Staryu is Here to Stay
Staryu is a bit of an outlier on the Atlanta music scene, but this star is on the rise, and with good reason. We recently had the chance to sit down with him. This is "5 Questions" with Staryu.
For an up and coming Atlanta-based rapper with multiple songs topping 100K streams on SoundCloud, Staryu is somewhat... unassuming? He doesn't have any outstanding warrants. He doesn't have tattoos on his face, or seemingly anywhere for that matter. He wears T-shirts and Vans. And, oh yeah, he adopted his namesake from a Pokémon (Water type, in case you were wondering). Not exactly a recipe for your standard emo-rap fare.
But damned if that keeps Staryu from his rise to prominence on the rap scene. His limited catalog on SoundCloud is best characterized by his laid-back monotone- he rarely stretches his pitch outside of a two-three note range without the use of auto-tune on any given song- but that's where the comparisons to other emo-rappers end.
What makes Staryu's music unique is the contrast between his trademark deadpan and the lush, exuberant beats he serves up his flow over. Enlisting on-the-rise beat makers like Clout Cohen and Pretty Pacc, Staryu has an ear for production that perfectly compliments his brand of delivery. The resulting music is an immersive sensory experience, the kind of stuff that, when you close your eyes, almost makes you feel like you're floating. On one particular standout in his discography, "Sittin", Staryu may as well be laying down on a beach somewhere, sipping a Mai Tai and musing about life's twists and turns. He's yet to release a full-length effort, but "Sittin" is one in a long line of vibey singles released on his SoundCloud, with more sure to come.
Recently, Sticks and Stones had the chance to chat with him. Here's "5 Questions" with Staryu.
A Lost Pilot: What made you want to start making music?
Staryu: Ok so 6 Dogs kinda made me start rapping, growing up we always talked about it, and he started and then around 6-7 months later he helped me with a track and here we are now.
Where are you from and what do you want people to know about your music?
Born in LA but grew up outside ATL — I want people to know I make some weird shit — but hope they can find their own meaning in my music.
Would you say that making/listening to music has an almost therapeutic quality to it?
Hmmm well I’d say with making music it is for sure an outlet to breach your own world a little bit and get out of your comfort zone and that helps a lot with stress and anxiety I would say... but also listening, when listening to something that you find enjoyable - I at least drop my guard and become way more relaxed... so there are definitely some different levels there.
Who are your musical influences, and if you could work with one artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Influences shit here’s a bunch — Peep, Juice, Ski Mask, 6 Dogs, Lil Hawk Boy, BenJaMoney, Grandma, I like a lot of like dance like the stuff in the radio lol and I’d say I’d wanna work with Peep R.I.P.
Any future projects we should know about?
As far as projects u can expect something anywhere between the next 2 weeks to 7 months range lol.
Keep an eye out for Staryu, peep his stuff on SoundCloud, and follow him on Instagram and Twitter.