{"id":74039,"date":"2022-02-20T14:46:02","date_gmt":"2022-02-20T14:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=74039"},"modified":"2022-05-29T14:34:54","modified_gmt":"2022-05-29T12:34:54","slug":"star-2-speaks-with-us-about-his-music-his-upbringing-and-his-latest-single-thinkin-bout-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2022\/02\/star-2-speaks-with-us-about-his-music-his-upbringing-and-his-latest-single-thinkin-bout-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Star2 Speaks With Us About His Music, His Upbringing, And His Latest Single, ‘Thinkin Bout You’."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We’ve written a lot about Star 2<\/a> the last year or so, and so when we were offered the chance to speak to the man himself, we leapt at the opportunity.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Hi there! Thank you so much for speaking to us! We\u2019ve covered a lot of your musi<\/strong>c over the past year and each track is better than the last! What got you into music in<\/strong> the first place?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you very much! I appreciate the coverage and compliment!! There\u2019s always been music around me for as long as I can remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Music is a big part of my culture, the Ka-ren people from Burma. I grew up in a refugee camp where music kept us going. I grew up without parents \u2013 with my grandmother and her children. Her oldest son, my uncle, is very musical and played guitar and sang. I also went to church as a kid and sang in the camp and in the U.S. when we came to San Diego as refugees. Music is in all of our festivals. It\u2019s in the weddings, the New Year celebrations, and religious ceremonies. We use electric guitars, keyboards, acoustic guitars, drums. There are all kinds of cool sounding indigenous string and drum instruments. I learned traditional dance too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was in my early teens, I listened to Justin Bieber non-stop. I also loved Akon, Chris Brown and Tyga. Lol\u2026I tried to dance like Michael Jackson. A close neighbourhood friend in our apartment complex had set up a small home studio. We would spend hours freestyling and copying the rappers we liked. I made some music videos rapping half in English and half in my native Ka-ren language. Around that time, I started writing my own songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In high school, I got a scholarship to a summer rap program at the LA College of Music, \u201cRap and Hip Hop: Change the World.\u201d The program included writing lyrics, making beats, writing melodies, and vocal performance. Dr. Luke, the famous producer, was a guest teacher. The foundation that gave me the scholarship wanted me to rap without cussing.  It was hella hard! I even had some performances where I was freestyling and had to keep stopping! I went blank and busted up laughing!! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who or what has been your greatest inspiration in life and why? What about your<\/strong> musical inspirations?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My greatest inspiration is my grandma and what she has done for me. She walked to the refugee camp on the Thai border, over 500 miles in the jungle, as a young woman after her village was burned to the ground. In the United States, she woke up at 4am to pick mushrooms to pay our rent and pay back the airfare that brought us to San Diego from the camp. She came home in the afternoon exhausted and went to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My other inspiration is our Ka-ren people who have been the victims of genocide and horrible suffering. It\u2019s important to me to bring awareness to their struggle, and that we get back our homeland in Myanmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the musical side, my inspirations are Tupak and Juice Wrld \u2013 rappers who touched people\u2019s emotions and make people think. I\u2019m also just inspired by the power of good music – the way it can lift you up! The fun of a great song and the connection of a group singing together. Music moves us and brings us together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In your latest single, \u2018Thinkin Bout You\u2019, you play a Lyft driver, who falls for one of<\/strong> your rides. You have a considerable talent for acting \u2013 is this something you think<\/strong> you might go into in the future, alongside singing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wow! Again \u2013 thank you so much for the compliment! To be honest, I never really thought about acting as a career. I have had hella fun being in the music videos though, so who knows? I would love to try acting if I had the opportunity. I AM a bit of a ham, so I wouldn\u2019t mind trying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What has been your favourite single you\u2019ve released so far? What\u2019s plans for th<\/strong>e rest of 2022?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My favourite single so far is \u201cReal Life\u201d because it tells my story in the camp and growing up in the streets in San Diego. People who grew up like me tell me they relate to the hook \u201cI come from a place where you hear sirens all the time.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, I have a few collabs scheduled \u2013 Lil Poppa on two songs, Soulja Boy and Scorey, all with music videos. I learned to use a circus trapeze for an upcoming video, and keep your eyes open \u2013 I might even get shot out of a cannon!