Interview: Star Vision

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Photo: Star Vision

We were lucky enough to catch up with Star Vision, following the release of his stunning cover single, ‘Running with the Night‘. Enjoy the interview below!

Hi Scott, what is your earliest music memory?

Hey! Firstly, thanks so much for the interview and for the support.

When it comes to my earliest music memories, a few stand out. The first that comes to mind is of my Dad, who was also a singer, sitting me down in front of the family record player and playing The Eagles’ double live album.

I remember him specifically playing ‘Take It to the Limit’ and trying to teach me “how to listen to music”. We must have played those harmonies over and over until I finally “got it.”

I also remember hearing ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’ by Foreigner and, even as a little kid, feeling the soul and emotion in that song. Other songs that are etched into my memory are ‘Let’s Go to Bed’ by The Cure, ‘Cuts Like a Knife’ by Bryan Adams, and ‘If Ever I’m In Your Arms Again’ by Peabo Bryson. Looking back, I think all of those have had their own subconscious impact on me.

I also remember getting the cassette of ‘Reckless’ by Bryan Adams for Christmas one year, which was my first ever album.

How did you first get into the music industry?

As a kid, I had my own extreme music fanzine, which I sold through the mail and in record stores. However, as a musician, my real start in the industry came when I moved from Melbourne, Australia, to Vancouver, Canada, at 20. That was my first experience working with booking agents, managers, and the whole industry side of things.

When I moved back to Melbourne, I landed a job at APRA-AMCOS (Australasian Performing Rights Association), which gave me a deep dive into the world of live performance and licensing. From there, I moved to London and worked for the now-defunct Sanctuary Group, founded by Iron Maiden’s managers, Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor. I was part of their music publishing division and learned a lot there.

Later, I moved to the U.S. and worked at Universal Music Publishing before taking on roles at an independent record label and a dance music distributor.

Throughout all of this, I was always writing and performing music in different capacities. Finally, at the end of 2022, I launched Star Vision here in Stockholm, Sweden.

Who influenced your superb latest release, a stunning cover of Lionel Richie’s classic, ‘Running with the Night’?

Firstly, thanks so much for the words! Super happy to hear you enjoyed it.

Growing up, my family used to play Lionel Richie’s ‘Can’t Slow Down’ on cassette.

Last year, I revisited the album for the first time in decades, and when ‘Running with the Night’ came on, it really hit me. Lionel Richie’s version already has clear rock elements to it, but I got the idea to turn up the guitars and hone in on those rock elements.

After releasing a couple of EPs and a single last year, I thought it would be good to something different by remaking a classic song and putting a new twist on it.

Oh! I have to give credit to Jimmy Konsta, the guitarist I hired to play on the song. He really helped create the feel of the song. I told him what I was looking for and sent him a rough mix, but I think his guitar playing really shaped the end result.

What draws you to the rock-pop genre?

Honestly, it just feels the most natural to me. It’s my true expression—but it’s taken me years to fully realize and embrace that.

Even though I listen to a wide range of music, creating for Star Vision brings me back to a time before I cared about what was “cool” or what fit into a genre. Back when I was just a kid, listening to whatever was playing on the radio.

When I write for Star Vision, I’m tapping into that place—before adulthood, before overthinking, and definitely before my ego got in the way.

Even as a kid, no matter what other scenes I was into, I was always drawn to rock and pop. The melodies, the sleek production, the guitar tones—but more than anything, the sincerity of artists who wear their hearts on their sleeves. That’s what has always stuck with me.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

I’d love to work with Sunglasses Kid. I think what’s he doing with his instrumentals is just incredible and I’d love to contribute vocals to his music. There are also lots of great mixers out there I’d love to work with too.

What’s your dream venue to play?

Since I perform solo, I think smaller venues are better for me. A big stage might feel a bit strange—I’d probably get “lost” up there without a full band. It’s different if you’re a singer-songwriter with just an acoustic guitar, but since my sound is quite big, but it’s just me, I think a smaller venue, with a packed room and lots of energy, is the ideal…and it’s achievable.

So, rather than a specific dream venue, I’d say I have dream conditions—being in the right space, with a full audience, on a small-to-medium-sized stage, and a killer PA system.

That said, I’d love to play at Debaser Strand here in Stockholm. So maybe that is my dream venue after all—ha!

Other than music, what are you passionate about?

I’m definitely a foodie—I love checking out new restaurants and trying tasting menus paired with wine. Lately, I’ve also been getting into mixing cocktails, experimenting with different flavours and learning about the world.

What changes would you like to see in the music business?

Great question. More than anything, I think we need to start valuing music the way we used to. Right now, the music feels more disposable than ever—you stream 30 seconds of a song, skip it, and move on to the next.

Streaming rates are already terrible, but what’s even worse is that artists are now feeling pressured to “write for the algorithm,” constantly releasing music on a schedule just to stay visible and relevant to Spotify.

We live in a time when we were creating music for Spotify. I’d love to see a shift back to focusing on quality over quantity. What that change would look like on a business level, I’m not sure—that’s more of a question for the artists and bands themselves.

That said, there are always new tools and services emerging to support independent artists, and the industry is evolving at a faster pace than ever. Hopefully, that evolution leads us to a place where music is valued again—not just consumed.

You’re based in Sweden; what’s the live music scene like there in 2025?

I think it’s healthy. There are always live shows, tours and festivals all across the country. No matter what you’re into—rock, pop, punk, death metal, techno, experimental music —there’s always something on.

For up-and-coming bands, there’s a handful of solid medium-sized venues to play in across the country, especially metal bands. That said, there seem to be fewer DIY shows or bands organizing their own gigs compared to other places in the world.

On the plus side, for concertgoers, Sweden is great because you can often catch bigger bands playing in smaller venues compared to other major cities in other countries. And in the summer, we’re absolutely spoiled with festivals—Sweden Rock, Way Out West, Lollapalooza, and plenty more.

Overall, there are always great shows to see, and I’d say the live scene is really healthy.

What would it be if you could choose one thing for fans to take away from your music?

I hope people can feel the honesty in what I do. More than anything, I want my songs to resonate with them the way certain artists and songs did for me growing up.

While Star Vision’s sound is inspired by the ’80s and rooted in nostalgia, it’s not about imitation or parody. There’s nothing kitsch or gimmicky about it, and I hope people feel that.

2024 saw a major EP release and a performance at the Malmö Melodic Festival afterparty – what does 2025 hold for you?

I’m excited to share that I have the next four releases already lined up, but not everything has been recorded.

After this single, there’s a remix of a previous song coming out in May, followed by two brand-new tracks a little later. I’m also looking forward to playing a couple of shows here in Sweden to coincide with the releases.

I think then it’s about being open to what happens as a result of things.

On one hand, it’s important to plan and make things happen, but on the other hand, it’s equally important to be open to new opportunities. There’s no shortage of ideas; let’s just say that!