LIHU‘E — For Starla Marie, Saturday was a whirlwind tour with time just for an interview with a KQNG Radio Group on-air personality.
“That interview with Starla Marie and her Los Angeles production people went well,” said her mother Stel Pimental, announcing that Starla Marie released world-wide a six-song extended play, ‘PRIME.’ You should be able to get it on all the digital downloading and streaming sites.”
“Extended play,” when used in music, is shortened to “EP” and includes tunes more than a single but not enough for a full album. “PRIME” features six tunes rendered by Starla Marie, including “Sugar Sprinkles,” “Beautiful to Everyone But You,” “Aloha, Hi” and more.
“‘Aloha, HI’ talks about Hawai‘i and describes that ‘aloha’ is so much more than just a word,” Starla writes. “It’s a feeling and loving in harmony with the people and the land around you with mercy, sympathy, grace and kindness.”
“PRIME,” the title track, describes that feeling when you’re on the top of your game and at your best.
“PRIME” was created during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the songs being Starla Marie’s most vulnerable and personal releases.
A press release on “PRIME” describes Starla Marie’s new music as “a hybrid of multiple genres, as diverse and unique as the artist herself. Each record, or track, is distinct in song content, music production, message and vocal delivery.”
Starla Marie co-wrote and co-produced all of her music on PRIME. She also sings all the vocals and harmonies, and hopes there is something on the EP for everyone to enjoy.
She and the Vanderveers, Automatic and Ebony, are executive producers of the single and EP. Automatic Vanderveer has worked with Michael Jackson, Cher, Pink, Christina Aguilera and many more, and along with Ebony is a co-owner of inRage Entertainment, a multi-genre, full-service entertainment production company in Los Angeles with a current focus on artist development and music and content production.
“Starla Marie’s incredible work ethic gives her an incredible advantage over most,” the Vanderveers said. “She is truly dedicated to mastering her craft. It’s been a pleasure to work with her on this project, and to learn from her, the true meaning of aloha.”
Throughout her career, Starla Marie has performed in Hawai‘i, for events such as then-Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s birthday celebration, a Waikiki ho‘olaule‘a, and as a featured artist at the Pipeline Cafe in Honolulu.
Starla Marie has toured across the Pacific, Korea and Japan, her hit songs and videos getting licensed in the popular game Dance Dance Revolution. On March 12, 2004, then-Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste declared the day to be Starla Marie Day.
In addition to her career as a recording artist, Starla Marie has appeared in three independent feature films, and “Jurassic World Godzilla.”
Starla Marie would like to thank her cousin and Billboard-topping international recording star Glenn Medeiros for inspiring and guiding her career in music.
Russell Tanoue photographed her for her single and EP. Raymond Del Barrio, an Academy Award-winning choreographer with credits like Whitney Houston, Paula Abdul and Chita Rivera, helped prepare her for upcoming performances, and Adam Hughes designed her single, EP cover and website.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
