Mainstream pop band Stars Go Dim – AKA acclaimed artist and songwriter Chris Cleveland – has enchanted audiences with his uplifting songwriting. Over the past 15 years, he has carved out a distinctive presence in the music world – achieving multiple international Top 5 hits, a U.S. radio No.1, millions of streams, and collaborating with legends like Elton John and John Mayer.
Now, he embraces a new chapter with his new retro-inspired album, ‘Roses’, featuring the soulful funk of lead single ‘Mama Don’t Lie (Alright)’, to the wistful, classic balladry of ‘A Little Light’.
In this open conversation, we chatted about his love for 60’s and 70’s music, vintage instrumentation, co-producing the entire album, the inspiration behind his intimate lyricism, and the real-life moments he is most proud of.
Congratulationson the release of your brand-new album, ‘Roses’. How does it feel to be releasing your next full-length body of work?
Thank you so much!It really feels great to finally get this projectout into the world. It’s been a project that I’m extremely proud of and I’mso excited to be able to share it with theworld.
The album evokes a new retro-pop sound. What arrangements and techniques did you use to craft this fresh style?
Yes, it does!This is the first album of mine that I’ve produced completely from top to bottom, along with the help of some great collaborators. I’ve alwaysbeen moved by soulfulmusic fromthe60’s and 70’s and so thisrecord pays respect to so many of those greats thathavecome before it. One of the biggest things I did to achieve this, other than intentionally writing songs with more complexchordstructures and melodies, was to have some really incredible musicians play on it.
Every instrument on this album is a real person playing a real instrument, getting recorded in a real studio – and I think that makes a huge difference when you create from that point of view. It brings humanity,emotion,and feel into every note. So from all of thevintage keyboards, guitars, drums, horns, and strings, we did our best to have some incredible musicians bring theirbest to the songs. Vocally we approached it in a more modern way, as my voice lends itself to modern pop in such a specific way, but we still let the songs breathe much more than we would in a typical pop song arrangement. We approached thevocaleffects in a slightlydifferent way as well. Much credit to my co-producer, John Strandell for helping me hone in on that sound. He’s really incredible at what he does.
Can you tell us what inspired the album’s lyrics? Does a theme run throughout, or does each song have its own unique narrative?
Yes, there is absolutely a theme that runs through this whole album. In fact, I wrote everysong with a single thought/questionin mind; and that is this – “Who is God to you,in real life? Not what you’ve heard, read, hope, etc. But how does God actually show up in your life in the good and bad times? I asked this question to every song writer in every write for this album and theresponses were really incredible. Almost every person, after thinking hard about it, said that God meets them in all of the, seemingly, small, normal, and insignificant moments of their lives the most. Time with their families and friends. Moments between parents and children, or husbands and wife’s. These sacred times that we often rush past, if we arentcareful, are where God is interacting with us and showing us glimpses of Heaven every day. So every song on this album is a response to that question and are all of the different ways we see God interacting with us in our normal lives.
You’ve achieved some amazing milestones throughout your career, from playing and writing alongside the likes of Elton John and Justin Bieber to a string of #1 radio hits. Looking back, what is your proudest moment and why?
I think my proudest moment is when I look at my real life – my wife and children. I have a good marriage and wife thatsupports and loves me. I have good kids – I really think we are raising great little humans… when I can rightside my expectations of my career and see that ithas allowed me to live that reality, I can’t help but feel proud of every stage and every song that brought me to this place.
Strictly musically speaking, however, I’ve been playing and travelling since I was 10 years old – I’ve seen some incredible success and some incredibly hard times as well. Yes, I’ve got to share some stages,or play in the closevicinityof some huge stars (if you know music theyalways count that as openingfor your biographies sake, ha!), and now 30 years in I’m able to release an album that I think is my best work yet. I feel incredibly proud to still be able to do this and release honestmusic. My hope is it can bring joy to someone out there and maybe give them the courage to do some fun and honest things with their lives as well, whatever thatmight be.
For longtime fans of your music, is there anything unexpected or surprising to anticipate from ‘Roses’?
Absolutely!This is a DEPARTURE from anything that I’ve ever done. Sonically it willtake youon a very different ride – but I really think it’s a good one. For me, creating this album reminded me of why I fellinlove with music in the first placeand Ihope it does the same for my fans.
‘Mama Don’t Lie (Alright)’ may be your funkiest song yet. What’s a go-to hit that will always get you on your dancefloor without fail?
Yes! and there are even a few more that are coming on the full lengththat you’ll enjoy as well. A go-to hitin that vein for me is probably Earth, Wind, and Fire’s ‘September’.
With hits like ‘A Little Light’, and ‘G.I.R.L.’ already released, can you tell us more about the album’s bonus tracks and their sound?
Those two songs are two of the ballads on the album – there’s one more ballad that finishes the album called ‘Good Days’. I wrote it for my kids and it gets me every time. The rest of the album is full of life and energy. Song after song of soulful, funky, vintage vibes and I think you may really enjoy it!
Will you be planning any performances to celebrate the album’s release?
Yes!I have the privilege to performat The Grand Ole Opry the week of the release and I’m very honored and excited to do that. I’m also working on a tour to be ableto come share these songs with people all over the US and hopefully overseas.
What’s next for Stars Go Dim – are you already working on new music, or do you prefer to take longer breaks between albums?
I hope to support this album very well, but yes, I’m already ready to start creating more music. Much of this album as has been finished for about a year and a half so we have just been waiting to release it to the public. So yes, I’m very excited to continue to create but also to play these songs live!
‘Roses’ Is Out On Friday, 11th July. Pre-save here.
Photo: Trish Carlson