By Natalia J
Being your own best friend is a guaranteed ticket to a better life. Georgia Starnes, a Texas-born, LA-based singer, discusses the uniqueness of her artistry and shares philosophies from her upcoming single, “You and I,” about what it means to be there for yourself. Georgia finds it frustrating to label herself under one genre, as there’s no singular way to encapsulate her sound. Instead, she’s coining her own genre: “Glitter Soul.” Her style blends bright, fun, and shiny pop elements—reminiscent of glitter—with the emotional depth and rawness of Soul, RnB, blues, and country. Georgia emphasizes that she wants to create a genre that is multisensory—something you can see, feel, and hear, that’s not restricted or defined by labels.
Sitting on a park bench, catching some rays, Georgia elaborates on her new track “You and I.” She appreciates the vague and open-ended nature of the lyrics and encourages listeners to find their own meaning in the song. For her though, the message that resonated most is when you truly show up for yourself, you’d be amazed at what can happen.
Growing up, Georgia found that music served as her therapy, a guide, and a friend, and a powerful way to connect with others. She loves music for its ability to transcend boundaries, that there’s something for everyone, regardless of who they are, what they look like, or where they come from. Music helped her navigate the challenges of growing up quickly and coming to terms with life’s harsh realities, which we all know is a personal and oftentimes isolating process. Creating and reflecting through music allowed her to transform pain into something beautiful and meaningful and she expresses gratitude for the depth and emotional complexity in her writing that she attributes to her life experiences. Much of which you’ll hear in the emotionality behind her vocals in “You and I.”
In her lyrics “Life can get so lonely, it’s not that way when you’re right there to hold me,”
And “since you stepped in, I’ve been thinking this new life could have some hope”
She describes that chasing your dreams is a hard path and can be lonely. But the self-assurance that comes from believing in yourself, and stepping up for yourself despite the obstacles is crucial. In today’s disconnected society, she emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with yourself as the first step. Truly developing a healthy relationship with ourselves and understanding what that feels like on a visceral level can be incredibly empowering and life altering.
Georgia shares that she has fully embraced her independence, which has helped propel her toward new opportunities. While she’s busy on the Los Angeles grind, modeling and bartending, she remains committed to her passion and has recently appeared on Season 26 of The Voice. Catch her this month with #TeamSnoop!
When asked what it felt like to embark on this path, she shares that it makes a significant difference to work with and be mentored by people you aspire to be like in life. She explains that for those who want to become doctors for example, it’s relatively easy to shadow or meet professionals in that field. However, in the music and entertainment sector, opportunities to meet or work with stars of this caliber face-to-face are rare. Beyond that, she mentions that working with professionals at such a high level has helped elevate, validate, and inspire her to maintain a strong trajectory in her artistic career.
Part of staying on track is continuing to show up for yourself, a theme we circled back to throughout her interview. She’s excited to show up for her music and continue collaborating with new musicians. When asked about her favorite part of making this upcoming song, she shares that this was the first time she got to work with well-known producer and songwriter Nick Brown. She discusses the process of resonating with the lyrics and personalizing them emotionally, and enjoyed the magical setting and environment of the studio, where she sang the song to life.
With western ambient flavors, authentic instrumentation, and soulful, emotive vocals, you can expect to hear “You and I” on all streaming platforms November 8th.
Final words from Georgia Starnes to fans and future listeners: “Listen to yourself and truly ask what YOU want. What do YOU like? When you take the time to learn and get to know yourself, you might find you like yourself a lot more than you thought. Cultivate that friendship with yourself because once you know how to be your own best friend, life will be easier and way more fun.”
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LISTEN:
Find “You and I” on all streaming platforms November 8th
If you’re local to LA, attend the release party for “You and I,” Desert 5 in Hollywood
CONNECT:
Stay tuned on Georgia Starnes socials for updates on live shows, the Voice appearances, and new music!
