Music, as many other artforms, requests an enormous passion, commitment and love from those who make it and the story of a British band formed in 2024 called KillerStar, it certainly contains all those elements in their most heartfelt forms.
Guitarist, singer-songwriter and keyboardist Robert Fleming and drummer James Sedge, both bonded by a long-term friendship and musical camaraderie, decided to join forces, back in 2023, in a new project called KillerStar, a project that would incorporate their passion for Rock with different layers of sound. Fate made possible that one of their friends, the talented singer Emm Gryner, someone who had worked with the late great David Bowie in 2000, introduced to Fleming and Sedge a huge array of first class American musicians that worked with Bowie too through various decades, like Earl Slick, Mike Garson, Mark Plati, Gail Ann Dorsey and many more.
Both Fleming and Sedge soon realised that, having all those extraordinary musicians that played together for a number of years all available to record with them, it was just that missing ingredient they were looking for to complete that touch of unpredictability needed for the KillerStar project.
And what a success that proved to be; on 1st March 2024, KillerStar released their self-titled debut album, sparkling attention, interest and curiosity especially in UK and the States, for a project that interjected in its music elements of 70's Glam Rock, 80's Synth-Pop and bags of anthemic songs.
Fast forward to 2026 and, after recording sold-out venues in London and New York in the interim, throughout 2024 and 2025, KillerStar returns now with a brand new album called The Afterglow due to be releasedon 20th March, a record that includes 8 brand new songs that confirm, once more, the musical vision and the brilliancy of a band that is now starting to develop a proper trademark sound, a sound that also makes them one of the most interesting and inspired musical projects of the last decade of British music.
Bluebird Reviews had the privilege to talk with both Robert Fleming and James Sedge about KillerStar's new album and their string of live shows at the glorious The 100 Club in London starting tonight 5th March.
BR - Hi James, Robert, many sincere congratulations for your new album, a record that, from the first listen, it sounds sonically and lyrically, another triumph for the band. How long did it take to write and record The Afterglow?
RF - The record was essentially done in two phases; about three sessions/batches last year and another one earlier this year. We felt quite inspired, early this year, when we ploughed through the songs really fast. We had certainly a very productive period, where everything seemed to flow quite nicely. You never know when inspiration comes and hits you.
JS - It was very much a great period, the one just mentioned by Rob. We would finish one song and another one would come along.. I think we have been on a buzz since last year's gigs at The 100 Club in London and the subsequent shows in New York. Both Rob and I felt that those gigs injected both of us with a lot of positive energy, a lot of momentum coming from the very positive receptions to the first album, which was really nice.
RF - I feel that, through those important gigs, we have created a sort of musical telepathy with all the band members, an element that, in the long run, can just get better and better.
BR - How did the recording process of The Afterglow take place? We understand that Rob wrote the songs, then he demoed them and sent them to James to work on the drums and percussive parts. Then, how would you get all the remaining instrumental parts off your US based studio and live fellow collaborators?
RF - Actually, for this album it was a bit of a mixture, between live recordings with them and some parts sent remotely as files. We had a couple of sessions with Earl Slick only, here in London, where he did the great majority of his guitar parts of the album. Then we did some sessions in London, at Rack Studios, with the Webb Sisters, who did the backing vocals, which were done all together at the same time. Mark (Plati) and Mike (Garson) parts' were done remotely, meaning that they sent them to us as files, recorded respectively in their own studios in New York and L.A.
BR - The Afterglow, to our website, seems to have a bit more of a heavier Synth-Rock sound, in comparison to your splendid debut album. Do you both feel that The Afterglow has somehow helped the sound of KillerStar to become more recognisable, in terms of helping to develop a definite trademark sound for the band?
