Who is Alli’ Starr?
Video directors love the desert. Musicians do too. In the sandy expanses, the horizon seems to go on forever — there’s no impediment to the imagination and nothing to get in the way of a waking dream. It’s a wide-open space, perfect for the projection of fantasies, and Alli’ Starr’s desert scenario is a realization of some of her wildest desires. In the video for “More,” the R&B singer and her female friends have four muscular men blindfolded and bound to stools, entirely at the mercy of the women. (And let’s just say, nobody seems too upset at this arrangement.)
The imagery in the clip is a logical extension of Alli’ Starr’s persona. She’s a woman in control, bent on personal satisfaction, and determined to get what she wants. Alli’ Starr appears in black, and when she swings around her long braid, she’s the human embodiment of a whip. Then there’s her singing voice, which carries authority even when she’s just telling you her cravings. She’s simultaneously sultry and cool, inviting and commanding – and she always lets you know exactly where she stands.
Producers Tyler Gaston and Tiana Shai have given Starr a marvel of a beat to sing over: a slinky, sultry, relentless track tailored to the club and late-night reveries. Skittering trap drums, sighing backing vocals, deep, throbbing bass and synthesizers that hiss and purr: everything about “More” is designed to draw you deeper into the singer’s web of erotic associations. But the song, irresistible as it is, is only a taste of what the star can do. Situationship, her upcoming EP, puts her flexibility, versatility, and ambition on display and leaves no doubt about why she’s been selected as a backup singer for artists as varied as Phil Perry, Bobby Womack, The Ohio Players, Barbara Streisand, and more.
As a Las Vegas-based artist, Alli’ Starr is extremely familiar with wide horizons. She knows all about the endless possibilities of the big sky and the excitement of a blank canvas. In the “More” clip, she’s the queen of the desert, decked out in stockings, an outrageous dress, and black jewels affixed to her face; when she approaches the musclemen, she does it with swagger and absolute authority. It’s all a reminder that Alli’ Starr is an actor and dancer as well as a top-notch R&B singer, and when she and her partners step into formation in the middle of the road and begin to move, the sunny landscape catches fire.
Alli’ Starr weighed in on a few things for The Hype Magazine
As a Las Vegas native, what is it like being a triple threat entertainer in a land so rich with opportunities?
As a Las Vegas Resident having access to the best shows in the world and living in the Entertainment Capital shaped this little girl from East Chicago, IN into being the triple threat that I am
In what ways have you strengthened your craft and perfected your voice and sound since setting foot into the Las Vegas music scene at just 16 years old?
I studied under a lot of Great Singers by either singing backup for them or simply watching their shows and learning what to do and what not to do. I never like to use the word perfected because I feel like I’m always learning something new in my craft.
What is it like bouncing between solo artist and backup singer for artists as varied as Phil Perry, Bobby Womack, The Ohio Players, and Barbara Streisand? How have these experiences shaped your solo artist career?
I honestly love doing both. Being a backup singer is an important job because you’re supporting the artist and it also helps me as a solo artist to be able to learn from the Amazing Artist I sing backup for.
What was your inspiration for “More”? What is it about “More” that audiences will love and appreciate about this new track the most?
My inspiration for “More” was looking at an ex’s photo and thinking about the things we used to do and being in control of making that phone call. I wanted my fans to see the upbeat side of me while always keeping it sexy.
What was it like shooting the music video for “More”? What is the significance of the desert location, and how did it feel to perform such a controlling, female-empowering role?
It was Very Cold on location but the dancing kept us warm. I wanted to shoot in the desert because I didn’t want to be confined by walls and doors, I wanted open space for maximum control.
I like to think that every woman would like a moment of control with their significant other and I wanted to display just that even if it was all a dream.
Follow Alli’ Starr:
https://facebook.com/alli.
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About the Author
Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.
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