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve spent a lot of productive time in the studio during COVID and the last couple of months. I love my new stuff! It\u2019s sick!! I have a third EP already completed after my EP \u201cReal Life\u201d drops in April with a dope animated video for one of the tracks that\u2019s almost done. I have an entire album of songs after the two EPs that I\u2019ve already recorded. I\u2019m seeking out Ka-ren artists for an international album. I\u2019m also experimenting with different genres and sounds.           <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have an acoustic concert that we\u2019re filming next month and a live show here in San Diego in the spring. Also of course – filming more music videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you could collaborate with anyone, living or dead, who would it be, and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tupac and Juice Wrld. They\u2019re legends and there\u2019s no one like them. Justin Bieber because he is a living legend and still my hero. Also Kid Laroi. I have a perfect song for him to jump on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your songs are very relatable, how much of what you write is based on personal life<\/strong> experiences and how much isn\u2019t?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just about all of my songs are based on real things in my life and experiences. I do also have a very active imagination, which can be very dramatic and kinda builds on what\u2019s actually happened. The songs about heartbreak are absolutely real \u2013 and the ones about falling in love. The ones about growing up and also about the world\u2019s tragedies are all from my experience and perspective\u2026very real!    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you could start all over again in your music career, what would you do<\/strong> differently, if anything, and why? What advice do you have for anyone who is just  <\/strong> starting out in their music career?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wish I had studied a few instruments. I\u2019m learning guitar now, but wish I\u2019d played all the instruments I could get my hands on when I was really young and had time to kill. My advice is to write all the songs in your head without worrying what anyone will think. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also to not let the haters stop you from reaching your dreams. Finally\u2026something I try to remember myself, is to enjoy the process! I\u2019ve met some amazing people and have had a real blast making music.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What question do you wish someone would ask you in an interview, but nobody ever<\/strong> does? What\u2019s the answer to that question?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have a vlog, The Adventures of Star2, on YouTube. I have a lotta fun doing the episodes. My question would maybe something like, \u201cIf you could go anywhere in the world and do anything you could think of\u2026where would that be\u2026and what would you do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer is: I want to visit Japan! I want to climb Mt. Fuji, see the bamboo forest in Kyoto, take photos of the Blue Lake, feed deer at Nara Park, see Tokyo at night, take the bullet train and eat Japanese food!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recently learned to make sushi and have backpacked for 12 days in Alaska (with The Adventures of Star2) \u2013 we climbed several mountains. But I want to see Japan.  I hope to do my vlog there soon!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out Star 2 and his music online on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We’ve written a lot about Star 2 the last year or so, and so when we were offered the chance to speak to the man himself, we leapt at the opportunity.<\/p>\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":73130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"We've written a lot about Star 2 the last year or so, and so when we were offered the chance to speak to the man himself, we leapt at the opportunity.","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[641,7,9],"tags":[407,11720,370,116,78,10677,27023],"class_list":["post-74039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews","category-music","category-new-releases","tag-interview","tag-lisa-hafey","tag-new-single","tag-review","tag-singer","tag-single-review","tag-star-2"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/star-2-december.jpg?fit=1294%2C858&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5yMhl-jgb","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":71780,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2021\/10\/sharon-hendrix-love-aint-fair\/","url_meta":{"origin":74039,"position":0},"title":"Sharon Hendrix – ‘Love Ain’t Fair’","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"22\/10\/2021","format":false,"excerpt":"We've been writing about Sharon Hendrix for a while now, and so we leapt at the opportunity to review her new single and music video, 'Love Ain't Fair'.","rel":"","context":"In "Music"","block_context":{"text":"Music","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sharon-Hendrix-new-press-shot.jpg?fit=866%2C796&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sharon-Hendrix-new-press-shot.jpg?fit=866%2C796&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sharon-Hendrix-new-press-shot.jpg?fit=866%2C796&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Sharon-Hendrix-new-press-shot.jpg?fit=866%2C796&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15494,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2015\/11\/kelsy-karter-talks-about-her-distinct-old-soul-style\/","url_meta":{"origin":74039,"position":1},"title":"Kelsy