Star2 is an Asian-American singer, songwriter and rapper who seamlessly blends pop, R&B and hip-hop for an enthralling immersion of sound. Raised in inauspicious circumstances, Star2 takes influence from overcoming his life struggles, creating music that is bold, high-spirited and soulful.
Star2 is a true survivor. Born into a refugee camp in Thailand, his family walked over 500 miles through the jungle to escape Burmese soldiers when they attacked and burned down their village. As Karen’s (Kuh-ren), a minority group that the Myanmar government has tried to destroy, Star2 (and his family) has faced immense adversity and racial opposition for generations.
With no father or mother by his side, his grandmother was chosen in a lottery to be able to migrate to the United States and at the age of six years old, took him to San Diego where he began his new life. Unfortunately it wasn’t an easy one, as a young kid living in the inner city, his family struggled financially and he lived with an uncle who was addicted to drugs.
Adapting to living in a new world filled with cars, electricity and paved roads, he was overwhelmed and overstimulated. Star2 found solace, however, turning to music as a teen, learning to rap, sing, write and perform. With a diverse set of influences including Justin Bieber, Tyga, Chris Brown, and more, he developed his own musical style complete with winning hooks, rich harmonies, and distinctly progressive R&B soundscapes.
Since 2020, the prolific songwriter has released a series of singles and has captivated audiences with his genre-bending music that rings true and respected. His latest unveiling is a collaboration with the credited rapper Luh Kel. Titled “I Wanna Get F’d Up” the song is about heartbreak, abandonment, and disillusionment.
How did you become an artist?
Music is a big part of my culture. I came to the U.S. from a Thai refugee camp. My people are Karen, from Burma. The Karen people have, for a long time, been persecuted and targeted by the Myanmar government and Burmese army. My family had their village burned to the ground and walked 500 miles to the border. Through song and music we’ve preserved our culture in the camp and in our new countries. All young Karen kids sing and dance and learn traditional songs – songs that tell a story. Some are about the beauty of the land, some are political, and many about romance and courtship.
We use more common instruments like guitar, piano, drums, xylophone and electric keyboard, as well as Karen traditional harp, pipe, and buffalo horn. We play music during church, weddings, and New Year and other cultural celebrations, also at parties and family events. My uncle, who lived with us when I was growing up, played guitar and sang – I was inspired by that.
As a teen, I discovered hip hop and rap. I used to freestyle with friends in a little home studio we made in the living room in my friend’s apartment. We used to kick it and vibe out. We started making music videos and sang verses in English and Karen. We also copied popular rappers we heard on YouTube.
How do you think this record is different from your past ones?
It is one of my saddest songs so far. The haunting French horn and the filtered vocal effects really take you there.
It’s about a head-over-heels relationship that blows-up out of nowhere and can’t be saved; the plunge into depression, and then self-medication and completely dropping out. We tried to capture all of that visually in the video.
Any funny anecdotes from the time you were recording or writing the song?
The song tapped into some painful emotions – so nothing funny in the studio. There was something funny when we filmed. We rented a dope classic 1968 Pontiac GTO car and used a green-screen in the studio to make it look like it was flying. Green screen studios are painted completely green – ceiling, walls, and floor, and perfectly clean. We couldn’t drive the car in. We would’ve had to pay to repaint any tire marks, so six guys had to push the car with the engine turned off on cut-out pieces of cardboard and rolls of brown paper!
Another cool thing was that Luh Kel was outside on the hood and his girl (who he was fighting with in the song) was at the wheel. This girl was an active Marine, who came up from Camp Pendleton during her off time for the shoot! Luh Kel had been going all day and night with back to back interviews in LA, so he was wiped out the day we shot the video. At one point he actually fell asleep on the hood of the car! He was out cold! She had to honk the horn to wake him up. But he jumped up and finished like a champ.
What was it like collaborating with Luh Kel?
Luh Kel was the best. He is big so I didn’t know what to expect. He loved the song and hopped on quickly. He also related to the heartbreak subject. He is just very real and genuine, fun on set and easy. A great dude!
What’s a record that shaped your creativity?
Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Bad when I was really young. Bob Marley when I was a little older. Today, Polo G and Drake.
Who is an artist or band you look up to these days?
Juice Wrld will always be an inspiration – so is Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Akon, and Bruno Mars. Recently, I’m hella feelin Polo G, Kid Laroi, and Lil Poppa.
Any future projects?
I have an EP called Real Life dropping March 2022. The lead single drops early November featuring Lil Poppa with a music video; there is a reggae inspired song in December, and a music video and single in January. I have completed a second six-song EP that will follow and am now finishing a new project that already has four songs. I did a lot of recording during COVID!
What does music mean to you?
In one of my new songs I say, “If it wasn’t for the music, I wouldn’t be here today.” It’s true! Music is everything to me, it saved me! My life has been chaotic and filled with tragedy. I expressed my heartache and pain through music. It’s allowed me to tell my story and to really process what I’ve been through.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?
I have two main styles, but I like a lot of different vibes. Singing and rap – pop music, hip hop, reggae, indie, and even traditional Karen folk music from Burma. A lot of my songs are more mid-tempo and even some ballads – about heartache and loss. I also sing club bangers though! Gotta make em break that neck and shake that… well you know!
