S*t*a*r* just wants to be free
THIS IS
S*t*a*r*
Chance Hoskins, better known as S*T*A*R*. I met him outside of Akila during September fashion week in 2023. He was rocking a sick army helmet at the time and a few minutes into our convo, he let me listen to a demo he was working on. I genuinely fucked with it. An infectious alternative pop punk esque track. I was surprised to say the least. From the bouncy bass-line, to the killer guitar solo towards the end and the bright vocals, it was refreshing to hear. I was impressed with the concept. The song he shared with me on that day turned out to be Black and Blue.
S*T*A*R* is a talented musician, born and raised in Queens, New York. Blending Drum and Bass, Hip-Hop, and Alternative Rock into his own unique sound. I. got a chance to capture the essence of who he is in the neighborhood he grew up in.
Who are you?
DA BRIGHTEST S*T*A*R.
When did you decide that you wanted to be a musician?
Uhhh hmmm IDK when exactly. I think freshmen year highschool is when I started getting interested in making music.
Who are some of your biggest influences?
Mos Def is #1 for sure. When I 1st fell in love with hip hop it was like early stuff like Slick Rick , ATCQ, Wu-tang but Mos helped me cross into a more alternate world. Then I started listening to rock n’ shit. Oh also Kid Cudi.
Does the environment you grew up in affect or inspire your music? If so, how?
Definitely gatta give thanks to my grandma! She played alot of motown while i was growing up. Which gave me much appreciation for the classics. I was spotting samples in hip hop songs at an OD young age. She really gave me an old soul. Growing up in Queens and learning about all the talented people from my hood made me feel like I was in the mecca of greatness!
What is your purpose in creating music?
Creating music is so therapeutic for me. It helps me navigate my emotions. Through these songs, I seem to find myself.
I know that you produced some of the tracks on the EP. What do you find more difficult, producing or songwriting?
Out of the two id say producing. Even tho I wouldn’t call it difficult. It’s more about finding inspiration. I can write songs all day. You’d probably get 2 beats outta me inna week.
You have a unique musical style that is authentic to you, how were you able to establish your sound?
It comes from experimenting and trying unconventional stuff. But really i’d say I just do and make things I think sound cool. I really wanna blend more sounds n’ further push more out the box things. My sound will forever change and grow.
The army helmet seems to be a signature for your aesthetic on the EP. How did it become integrated into your vision?
“Gatta shout out Jamie Hewlett! Imma big fan of his work. I was super inspired by the Gorillaz art and when I did a deep dive I fell into the rabbit hole of his work. While building my world I started watching war movies n’ shii.”
The song “Hell on Earth” touches on the harsh reality of living in society but with a warm light hearted tone. It’s a great contrast. What was your headspace like when writing the song?
Hmmm… where my head was at…. I just wanted to highlight the bullshit of the world. Everyday its something new going on in this hell scape. Between the homeless epidemic and babies dying cause of resources. Wars n’ the lack of affordable healthy food in modern cities, shit is nutz. It all feels dystopian. I literally walked over a crack head the other day that nigga could of actually been dead…earth sucks!
On the last track “Auto Pilot” you allude to the grind and journey you are now taking. What motivates you to go down the road knowing the workload?
My desire to inspire and elevate my lifestyle motivates me …I know that what i want outta life isn’t easily obtained. I know that the grind and sacrifice is what's gonna make me appreciate it more. I could live a small simple life but I know I am capable of so much more. sometimes it's tuff tho. I’m very excited to remove myself from the rat race and help others free themselves too!
Is there anything else you do outside of music that might help your creativity?
I been pushing Campfireradio. It’s allowed me to tap into more graphic design stuff!
So What’s Next For S*T*A*R*?
Keep the studio , and grind for this money so I can get these videos off!
A hungry musician who is just getting started, the road looks bright for S*T*A*R*. The weekends usually consists of “hella weed n’ ice cups, especially when it’s nice out”. He usually winds down with his friend Chaka watching Avatar and locks in recording new music.
Even tho he dropped his first EP “I’ll Sleep When Im Dead!” in March, the project is a perfect demo and glimpse into S*T*A*R*’s potential as a songwriter. The grit of the first half are just nasty. Which in my opinion can be a reflection of NYC, particularly at night. Capturing the essence of the streets in the concrete jungle. While the 2nd half is followed by a more upbeat brighter tone that captures the charm of the city. Some summer anthems for sure.
It is a solid marriage and contrast of soundscapes that S*T*A*R* experiments with that makes him a unique artist.