Karter Talks About Her Distinct Old Soul Style","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"11\/11\/2015","format":false,"excerpt":"We interviewed Kelsy Karter back in January this year, so when Sapir Segal approached us with an interview with Kelsy that she'd uploaded to AudioBurst, we leapt at the chance to host it on Essentially Pop.","rel":"","context":"In "Interviews"","block_context":{"text":"Interviews","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/interviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Kelsy-Karter-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Kelsy-Karter-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Kelsy-Karter-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Kelsy-Karter-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Kelsy-Karter-2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":81762,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2023\/05\/no-goodbyes-wellingta-speaks-to-us-about-her-latest-single-her-inspirations-and-what-is-the-meaning-of-life-for-her\/","url_meta":{"origin":74039,"position":2},"title":"No Goodbyes – Wellingta Speaks To Us About Her Latest Single, Her Inspirations, And What Is The Meaning Of Life For Her","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"17\/05\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Last month we reviewed the fabulous single 'No Goodbyes' from rising London-based R&B star, Wellingta. We've since had a chance to speak with her. Here's Wellingta's refreshing answers to our questions, and we thank her for giving us an insight into her music process.","rel":"","context":"In "Interviews"","block_context":{"text":"Interviews","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/interviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Wellingta-photo-1-horiz-c-Marcus-Mainz.jpg?fit=1200%2C891&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Wellingta-photo-1-horiz-c-Marcus-Mainz.jpg?fit=1200%2C891&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Wellingta-photo-1-horiz-c-Marcus-Mainz.jpg?fit=1200%2C891&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Wellingta-photo-1-horiz-c-Marcus-Mainz.jpg?fit=1200%2C891&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Wellingta-photo-1-horiz-c-Marcus-Mainz.jpg?fit=1200%2C891&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":87792,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2024\/08\/but-im-a-man-yes-i-am-we-speak-with-matto-about-latest-single-im-a-man-living-in-the-digital-world-and-whats-coming-up-next-for-him\/","url_meta":{"origin":74039,"position":3},"title":"But I’m A Man, Yes I Am: We Speak With MattO About Latest Single, ‘I’m A Man’, Living In The Digital World, And What’s Coming Up Next For Him","author":"Essentially Pop","date":"15\/08\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"We've written about MattO and his music for a couple of years now, and have always been interested in what motivates him, and how he comes about writing his music. Now we've taken the opportunity to speak to him about latest single, 'I'm A Man', the meaning behind the song,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Interviews"","block_context":{"text":"Interviews","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/interviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/MattO-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/MattO-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/MattO-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/MattO-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/MattO-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":75083,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2022\/04\/meresha-speaks-to-us-about-alien-pop-the-video-for-her-new-single-trouble-and-reveals-what-question-she-wishes-people-would-ask-her\/","url_meta":{"origin":74039,"position":4},"title":"Meresha Speaks To Us About Alien Pop, The Video For Her New Single ‘Trouble’, And Reveals What Question She Wishes People Would Ask Her","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"14\/04\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"We've written about Meresha's music several times over the years \u2013 starting in 2016 with 'My Love Has Come' and, most recently, your single, 'Red Headed Lover' last year. Now we've had the chance to speak to the artist herself.","rel":"","context":"In "Interviews"","block_context":{"text":"Interviews","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/music\/interviews\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Meresha-Trouble-art2.png?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Meresha-Trouble-art2.png?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Meresha-Trouble-art2.png?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Meresha-Trouble-art2.png?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Meresha-Trouble-art2.png?fit=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15050,"url":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2015\/10\/the-rising-the-borderline-london-28102015\/","url_meta":{"origin":74039,"position":5},"title":"The Rising – The Borderline, London 28\/10\/2015","author":"Lisa Hafey","date":"30\/10\/2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The Rising rocked the house at London's The Borderline Venue on Wednesday night, bringing with them more than a touch of Northern Irish Country.","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/The-Rising-6.jpg?fit=404%2C539&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74039"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74039\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}