Starcrawler’s Arrow De Wilde: Once a weirdo always a weirdo

Photos by Kevin Condon

A lot of time has passed since the last time I interviewed Starcrawler, and from what I can see, they really have been living their best lives. Between completing their sophomore album (Devour You, out October 11), recording a Ramones cover for a feature film (“Pet Semetary”), and touring the world, it’s a wonder they even have time to complete an interview. Arrow de Wilde tells me that she is afraid she’s going to sound distracted in this Q & A, and I wouldn’t blame her if she did. It’s not easy being the 19-year-old lead singer of one of the most successful hard rock bands of our generation, but she needn’t have worried. One of the things I loved best about my first interview was how candid and real each of the band members was when answering my questions. Arrow says that the person she is on stage is a different side to the person she is in her day to day life, but it is still a part of who she is. Possibly one of the reasons why Starcrawler is so successful is because as wacky, and weird as they are on stage, in their videos or in the recording studio, they are still 100% real. That shouldn’t be a relief, but it is. Trust me, I’ve seen the hologram Tupac.

Do you feel like you have gotten weirder since your debut album?

Arrow: Once a weirdo always a weirdo. I mean, we definitely experimented more in our sound while writing and recording this album. To some people, it may seem weird, and it might be, but I also see it as growth. We are all constantly growing and it’s nearly impossible to not let that show in the music we make.

All of your videos have this strange, almost horror aspect to them, but I’ve also noticed a lot of them are shot in the daylight. What is it about that clash of high style and creepy that intrigues you? IE: A garden party where everyone starts dying

A: We usually like to mix our taste of horror with a bit of dreaminess and beauty. Music videos are similar to paintings. It always starts as some vague idea that someone has and then it turns into this whole other thing you didn’t even think would be possible.

How did you end up recording a single for the Stephen King film Pet Semetery? Were you fans of the original?

A: The directors of the new remake reached out to us and asked if we’d be down to do it. Of course, we couldn’t say no, as that’s one of my all-time favorite Ramones songs. I hadn’t actually ever seen the original before they asked us to do it, I guess I always just assumed it wasn’t that scary. And it’s not. But it’s still a great movie! The Ramones song at the end is definitely the best part though.

What is one thing people might find most surprising about you offstage?

A: Most people tend to be surprised at the fact that I’m also a human being. But if I acted the way I do on stage all the time, I’d be dead already.

Do you feel like you have an alter ego when performing, or would you say that the stage you is more the real, inner you who is a little too weird for everyday life?

A: It’s definitely another side of me. Like my other half. I guess that’s what an alter ego is, but the stage lets me bring that out for everyone to see. Because that Arrow is definitely an attention whore.

You’ve said that you like to find the most bored looking person in the audience and unleash all your weirdness on them.

What is the craziest story you have about that?

A: The story that sticks out to me the most was one time when we played Pappy & Harriets out in Joshua Tree. I could tell this small group of people were either bored or hating it. So i spat water on them, and one of them freaked out and pulled out a knife on me. For a little bit of water. What a pussy. But yeah, that’s the story that first comes to mind.

What is the best reaction you have gotten?

A: Every time we play Japan. It’s amazing. The audiences there are like no other. They go insanely wild, probably the wildest i’ve ever seen at a show. Once we played in this small town called Nagoya, and this guy went absolutely bonkers and kept rolling on the floor and ramming his head into the wall until blood was running down his face. It was the only time an audience member had totally one-upped me. Hahaha. It was loads of fun. And he was okay by the way. No serious injuries i believe.

Would you rather spit blood or vomit kittens?

A: Spit blood. I’m personally not a cat person.

What is something you would bet your brains on?

A: A ‘69 or ‘70 white corvette stingray convertible with the fiberglass body.

‘Devour You’ is out everywhere today, you can follow Starcrawler on Instagram