Desert Stars

Desert Stars is a 5-piece band from Brooklyn, New York formed October 2008. Built on the creative output of classically-trained violinist Janelle Best, the band dispatches its own brand of shoe-gaze psych-pop with intricately-layered instrumentation, lush harmonies and atmospheric guitar topped by Best’s dreamy tenor. The effect is reminiscent of the album we only wish Phil Spector had produced for The Jesus and Mary Chain: infectiously melodic, pop-eccentric, and deliciously lo-fi.

The band’s origins weren’t particularly auspicious: front-woman Best was going through a major life change and came across a keyboard in the trash. Locking herself in her room for three months, she started composing what would become Desert Stars’ first songs. Friends, many with minimal musical background, came over and, compelled by the material, began to play.

Three years later, Best’s outfit has evolved to include Carrie Ashley Hill, Gregg Giuffre (Hunters), and Eric Altesleban (x touring keyboardist interpol, mofo)