Star Dancer

Like a mystical rock shaman connecting the heavens and earth, Detroit, Michigan's Star Dancer (aka Robert Star) brought together various influences -- like the Cult, David Bowie, Billy Idol, T. Rex, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, and the Rolling Stones -- to create a familiar sound on his band's debut, Welcome to My World. In 2005, Star embarked on a trip to Peru to reconnect with his indigenous roots, participating in a number of Ayahuasca ceremonies in the years that followed. Incorporating beliefs from those native traditions, as well as Christian teachings, Star used these convictions to infuse his music with his ideals of love, harmony, peace, consciousness, and connecting community. Produced by Sponge vocalist Vinnie Dombroski and bassist Tim Patalan, Welcome to My World was released on April 20, 2016. Backed by vocalists Rachel Williams and Tosha Owens, Star also enlisted David Black and Wally Filipiak on guitars, Jason Lollio on bass, and Jerome Day on drums. The album featured many recognizable nods to diverse rock styles -- from '70s glam and hard rock to '80s hair metal and '90s grunge -- as well as a cover of EMF's "Unbelievable." ~ Neil Z. Yeung