TLOBF Introducing // Shimmering Stars

Simple ’60s doo-wop hooks, full-band harmonies and unfussy production values? Ten seconds into Shimmering Stars’ new single, the deliciously charming ‘I’m Gonna Try’ (twinned with ‘East Van Girls’ and released this week), and you might think you’ve heard it all before – and recently – but the Vancouver quartet offer something more substantial than many of bands contributing to this year’s surf-pop zeitgeist. They sing about love, not lust, and not through a haze of weed smoke; instead a sense of level-headed yearning and wry self-deprecation provide ballast for their relationship laments. Amidst a musical landscape of neck-turning nostalgia, they are The Wonder Years to Best Coasts’ Saved By the Bell – smarter, more plaintive and, shorn of brash immediacy, ultimately more rewarding.

If there’s any justice, 2011 could be a breakthrough year for the band. We caught up with singer/guitarist Rory McClure to have him introduce Shimmering Stars, and get his views on the tough 20s, time travel, and the band’s plans for 2011. Turns out he’s quite a funny chap…

Give people who haven’t heard you the lowdown on Shimmering Stars in 10 words or less.

Dreamy downer pop. Recommended for the heartbroken and the insane.

I started a band because….

Rock and roll needed to be saved and clearly I was the only man for the job.

What plans do you have for 2011? Can we expect a full length record next year?

2011 is either going to be a huge year for us or a huge, embarrassing failure. But one thing I’m sure of is that we’ll be releasing a full length in 2011. It’s 95% done and I’m really happy with it. We’re very hopeful that we’ll be playing SXSW and doing a European tour as well. We’re also very hopeful that Andrew will spontaneously combust on stage, as countless drummers do each year.

I’m told that your influences include “anxiety attacks” and “antisocial behaviour” – please explain.

If my group of friends is any indication, a lot of people in their 20s exist in a weird state of prolonged adolescence where there aren’t any guidelines or expectations as to what we should be doing with our lives. To have this kind of freedom is a mixed blessing. The possibilities are endless, but with all this possibility comes a kind of paralysing anxiety about what to do, who to be, and ‘The Future’. These kinds of themes inform a lot of the lyrics for Shimmering Stars. As for antisocial behaviour – there’s something kind of antisocial about writing music and recording it alone in your parent’s garage, I guess. Also, rather than hiding my antisocial feelings I felt like this project would be a good opportunity to give them full expression, in part because it’s an unlikely context for these kinds of sentiments.

You also play in Bedrooms of the Nation, who sound quite similar to Shimmering Stars. Which came first and which band is your main priority?

Bedrooms of the Nation came first. Andrew and I (along with other friends) have been using this name forever. We were doing shows and kind of making a ‘push’ last Spring. We were quite good, in my opinion, and no one gave a shit about us. Shimmering Stars has become the priority because it’s gotten a bit of attention and that feels really good. But we’ll always come back to Bedrooms.

The blogosphere is a great way to get music heard these days, but how to you feel about people downloading/listening to your music for free?

Straight up, I download obscene amounts of music. That said, people better not download our shit for free! Kidding. You’re right; the blogosphere is a great way to get your music heard. It would be extremely hypocritical for me to tell people not to download our music for free. That said; don’t download our shit for free!

I read that you are training to be a teacher. What are you hoping to teach? Can we expect references to the classroom a la The Police in future Shimmering Stars material?

Ha! Nice. Best question so far. I’m specializing in alternate education – so that’s dealing with kids that, for whatever reason, aren’t quite cutting it in the public education system. I’ll be teaching a broad range of subjects. And definitely, expect a teaching-themed album in the near future.

What have your favourite records of 2010 been?

This year I completely lost myself in older music. However, I do like the last Beach House record. It’s dreamy, the melodies are fantastic, and the arrangements are bigger without sounding overdone. That’s a band that’s evolved in a pretty much flawless fashion. I like the Wild Nothing record for some of the same reasons – dreamy, great melodies, pretty much perfect pop songs. Finally, Wolf Nebula is a band that has re-surfaced after years of total obscurity. I’ve heard only a couple tracks but this is a band that changed music in such a big way and no one even knows it. Amazing. Can’t wait to see what happens next with these guys.

And finally, we can hear plenty of references to the past in your music, so we’ve fired up the Delorean, and you can be dropped in any past year you want – which one and why?

1994, Los Angeles. I’m skateboarding with Guy Mariano, we’re filming for Mouse . Me and Guy are killing it. I switch flip b/s tailslide Hubba Hideout . That’s probably the last trick in my part.

Shimmering Stars: ‘I’m Gonna Try’

Stream the ‘I’m Gonna Try’ / ‘East Van Girls’ 7″ in full via Almost Musique’s Soundcloud page.