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Simon Starling started out in 1996 in Sydney punk band Cult 45. Well known at the time for their electric performances, they played up and down the East coast to full houses. Their first 7inch single ‘Now We Are Sick’ was also the first release on Chatterbox Records. It was followed by a five song EP shortly after. The Band morphed into ‘Spectators’ with some line up changes and played for several more years around Sydney, self releasing a six track mini album ‘Mood Music For Action Flicks’ in 2000. Starling moved to Melbourne in 2002 and started a new band called ‘Etherland’ and quickly became a staple on the live circuit regularly venturing out to Bendigo and Ballarat for gigs. The band released a self titled EP in 2006. The single ’Same Old Trap’ was widely played on community radio stations FBI, RRR and PBS, while the video was played on Rage. The band continued to play regularly until Starling moved back to Sydney in 2008. The move back to Sydney coincided with a burst writing activity which would culminate in the formation of a new band ‘Starling’, and the album ‘Semaphore’(2012). The record was produced by Steve Kilbey from legendary band ‘The Church’ and his backing vocals and various instrument performances can be heard throughout. Drums on the record were played by fellow Church member Timothy Powles and other guests include Sydney jazz scene pianist David Lane and pedal steel regular Jason Walker. Single ‘Lovebirds’ received regular airplay on FBI and Double J. For the first of two East coast tours the band joined Conway Savage (Bad Seeds) and Suzie Higgie (Falling Joys) on their first ever performance together of their album ‘Soon Will Be Tomorrow’. Damien Cassidy grew up in Canberra. Assuming the stage name Dizzi DeCazz, he formed CooCoo Fondoo in 1998. An EP was produced and the dirty-lounge-noir group became a cult favourite at Canberra’s legendary Gypsy Bar. After a move to Sydney, Damien joined The Pip Branson Corporation and released their EP Hot Dollar(2007). Later that year Damien also joined Faker, touring relentlessly and appearing at festivals like Big Day Out, Dusty Days, Falls Festival, Fat as Butter, Stonefest and more. Faker’s 2008 ARIA Awards performance — with nominations for Best Group, Single of the Year, and Best Rock Album — caught the attention of P!nk, who invited them to open the first Australian leg of her blockbuster Funhouse Tour in 2009. Over the years he has also played with CellBlock 69, The Bonettes, The Handlebars and Rufino & the Coconuts. The 2012 touring line up from ‘Starling’ including Wes Gregorace (Cult 45, Devoted Few) Damien ‘Diz’ Cassidy (Faker) and Shaun Gaida soon solidified and became ‘The Argon Room’ when a new album was mooted. This time Church drummer Timothy Powles would produce the record with notable guests Jeffrey Cain (The Church, Remy Zero) and Mark Axiak adding their distinctive guitars to the mix. A burst of writing started in pure grief the day of David Bowie’s death in 2016. In the days after, Starling wrote half of the ten songs that made it to the record and in the longer shadow of Bowie’s death the remaining songs were written and the album was completed.