experiences and try to share
my recipes for good living like in my song “Gratitude”. Blues is not all about hard
times and sorrow; it is about sharing real feelings, experiences, and wisdom and
deep emotions.

**What are the experiences of your life that led you to see music as a spiritual
endeavor?**

I’ve been singing since I was a little girl. I sang all through school and performed
in school musicals. If you’ve ever performed before, it is indescribable to see 
and feel how music touches people’s souls. Every time I perform, it is a spiritual
experience.

**Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your
music?**

When I was young and had dreams of being a music star, my more “realistic” self 
took over and spoke to me. I knew how hard it was to make it big as a performer 
and I didn’t want to spend life being down and broke, struggling to survive. So 
I decided to get a job working in the music industry. I worked for several big labels,
ABC, Chrysalis and Polygram, primarily in promotion and went on to be a successful
independent radio promoter, all the while, honing my craft and playing live. I then
went on to launch one of the first online radio networks, Gotradio.com. I personally
program the blues channel, Bit o Blues. It wasn’t until later in life, that I was
really able to concentrate more fully on my music and as a result, wrote, recorded
and released nearly 100 songs and 7 successful chart topping blues cd’s in a 12 
year period.

![](https://i0.wp.com/d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s%3Abzglfiles/u/166163/8284abb275d3517bd4aa665d13047fbc405a496f/
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**Where does your creative drive come from?**

I often wake up in the morning with songs ideas in my head. My poor husband (and
bass player) barely has time to get coffee, before I’m dragging him into the studio
to record a bass line on a new demo. I absolutely love to write, especially clever
lyrics and story lines. Then it’s all about finding the right rhythmic groove to
put the words to.

**But in your formative, figuring things out, years, whose sense of rhythm did you
admire? Who has impacted you rhythmically?**

In my earlier days I was influenced more by rock music and blues rock by band such
as Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. My female heroes are Bonnie
Raitt, Carole King, Janis Joplin, and Joni Mitchell. Later, as I begin to program
an online blues station at GotRadio I discovered wonder female blues artists like
Debbie Davies, EC Scott, Sista Monica, EG Kight and, Deborah Coleman. I love beautiful
harmonies, and I feel I am somewhat unique in my incorporation of harmonies into
my blues.

**What are you doing to keep it relevant today, to develop it and present it to 
the youth?**

That is such a great question. In blues, there is a fine line between staying true
to the genre and being fresh and original. I really feel that the Blues Rocket accomplishes
both as a contemporary blues band. But I learned a long time ago that you can’t 
fool people with music that is not true to yourself. So I am always true to myself
when I write and produce my music. I’m not a gospel or rnb styled blues singer. 
I don’t think I have the typical female “blues” voice, so I just sing it as I see
and feel it. The young people and all people really, respond to music if it’s genuine.

**Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album?**

My husband, John Ellis and I work very well together in the studio and we have a
lot of fun. We had just gotten our new puppy, Luke and he couldn’t understand why
we were spending so much time sitting in front of the recording console and speakers.
He would bring me every toy in the room to try to get me to play with him, and if
we ignored him, he would start to bark. To keep him quiet, I would play tug with
him and he would drag me all around the room while I was sitting in my office chair.
At least I was able to hear the mixes from different angles! hahaha

**How it was formed your new album Val Starr & The Blues Rocket – To The Blues and
Back Again 2024,**

I write a lot of music and not every new song goes on a new album, so I have a cache
of music. I usually think of an album theme, in this case – living life to the blues
and back again. I then looked at songs I had already written and began to write 
new songs to compliment the theme and direction of the album. I wanted songs that
spoke about what I had learned and had experienced in life. I sequenced the album
very carefully to take the listener on a musical journey of life. The last song,
Did You Ever Notice, is really an epiphany song, written in a moment of depression,
but realizing that friends and angels were always with me, even if I didn’t know
it at the time.

# 󠀁[Val Starr & The Blues Rockets – buy new CD](https://www.valstarrandthebluesrocket.com/store)󠁿

![](https://i0.wp.com/d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/166163/6d694697c03d14d4c371f0277acd084463945c49/
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3D%3D/meta%3AeyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ%3D%3D.jpg?resize=631%2C563&ssl=1)

**Do you share the opinion that your live albums are some of your best records? 
What is it about you and your music that works so well for live recordings?**

This question is not applicable to me because I have yet to release a live album,
and look forward to doing one. I believe that the blues genre is really one of the
only genres that live albums sometimes are even better than the ones recorded in
the studio, because of the raw emotion that comes with live blues shows.

**And how did you select the musicians who play on the album?**

This album, I had 5 different guitar players and I handpicked my guest guitar players
that best suited the songs. My band guitarist, Tim Brisson is amazing, but doesn’t
play slide, so I chose Dave Segal, on “Bluesin” for his slide work and his twangy
Americana style on “Worn Down Blues”. B. Christopher and I shared a common experience
and he was the only guitarist I wanted for “Bitter Pill”. Stephan Kimball is a very
young blues guitarist and I wanted his youth and passion on “The Blues That Moved
Me”. They all did incredible! I had the pleasure of playing with Pamela Charlles
Arthur at a Sacramento Blues Society event, and was dying to use her on my album.
She did not disappoint and she plays with us now at live events. Choosing my bass
player is a no brainer! John and I have been together for over 45 years and he is
the soul of the music, as is the bass in all blues!

**How have you managed to so successfully pull so much of your life and personality
through so much of your music?**

Again, thank you for noticing that! I just always stay true to me and the blues.
Hey that sounds like a new song!!

![](https://i0.wp.com/d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s%3Abzglfiles/u/166163/34b72d89042dac31af53a18d3040b7b70a4a5644/
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=640&ssl=1)

**Did your sound evolve during that time?**

Absolutely, I started off writing more rock infused blues, and then just fell in
love with the good old blues shuffle. I also like jump/swing as it allows me to 
easily incorporate fun harmonies, sax and keys. We like to describe our type of 
blues as California blues.

**What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?**

Completing and releasing a new album is always a highlight in my life. I really 
want to get a chance to play to blues audiences in Europe. I hear that they are 
amazing and so appreciative of the music. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband
and life partner, beautiful children and grand children and incredible friends and
fans.

**Your life is an open book or that your life is always open to new experiences,
or something else?**

I’d like to say that my life is an open book, because I feel like I have learned
some secrets to happiness. I want the whole world to be happy and if I can pass 
along some wisdom in my music, then that would be amazing.

**What would you say characterizes Blues scene in comparison to other local scenes
and circuits?**

I think the blues scene, although relatively small compared to other genres such
as country, pop or hip hop, is a very loyal scene. Blues lovers are strong in their
support of the genre, support local shows and events and buy the music (many still
buy CD’s!!).

**Do you think there is an audience for young people to become future audiences 
and fans?**

Yes I do! I think young people discover music in different ways now, and are not
defined by or limited to one particular genre or style of music. Young people just
like good songs, which is great. So if you can find a way to get one great song 
to young people, I don’t think they would care at all if you were a “blues” artist.

**By Laura Wulff**

![](https://i0.wp.com/d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s%3Abzglfiles/u/166163/7520eb80498b3036855487d99db09748bb0fd34e/
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