Multi-expressionist Alexander Blackstar comes from a long line of artists and creators. He was raised by his father, a Parisian painter who shared valuable insights on the importance of thought, music, and art.
His stage name pays homage to his father, Alexander, and the title of Bowie’s final album, Blackstar. Blackstar draws inspiration from his own heritage and the legacy of the rock ‘n’ roll influencers he admires, names like Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Marilyn Manson, Jim Morrison, and David Bowie.
Blackstar works from his background and artistic sensibilities to move forward in the world of music and art, creating a neo-rock sound for a new generation of listeners. While the desire to be a rockstar and have influence is clearly there, it goes much deeper than that. Blackstar retains creative control over his projects because he wants to make art and fulfil his legacy.
Blackstar’s new record, Stellenara, is out November 26. Watch the video for Blackstar’s latest single “Noir Presage” below:
Read on for our exclusive interview with Blackstar on Stellanera.
What are some of the concepts and lyrical themes on the new album?
It all started when I wanted to understand the concept of creation in its universal sense to better take control of my art and its production. It’s a very complex thing when we think about it. At the time when I wrote Facing Hell (my first album), there was absolutely no method in the writing of the songs, everything was impulsive because I had some emotions deep inside me since childhood that needed to be out. For this record it was different, I knew that I wanted to pursue my passion and begin a career, so I needed to start shaping myself into a product all in learning the limitation of my own creativity.
I saw a parallel between the creation of a masterpiece and the creation of our universe, in a scientific way. Before all of that, I was repulsed by science because I thought it was the annihilation of all dreams and imagination, in fact, it is the contrary. I started to read books on astronomy and learn about theories such as the Big Bang, the black matter, Chaos, and black holes. Then, I built my own theory around the concept of universal creation. To make it simple, I think that all starts with the ocean of the original Chaos, in it we find a grain of light ready to explode; once the explosion has occurred, a whole new universe blooms, knowing an expansion before actually fading away and returning back to the same point of the beginning. And everything is ready to start all over again with potential variations.
Stellanera is my own artistic universe, and we find in it all these characteristics. The first track “Intro (Ex Nihilo)” is the original Chaos, the second “Emerge from the Dark” the explosion of Light, the genesis, and the track “Into the Void” is the final point where the Light is starting to fade away. All the rest of the songs is worlds belonging to this universe, to this new era; we even find across it a track referring to the social power dynamics of primal prehistoric tribes, “Alpha.”
It is a short album, but I’m very proud of what I learned from it and I’m convinced that all lovers of music and art can find something for them in it. And who knows… it could know an expansion too.
What was the writing and recording process like for the record?
I think we are at a turning point in the rock world. The new technologies and the Internet drastically changed our ways of writing and consuming music, which actually led to a generational conflict between younger bands in their twenties like me, and more experienced bands. It is not about “Hey let’s go to the studio and write music together” anymore, we are in a lot more individual society and so is the process of writing and recording a record.
Because of the governmental restrictions linked to the well-known pandemic, I had to stay locked in an Airbnb house far away from Los Angeles where my producer, Alex Crescioni, is based. I started to write alone the first songs and record the demos during the lockdown with just one laptop, a guitar and a microphone; like most of the young musicians do. Then, when everything was done, I’ve sent the whole album to Alex with precise instructions by email to obtain a polished and finalized product. At the opposite of what some people could think, I like this way of making music; it allows me to keep the artistic direction of my production and gives me the final word on each decision. I’m a solo singer/solo band, so it is what I’m supposed to do.
This way of conceptualizing the writing and recording of music is really specific to my generation, so we can say after all—like Jim Morrison, Marilyn Manson or Gene Simons did—that rock is dead yeah … but neo-rock is born.
What influences do you think show up the most on this record?
Like I’ve previously said, science influenced the global structure of the album, but I am also a lot inspired by cinema and literature. So it makes sense that science-fiction was a genre that definitely helped with the futuristic approach of the record. The movie Mad Max: Fury Road has partially inspired the song “Alpha” and some of my new visuals, as well as Star Wars or Blade Runner for “Into the Void.” Of course, I am a big fan of horror movies, I get a little sadistic satisfaction from them; Alfred Hitchcock with Psycho and The Birds had a big impact on the writing of “Noir Presage.” You can even hear, if you listen carefully, some samples of croaking ravens in the song. I love the sound of nature; it is the original primal music.
For this same song, I was also inspired by the Shakespearean way of telling a story, like in Hamlet for example. Paradise Lost by John Milton when Lucifer is wandering into Chaos after exiting Hell, seeking the light of Paradise inspired the beginning of the record as well as the myths of Genesis that we find in Greek, Latin and Christian mythology. Speaking of ancient Greek stories, the journey of Telemachus in the Odyssey written by Homer was also an important influence on the lyrics of “Emerge from the Dark.” I could continue on and on about the cultural references linked to this record, but I think it is more than enough for this interview!
Musically you will find classic industrial rock sounds from already well-known artists merged with new and refreshing influences, for example, hip-hop beats in “Alpha” and “Noir Presage.” Of course, I didn’t lose my glam inspiration that we rediscover in “Bound & Gagged,” speaking of the desire for control in relationships, no matter of what nature they are.
Tell us more about your most recent video and song. What was the process like for the video?
In the precedent question, I talked about how the films Psycho and The Birds have impacted the writing style of my latest single “Noir Presage.” Noir is a word with a double connotation, referring to this genre of movie but it also literally means “black” in French. Presage has the same signification in both languages. The title is therefore understandable in all the countries speaking English and French, intended to be a multicultural bridge between America and Europe.
On a personal level, the song is a poetic black letter to the people who tried to define me into something that I’m not. So many people are deprived of becoming themselves because of the pressure induced by others who want to use them to serve their own benefit. Knowing ourselves is a process that occurs all along with life, it is not defined by just a fact or an event; and the fact that I chose this path in life is pissing off more people than I expected, simply because I refuse to conform to their attends. But that’s okay, without them I would never have this song written that I deeply love. I am just like Hamlet in the play of Shakespeare; you stabbed me in the back, I worked quietly on a deadly scheme and now I am back to take my revenge. “It’s tragic, it’s the fate, like the Shakespearean way…” like I sing in the song.
For the music video, as I am part of the movement of what I call “Neo-Rock,” I wanted to work with new technologies. I saw a few months ago that a new XR studio has opened near where I live, and luxury clothing brands like Balenciaga or Balmain were doing their fashion shows there during the pandemic. I really liked the idea of being merged into landscapes virtually created, without using any green screen. I called my production team to see if there was a possibility to work with the studio on the conception of sets that I’ve originally designed for the song. To go with that, I chose to work with independent haute-couture designers instead of buying ready-to-wear clothes, to have unique pieces that I would wear during the video shoot. Everything went well and the experience of making, shooting and editing the video was truly a blast. I could have delegated the editing and colorization like I occasionally do to my team, but for this one, I chose to do it myself to have to most personal approach of what is the new Alexander Blackstar; and I’m pretty satisfied with the result.
Do you have any other recordings, tours, etc. you want to announce?
For now, it is all. I’m entering this new era with the release of the full album Stellanera on November 26. A few other videos will come out, along with new visuals on my social media and at each release a new collection of merchandising products. We will see where this album drives me—if everything is going well, why not go on tour?
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Just thankful that I had the opportunity to respond to your questions. I have a vision to promote across all the (Neo)Rock world and this is one of the ways for me to express it and have more people really get to know who and what Alexander Blackstar is all about. Thank you.
Pre-order Stellanera here.
Follow Alexander Blackstar on Instagram and Spotify.
