"With their bowed dulcimer, droning echo, and mysterious psychedelic touches, Starlings, TN combines the otherworldliness of John Cale-era Velvet Underground with the tradition of string and bluegrass bands of the '20s and '30s. The Nashville group released its debut, The Leaper's Fork, on Chicken Ranch Records in 2002.

Steve Stubblefield (formerly of the Methadone Actors) and Tim Bryan (formerly of the Habitual Sex Offenders) founded the group in the late '90s. The two eventually hooked up with T.J. Larkin and Jose Lovato. (The latter would leave the group shortly after the debut album was completed.) Stubblefield, who had been exposed to gospel music in his Baptist minister grandfather's church, drew inspiration for the Starlings, TN from listening to the archival albums of renowned folk collector Alan Lomax and from meeting noted dulcimer player David Schnaufer (Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams Jr.). Stubblefield eventually came upon the sound he wanted for his new group when he bought a dulcimer and took lessons on the instrument from Schnaufer. The group's debut found them exploring tradition yet wrapping it in utterly forward-thinking arrangements and production."- All Music Guide

Since hurricane Katrina ravaged the gulf coast in late August of 2005, Steven Stubblefield has been working on a new Starlings, TN record. “That storm was like a bad acid trip,” He said. “It lasted as nearly as long too. It was eight hours of chaos that left years destruction in its wake.” With more than $10,000 worth of damage to his home from Katrina, he spent the next three years helping others recover from the storm. He worked for the first ten months in Biloxi, MS with Samaritan’s Purse. But, when a job working for the American Red Cross opened up in his home town of Hattiesburg, MS, he made the move back home. “I enjoyed the time I was in Biloxi and will never forget the things I saw, heard, and the people I met while I was there. There were many precious moments.”

When Katrina blew in I had already begun recording the ‘next album.’ I lost the hard drive I had been recording to during the storm and when I discovered several instruments were also lost, I was devastated.” Over time, instruments and hard drives were replaced and in early 2009 the bug struck and he began writing and recording once again. After a few months and several songs in he said, “I just wasn’t happy with the direction it was going.” So, he scrapped the recordings and took on a new project without knowing it.

“It began with recording a few cover songs. I wanted to have fun and pay homage to song writers that have influenced me over the years. The next thing I knew, I had recorded eight songs and was really happy about it.” When he had finally finished all the recordings and sent the master off to Chicken Ranch Records, where it was met with great approval, Under the Influence had life and he finally found the confidence he needed to continue recording an album of original music.

“I have just gotten to a place in my life where most of the music I am making, I am doing it by myself. I’m very judgmental of myself and it’s become more difficult to let something go and say it is done. I had some help on the new album from my friends in Bogalusa, the Petty Bones. But, I did most of this one alone.”

When asked what else is different now compared to earlier efforts like Leaper’s Fork and Between Hell and Baton Rouge he said, “Well, I used to use the recording process as a songwriting tool. Now when I record a song, I have played it many times over. I really like to get to know the song in an intimate way before I attempt to record it. Next, I mixed this record thinking about my iPod for the first time. I have really good ear buds and it had to sound good through them as well as the studio monitors.” He went on to say that he thought it added, “a more concise song structure and a kinder, gentler Starlings, TN , meant to be listened to really loud.”

“I’m really proud of the way How Dark It Is Before the Dawn came out as finished album. It was a tough record to make. I went through a lot during the time I spent making this record and am looking forward to brighter days.”

When asked about the future he said, “I’d really like to do some live shows again. I haven’t been out on the road in five years and I miss it. I have already begun writing songs for the next record and most days those are the songs I’m playin’ over and over again. Also, right now I am re-mastering never before released Methadone Actors songs I had stashed away on old DAT tapes that I recently dug up. I just have to stay busy or I’ll lose my mind.”

(photo by Carol He)

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photo credits: Carol He

Starlings, TN story on NPR's "All Things Considered"

Beat The Indie Drum picks "Between Hell and Baton Rouge" as one of the essential albums of the ''00s

'On their second album, Steve Stubblefield and Tim Bryan prove as adept at songcraft as they are at chilling atmospherics. Stubblefield’s originals prove as varied as they are addictive, from the opening “Tramps Rouge” (which sets the memory of an alcohol haunted journey in spirited motion), to the full-tilt razor dance of “Corbitt Up The Mountain”, to the desperate poignancy of “The Cumberland”.'- No Depression