Featured Artist

Lani Ford ~ Stark

Listen to Stark's Song Clip ~ OH NO!

Bio

STARK is a New York City rock trio with old school roots and original tunes! The party band…with feelings, STARK calls it Punk-try! They play straight-up rock, mostly described as Pretenders meets Patti Smith…or if the B-52's and The Stooges had babies. Brace yourself for the sophomore LP from STARK—“Put It To Your Head”. 10 tracks that are harder, more punked out, and fun, but still feature Ford’s haunting vocals with bitingly funny lyrics that tug at your heart. It’s dark comedy and punked out country blues all rolled into one sexy package.

STARK makes purgatory fun by sleazing up the NYC rock scene, embracing their bad luck and traumatizing people everywhere they go! STARK blasted onto the NYC scene in 2003 with tunes reminiscent of CBGB's circa 1978. In 2004, the band released its debut CD "The Curse", instantly making fans out of big players in the NYC rock and roll scene and beyond from Patti Rothberg to Handsome Dick Manitoba. Since then, the line-up has changed a bit, but STARK has still been playing, recording and touring often. STARK has a steadily growing support base, indie-level industry interest, raving album and live show reviews, international radio, internet and television play, songs in films, distribution in the U.S. and abroad, and licensing. This determined young band is also now with the all-digital Zoomoozik.com label.

Self-released CD’s: “Put It To Your Head” (LP), “The Curse” (LP), and “Live at CMJ” (EP). Also, STARK’s song “Slut” is on the compilation disc “The Morgue The Merrier” (Poptown Records).

Lani Ford—Lead vocals, bass, main songwriter of STARK
Always a native Texan, but a classic New Yorker. Still kicking after a lifetime of taking punches. Sweetly slinging poetic hillbilly angst.
ASCAP Plus Songwriting awards 2005, 2006, 2007

Sweet Rob Endemann—Drums, backing vocals
The powerhouse drummer with the big smile!

Josette--Guitar
STARK’s little shredder, this Jersey girl kicks ass!!!!!!

Sonic Joe Hogan—Engineer, Co-Producer, Touring guitarist
You WILL be blown away…

Interview

1. How old were you when you started writing songs and how many years have you been writing and performing?

I started writing songs when I was about 3 years old. I was singing since I could talk and my family would tell me to sing something and I would sing a song I made up. They would always tell me to sing something everyone knows and I would tell them my song was better. I wrote songs all my life but kept them hidden and would sing them in my closet until I lived in Cincinnati with a guitar player who tried to help me make them come to life and got me into the bass. That was in 1996. I started performing my songs in 2001 after I moved to New York and got laid off from my job and could start going to open mics.

2. Who were your major influences with your music?

Well, I grew up with my mother playing classical piano so there was a lot of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. Chopin. I got into show tunes and Judy Garland/Irving Berlin at a young age. Plus, my grandmother and my mother both played church organ and at weddings so I was exposed to lots of hymns and mushy songs. I grew up in Texas, so there was always a lot of country and blues influence. When I was around 11, I discovered The Who, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Heart, Fleetwood Mac and I was a huge Linda Ronstadt fan. Around 14 years old, I totally got into the punk and new wave stuff. Dead Kennedys, Sex Pistols, The Smiths, Black Flag, The Cure, Siouxie. Once it started getting too skinhead involved, I went over to more metal stuff. Metallica, Megadeth, Sabbath. Then, grunge came along and that was cool. I always listen to a lot of blues and girl groups/singers who were edgy, like Sass Jordan, Marianne Faithfull, and Joan Jett.

3. How would you describe your music?

I think the above influences kind of give away the fact that our music is blues, country, metal, punk. We call it punk-try most of the time.

4. What all instruments do you play?

Singing, of course. Bass is my main instrument but as a necessity for songwriting, I also play acoustic guitar. I pick around at my first instruments, violin and piano. And I’ve been working on mandolin. I did play triangle on my last album though.

5. How many hours a week do you devote to practicing your music and performance?

Not enough. Seems like I’m always bogged down in the business details, but I try. Some days, I just blow everything off and play for a couple of hours. I love the days when I can gather up little ideas on paper and start arranging them into a song. That’s the ultimate. I’m working on getting my team together enough that I can practice and/or write for at least an hour a day on average. Some days may be more, some less, but 7 hours a week isn’t too much to ask.

6. How many CD projects have you finished and are you working on or have any future projects in the works?

I did my debut album in 2004. The Curse. My latest record came out in January of this year, Put It To Your Head. I recently recorded 9 demos on acoustic and have about 15 songs ready to record. Plus, we’d like to do a live record and an acoustic record. I’m also about to have a song (“18 Again”) on Wicked Cool Records’ compilation, Goldie’s Garage, Volume 1. And my song “I Pay” will be featured on a comp by Versailles Records in August. STARK’s song “Disturbed” will be on the summer band sampler of Bubblegum Slutzine in the UK. “Slut” from the first album was on Poptown Records’ compilation The Morgue The Merrier in 2006.

