STARBENDERS: on Spiders, Synths and The Beast Goes On

A new spectre looms over the scene of alternative rock, ready to strike and inject its venom with silver-gilded fangs. It’s STARBENDERS’ fourth album offering, The Beast Goes On: haunting in parts, jaunty in others, and an all-around knockout. This is the first project to feature new drummer Qi Wei, and “holds a special place in [the bands’] hearts” for that reason - the opportunity to make brand new mayhem together.

The album launches you straight into the mix with anthemic, overlaid choral vocals from Kimi, gruff riffs from Kriss, and a moody overture of organ-playing. We spend no time playing around! The sound matches their carefully crafted aesthetic, inspiring visions of glittery glam set in dark cathedrals. Across the album there are moments you’re really punched with attitude, and others that are twinkly, glitzy, and synth-heavy. It’s this seamless mix of no-nonsense anthems and dreamy soundscapes that really make the band so compelling.

“To me, it’s just classic Starbenders,” Kimi tells us. “There were a lot of points on the record that harkened back to our earlier stuff in our past, and nods to all of those elements. We’ve just gotten more adventurous. Matthew Pauling - the producer for the majority of the record - his approach was to be organic and run everything through the tape and just really capture who we are as a band.”

It does sound like this album is the band’s most fully-realised form yet - writing with new member Wei in mind, yet honouring the legacy that Starbenders have carved out for themselves thus far. “Legacy is a very strange thing,” muses Kimi, “And identity in and of itself. It’s like a new school year - who do you want to be this year?” 

STARBENDERS, at this point, is “its own machine”, according to bassist Aaron, and it’s quite exciting to hear that now, they’re being inspired by themselves. So what is it like planning a setlist with a catalogue full of fan-favourites, and making room for new blood? 

“It’s a nightmare!” Kimi laughs at the thought of it. “We have a whiteboard. The things we pay attention to is trying to make sure that there’s no lulls in the set, that the chill moments, and the spookier and witchier songs have their place, and piecing that all together.” It’s a fun kind of alchemy figuring it all out - “trying to make sure that nobody’s dying because we put too many fast songs next to one another”. 

This consciousness towards their fans is woven within the ethos of everything Starbenders does. Their recent album release shows in the US have come with a 10% ticket discount for students, making sure anyone struggling financially whilst studying can still take part in their scene. “We don’t want to be that decision point in people’s lives. Students as a demographic are fairly easy to identify in that regard,” says Aaron. It’s a very intentional choice taken to widen access. “Accessibility is important to us in general - we’re never going to be that band that outprices our fan base,” Kimi continues. “I think a lot of people are struggling, and if you have to make a decision between going to see a show or, like, eating, it just makes it a lot harder.”

From the sounds of it, STARBENDERS’ community is very tight-knit and welcoming. It’s something they take great pride in, and are thrilled to see it morph into something negotiated by the fans themselves. There is a tradition of people bringing toys and “knick-knacks” - often little ducks - to the merch table after shows, sometimes writing their Instagram handle on the toy for other fans to find and connect with them. Kimi in particular is really happy to have seen this tradition evolve, even if it literally weighs her down - “It’s funny, I have a whole box full of just like, random shit that I’m lugging through all parts of the country! But, you know, it’s fun!”

One rabid fan followed them from France to London, stowing away on their tour bus - “We were rolling up to the MOTHICA show, and I’m looking at our sound guy that was sitting across from me. My eyes travel up to the ceiling… and I see a spider that’s the size of my hand. It was a French spider! We had jokes about it, wearing a beret!” Kimi sounds traumatised, Aaron is just glad it wasn’t from Australia. Mr. Sound Guy eventually bested it - though when he smushed it with paper… it “popped”. Yikes!

It sounds like it’s only upwards for STARBENDERS - they hope to tackle new ground touring, crossing off every continent. They’re particularly excited to play in China to be on drummer Wei’s turf, marking this brand new era in a fresh lineup. The tracks Nothing Ever Changes and Forever Mine are two they’re particularly excited for people to hear, with “adventurous instrumentals and vocals” stylistically. Whilst we prod for any information about a return to the UK, they later announce their glorious return to the UK in June. We look forward to seeing them again, hopefully sans French spider this time.

Starbenders’ fourth record “The Beast Goes On” will release on the 27th February 2026. 

Words: Erin Strom

Photos: Alec Weeks