STARS
Rock
ActiveAbout
Stars is a Canadian indie pop/rock band based in Montreal, Quebec. Since forming in 2000, they have released nine albums and a number of EPs. Stars formed at the close of the '90s when Toronto natives Chris Seligman and Torquil Campbell bonded over their fondness for sophisticated soul and pop artists like the Smiths, New Order, and Marvin Gaye. Torquil Campbell and Christopher Seligman recorded the first Stars album 'Nightsongs' in New York in 1999. When they began to do live shows, they called in Evan Cranley, a childhood friend, to play bass. Cranley then recruited Amy Millan to be part of the band. After a short stint in New York, the four musicians moved to Montreal and began to work on the second full-length album, 'Heart.' In Montreal, they met Patrick McGee, who became their drummer. Stars' music has been described as 'beautiful, eloquent indie pop', characterized by lush instrumentation, nimble production and mixing, narrative lyrics, and soft but nuanced vocals. Their music has been nominated for two Juno Awards and two Polaris Music Prizes. 'Heart' was released on the new label Arts&Crafts, which also hosted their friends Broken Social Scene. In September of 2004, Stars released their ambitious and theatrical third studio album 'Set Yourself on Fire.' It would become one of their most-loved releases. In 2022 the band returned with their ninth studio album 'On Capelton Hill.' While still musically upbeat, the album's lyrical themes were reflective and often heavy, focusing on mortality, impermanence, and the sometimes-cruel passing of time. Campbell, Millan, and Cranley are members of the Toronto indie rock band Broken Social Scene. Stars, along with groups such as the Arcade Fire, The Stills, Wolf Parade, and The Dears, contributed to Montreal's indie music explosion in the early 2000s.