7. How involved are you with your recording projects?

Very. My new guitar player is the engineer of both my records. I love working with him. He gets the stuff even if I have to convince him this is the way it needs to be. I labor over the songs beforehand by myself and bring my various ideas in and we go from there. I would love to have more studio time to play with more stuff. We’re usually crunched for time because of money. Plus, I love recording analog, so that requires more practice before and less time laboring over little things.

8. What special honors or awards have you received over the years in your music career?

I’ve received the ASCAP Plus songwriter’s award (for the little guys) each of the past 3 years. I’ve been lucky enough to be selected for Los Angeles Music Network and Go Girls Music showcases. We recently got selected as a standby artist for NXNE which is pretty cool. I kind of quit submitting to too many contests. It takes up time and money that can be spent on recording more material.

9. How many performances do you average a month?

We’ve been trying to play less in NYC, but we get asked to play a lot. We’re trying to book a couple of shows a month out of town and play once a month tops in the city.

10. What is your favorite venue to perform live and why?

I’m not sure I’ve found it yet. We usually have great performances with huge crowds at Otto’s Shrunken Head and it’s comfortable because it’s the first place I played with my band in New York and I bartend there and we even rehearse there. The coolest stages were probably the outdoor stage at the Princeton University June fete last year and The Dirty Water Club in London this year. Of course, playing CBGB’s was cool.

11. How do you go about booking your shows?

It’s mostly been in New York through a couple of promoters, especially Frank Wood and Kip Elbaum. Now, so many people know us, it can be club owners, other bands, DJ’s, other promoters. Out of town, I’ve mostly relied on other bands that I’m friends with to recommend someone and just finding stuff on myspace. I’m actually working on acquiring booking agents, especially in Europe because it’s becoming a little much.

12. How do you go about publicizing your shows?

I send posters in advance, get on all the online listings I can get, also the in print listings. Myspace, emails, text, phone calls, website, blogs, bulletins, comments. Handbills still seem to be the best way for a local show.

13. What music organizations are you affiliated with?

Indiegrrl, Go Girls, ASCAP, LAMN, Girls Rock and Girls Rule

14. What influences you most or what do you pull from experience wise to write songs?

Well, bartending lends itself to countless stories, phrases and ideas. I take a lot from the dark side of the Lower East Side of New York. One line someone says can usually lead to a song. Sometimes, I just get a groove in my head and have to make something to it. I also pull from my rough childhood in Texas and my parents’ weird relationship. There’s a song in almost anything.

15. What does it mean to be "Indie" to you?

I think indie is independent but sometimes I think it gets a negative connotation as a certain style of music. I think it’s just something that should represent people who are doing it on their own.

16. Do you own your own record label or publishing company or plan to do that in the future?

I have a publishing name. I guess it’s kind of like a company but I haven’t gone as far as registering it as a business. It’s Kicking and Screaming Music. I would love to have my own small label someday.

17. What advice can you give to someone who is just starting to market themselves in the Indie music market?

You better really want to do it. Not just want to, but need to. It better be something that will make you die if you don’t do it. It’s really, really tough. Learn everything about everything you can.

18. What are your main goals for 2008 and in your music career as a whole?

I’d like to get my new band line-up up to speed and get a 7” dance mix produced for release in the UK and Europe. Also record more demos and make sure we’re ready for the next album no later than next winter. I also want to get another European tour together for late fall/early 2009 at the latest. Plus, we just want to get out of town as much as possible. Another goal is to have more of a team in place with PR and booking, maybe management.

19. What does Indiegrrl mean to you?

Independent female musicians in a community. I am a new member but have heard great things and am glad to finally be involved.

20. Who is your favorite comedian?

Ron White.

21. Who is your favorite musician?

Willie Dixon.

22. Who is your favorite poet?

Diane Wakoski.

23. Who is your favorite songwriter?

Irving Berlin.

24. What is your favorite website to visit?

Besides myspace? Mmmm, not sure.

25. What is your favorite snack?

Black olives.

26. What is the best thing you have found to relieve stress?

Playing music. And boogie-boarding.

27. What helps you best in balancing your career and your personal life?

My wonderful husband and adorable Chihuahua. My husband is a drummer in 2 bands and he helps me with my mailers and merch and anything I need. He’s amazing.

28. Is there anyone you would like to thank that has helped you along in your career or in the music industry as a whole?

Of course my husband. All the players who have chipped in whether once or for a couple of years. Alan Rand - my artist, videographer, chauffeur, engineer for my demo, all around great guy, friend. Frank Wood. Prince Hal and John Law. So many bands, fans and friends. I feel blessed to know a lot of wonderful people. And thank you for the interview and feature.

Visit Stark at:

http://www.starknyc.com/