In The Spotlight: Wendy Starland

Rising from Los Angeles, Wendy Starland is the kind of artist who proves that variety is very much the spice of life, combining the considerable crafts of singing, writing and producing in her remarkable repertoire. On top of her nine time Grammy Awards, Wendy has written and produced scores and soundtracks for several films including for the film, A Love of Money, featuring Eminem. Her prodigious creative output oozes prestige with an impressive array of awards that have put her well and truly on the map across the pond. 

Perhaps most well known for discovering a global superstar in Lady Gaga, her career journey so far has taken a dizzying path as an artist whose creative appetite is clearly never satisfied, and who always yearns for a new sensation. Curious about what makes her truly tick, I gave Wendy the task of searching her soul for Blowout, to expose the driving force behind the artist. In her candid account, we can see what inspires her creatively, and get a real sense of the exemplary work ethic behind her success that perhaps sets her apart from other artists, giving her a trademark edge which is clear when studying her background.

It is fair to say, that at times, the road to stardom has been rough, having to battle egos and withstand the common dramas that money and fame can grow at such an artist. As a performer, Wendy’s shows have been described as “sensual and scintillating” by critics. In terms of the rise, Starland has another claimant alongside the Lady Gaga story. Fascinatingly, particularly for Rhythm n’ Blues and Jazz connoisseurs, she was discovered by Maceo Parker, the legendary sax player for none other than James Brown.

Wendy’s creative flair feels as though it is the sole of many parts, drawing from many influences and tendencies that truly endear her to her fans. A humble approach to all her work is combined with a burning curiosity that fuels her projects and keeps the artist ahead of the curve. Being included as an artist in an array of awards is also balanced with a sense of creative impatience that comes across in her personality, which drives a constant need to break new territory in both her own singing and in the discovery of other artists along the away. 

Finding a niche is paramount for real success in the songwriting world, and one which stands the rest of time. Judging by the success of Lady Gaga, a knack for the unique is one of the main takeaways from the trajectory of Starland’s career. Experimenting with genres doesn’t faint her, and the fear of the unknown doesn’t phase a successful artist, as we can see in her account: 

As a producer, you have exposed the likes of Lady Gaga. What are your top tips for exposing such talent? 

Discovering and developing talent is typically a long process. You are looking for the diamond in the rough who has something unique and different, knowing the value you can add to it. My strength is in songwriting and in seeing the holes in the marketplace that need to be filled, and then filling them. At the time when I discovered Lady Gaga in 2006, dance music was not prevalent. All of the biggest acts were sweet and safe. I knew that bringing talent to the world that was edgy and bold would  draw attention and set off alarms. It is this kind of creative risk-taking that has the ability to blaze a new path in a highly populated and competitive music industry. So my advice would be to ignore the trends and try to be the best in a specific niche that has great potential for mass appeal. 

The idea of Nature vs Nurture is often debated in terms of ability at a particular craft. Are you born or made a singer? 

I believe that 90% of it is nature and 10% of it is nurture. You can’t start off as a mediocre singer and performer and then become Michael Jackson. Although Michael Jackson had an incredible work ethic, his God-given talent was what allowed him to inspire the world because we all knew that we were of witnessing greatness at its peak. Is it possible to have a hit with a B- singing voice and an A+ song? Absolutely. It is not possible to have a hit with an A+ singing voice and a B- song. The song always wins. There are certainly levels of talent for each category: singing, songwriting, performing, and work ethic/ambition. They are all necessary ingredients in order to make it in the music industry.

What is your proudest breakthrough moment in your career as a singer/producer, and why? 

There are so many great moments… Being honored by the Songwriters Hall of Fame, performing my songs live with a symphony in Italy, hearing my song on the radio for the first time, watching Lady Gaga go from an unknown artist I was developing into a 9 time Grammy, Golden Globe and Oscar winning icon. All magical moments that I will always treasure.

As an artist/producer you have dabbled in the world of Hip Hop. What inspired you to do so, as a more traditional artist?

As I got better at writing songs I naturally became interested in producing them as well so I could make them sound the way they did in my head while composing them. So I bought some equipment and taught myself how to use it. One day my equipment broke down and the guy who came to help me fix it was a record producer named Dainjamental. He heard my music and asked if I would be interested in singing on other people’s records and I said yes.He brought me to Staten Island into a recording studio with the Wu-Tang Clan. I ended up not only singing but re-writing their songs and a beautiful collaboration was born! We ended up creating about 30 songs together. Word got out around the hip-hop community that about my writing, and other hip-hop acts started hiring me to sing and write on their albums. And the rest is history!

People say that music transcends time. Do you think the older generation appreciate modern music? 

Music certainly does transcend time. That is why I can still appreciate songs that were popular long before my time. I can hear a Frank Sinatra song and be transported to an era I never experienced firsthand. Whether or not the older generation appreciates modern music is completely reliant on the individual. I know some older people who enjoy new music and others who like to stick to what they know because it brings them down memory lane. I’ve found that there are certain songwriters who create timeless songs no matter what the genre. And that is the goal: to create something so compelling, so emotional, that it is timeless and all generations will gravitate towards it.

What is your favourite lyric of all time? 

There are so many Iyrics I love, but today I think I’ll share one from one of my own songs:

 “The world will tell you who you are, until you tell the world. Love yourself then give it all away.”

Wendy’s words have got me thinking about how music -a song, or a melody, or a lyric - can compound out conscience. Music can soothe the soul in the chaos of life. 

In times of turmoil, a silly song can diffuse the distress in an instance life may throw at us. Music takes us to places when we need to escape.

A certain song can take you right back to a giddy first date, or a fleeting encounter. How do you know when you are in love? All the words in the song make sense. Music really is good for the soul. 

Words by Brendan Sharp