Quality Americana

Guest Reporter Keith Michael recently sat down with Evan Starr of ET + Rainbow Yantra to talk about his Spring 2024 release “California.”

“California” is a playful and sentimental song about a pivotal journey in Starr’s life. The journey out west is part of that American dream, the freedom to reach the farthest piece of land and majestic ocean that can inspire one to create. Searching for inspiration, Starr left the Texas Hill Country for the Pacific.

“I felt like ‘if I don’t do something drastic and move somewhere then I’m just going to be in the same place the whole time,’” Starr said.

The life-changing journey gave Starr success with his art, and also found him struggling to survive at times. Many of these moments inspired the single “California” that appears on the album Black Sheep.

“People think it’s like a fantasy or a dream or something,” Starr said. “California is a true story, I’ve already lived it.”

KEEPING THE MYSTERY

Starr wants to let the audience interpret his art in their own way.

“The music I love, whenever I find out like what it’s actually about, or the stories behind it, it kind of ruins it for me,” Starr said. “Some of my favorite artists or favorite songs are a mystery.”

Starr said the goal is to get ourselves out of the way to let the song exist.

“All songs come from nature, and we are just vessels,” Starr said. “I never sit down and try and write. She gives it to me in one moment. And it’s normally when I least expect it. When it’s inconvenient. When I’m not trying… She will whisper. She’ll give me the inspiration, and then at that point it’s up to the songwriter.”

GIFT OF TRUST

Starr takes inspiration from being in nature and meditation to visualize his art. He also has learned to channel his art from the practice. Starr described it as a gift of trust to present this body of work.

“The best songs come straight from the spirit,” Starr said. “I feel like I do my best work when I don’t obsess about it, or even try.”

Find out more about ET + Rainbow Yantra here:

https://etrainbowyantra.bandcamp.com

Follow Quality Americana for your Song of the Day.