PREMIERE | Becca Starr, "First Step"

Illuminati eye — introducing Becca Starr; press photo courtesy of the artist / In Black Records.

Paisley by way of Scotland artist Becca Starr has been busy synthesizing a barrage of styles, smarts and sounds. Fusing arcade chip tunes and an eccentric percussive loop with some deep groove rhythms and blues; Starr fashions DIY grime components with a mix of personal explorations and expositions that are both spit and sung. Between rapped bars and harmonic overtures, Becca assigns characterizations to different perspective faculties that comprise the various facets of self on the debut of “First Step” featured off the forthcoming release Speak No Evil via In Black Records. An otherwise inner monologue is re-imagined as a dialogue of personal reckoning and understanding where thoughts and notions of volition and ambition are tumbled about like coarse stones to reveal diamonds in the rough.

Becca Starr begins and closes “First Step” with vintage beeps and bops like the MIDI synths from a retro arcade machine. Heady prolonged keys reverberate throughout the track as questions of mutual adoration and affection percolate like the inquires that occupy the mind while a kettle is brought to a boil for afternoon tea. Starr spills out all the hot goss as the sport of amour is reflected in a survey of basic human connections and their correlation to the ongoing pursuit of happiness and self-actualization. The track concludes with the titular refrain of time honored wisdom that the initial impetus of proactive behaviors are always the most difficult to initiate into active motion.

Breaking it down with Becca Starr; press photo courtesy of the artist/ In Black Records.

Becca Starr shared the following meditations on the paths and pavements that informed “First Step”:

“First Step” is a very conceptual track, although it may not be obvious at first listen. It is a conversation and occasional argument between the main characters featured on the upcoming album Speak No Evil. Those characters being Wrath, Child, Ego, Romantic and Fear. The main personality elements condensed in thoroughly vocal form. “First Step” is the only track to feature all the characters interacting.

It is a battle for the mic, for perspective and opinion. Ultimately the track’s characters reach a unanimous agreement...the first step IS the hardest.

Becca Starr’s album Speak No Evil will be available soon via In Black Records.

Cover art for Becca Starr’s single “First Step”.