Ryan Star: This Could Be the Year

Ryan Star formed his first band with his Candlewood Middle School classmates when he was 14. Star was the lead singer. The band was called Stage.

One year later they were already performing at CBGB's in New York City.

"That was our first gig," Star said. "I basically called the club everyday until they would have us. That's how you did it back then. We were very driven. I don't know if we knew where we were going, but we were driven."

When they were 16 years old, they won a radio contest and played at Jones Beach that night. "Thats when we really made the commitment to music," Star said. "That's when I thought, 'We have a shot at this now.'"

By the time they were 21, Madonna had signed them to a record deal with Maverick Records. 

"I had just graduated from Stony Brook University," Star said. "I was 21 and I remember feeling like it had taken a long time to get signed. I was always in a hurry."

After being with the band for 10 years, Star decided to go out on his own. 

Like he says in one of the songs off his new album, 11:59, "Brand New Day:"

"I need to break out and make a new name

Let's open our eyes to the brand new day.

It's the brand new day."

Now Star is touring all over the country and will be appearing at Webster Hall January 18.

"That's my biggest stop in New York City and I'm very happy to start the New Year off close to home."

Tonight he will be even closer to his Dix Hills roots--at the grand reopening of

He has fond memories of growing up in Dix Hills. He first started writing songs in his basement when he would get bored. And his new album, 11:59, is about growing up in Dix Hills. 

"11:59 has my roots all over it," Star said. "I love playing it every night. It reminds me of Dix Hills."

Dix Hills is also where he met his wife, "an Easter," he said. (Star went to HS West and his wife went to HS East.) She is now a first grade teacher in New York City, where they live. She travels with him in the summer, when she's off, and many of Star's songs are about her. One of his favorite songs from the new album, "Start a Fire," starts with Star singing:

"I remember when you said your father's asleep

I remember swimming as our clothes drifted off to sea." 

Lyrics are very important to Star. "They need to make sense," he said. He said that the band he is touring with now is a "great rock band. They are rock stars in their own right."

Star added, "I am more excited then ever to do what I love to do the most--play music for people. I have seen a lot and changed my sound for every album I have ever put out but the one thing that has remained constant is my passion for music. Here we are at the dawn of a new day and although I'm much different now, my dreams are still the same."