JS - On the first album, it was very much about spontaneity and immediacy and we didn't have any plan, about the way we were going to sound. Every musicians got involved one by one, so at that point, we didn’t even know for sure who was going to play, on our debut album. For this album, everyone was up for it, we didn’t need to ask to any of the guys whether they were interested to be part of it or not, because they all jumped to the idea. The sound of this album, to me, is purely what Rob and I like. We talked about this style a lot and we wanted to be heavier, maybe a bit more uptempo, on this album and the band just slotted in perfectly. They always seemed to play the right part on each song, like people that have grown up together, following the same path. We all have got the same set of influences, experiences in music. It's all about playing live, with no AI involved, everything is real.. And when you hear the record, it really gives you the feeling that we were all in the studio at the same time, even when we weren't. Everyone is so compatible with each other. The sound of The Afterglow is exactly what we wanted to achieve and if people don't like it, well, we do! (Smiles)
RF - We are really proud of this album. We spent a lot of time on every detail and I think that is certainly a bit more cohesive. The songs are a bit more developed, in comparison to some of the songs of the first album. It feels really like a nice evolution from our debut album and I think also that, from a songwriter perspective, lyrically there's a bit more themes that are explored.
JS - It's quite an unusual way to work, ours. Normally, when we do an album, you all book a studio and get together for a week or two, whatever you can afford, right? And then it's done. But Rob and I have been chatting every day about this project, for about a year. Every single day, the songs were in our minds and we developed all the ideas. I suppose that one may object that, over a year time, the record wouldn't be that cohesive, but it is! We have just "reduced" the album to its essence over this time and with the mixes from Dave (Eringa, who mixed their debut album too), it feels really distilled, the sound that we wanted and I really enjoy working in this way.
BR - We have noticed that the new album also benefits of a wider sonic contribution from Mike Garson and Earl Slick, on some of the songs of The Afterglow. Was this a deliberate request of you both to Garson and Slick to have more freedom of movement on the album?
RF - That’s a great question, because to both Earl and Mike, on our first record and to this one, we didn’t give them many directions, to be honest. Obviously, we sent the demos to both of them and ask perhaps to put a piano part or a guitar part here and there, but we never asked them openly "Can you try this or can you try that", to tell the truth. They are so great in understanding what fits in a song and because we have been working together for a while, they know exactly the way we want our songs to go towards, like we are telepathically linked (smiles), sonically speaking. In terms of what both Earl and Mike brought, on the making of The Afterglow, they really brought back elements that enhanced the songs, not intended as a format change, but more about, I feel, melody lines and yes, they certainly played with a lot more freedom on this album, in comparison to our first one. They really gave so much music back to us.. I also would like to mention the great work of Dave Eringa, who did the mixing and co-production of this album, as he did on the first one. Dave really knows the kind of sound we are going for and he's really an expert at bringing it all together. We all really love those kind of albums where you hear little ear worms and little details in the headphones. We are all fans of albums where there is good repeat listening and you hear little pieces coming out, a lot of details in there.. But he did such a good job in keeping the space and making the choices about where things should go and that's another thing we are really pleased about the album too.
BR - We have noticed that the role of another wonderful musician that is Mark Plati, on the making of The Afterglow, has switched from playing the guitar to play the bass guitar (replacing the equally talented Gail Ann Dorsey, who played bass guitar on KillerStar's first album) instead, with fabulous results for the Rhythm Section of KillerStar. How pleased are you on Plati's contribution to the new record?
JS - It was such a pleasure to get the tracks he recorded in US back from Mark. He would sometimes send a track and we would both say to each other, "That’s Fantastic", but then, literally half an hour later, he would send another email saying "Hang on, guys, I think I have got a better take, here", which often was the case or some other times maybe not, but the bottom line is that Mark is so enthusiastic every time and the way that his bass playing fits into the Rhythm Section, it's just incredible. And also playing live with him, as it will happen again very soon, it's so exciting. He has got laser guided hearing, he hears everything that happens and he has got this ability to put you on your toes every time.. you can't coast, you can't relax, because Mark is there and he is checking out everything and he is constantly pushing all in the right places... My God, it is a real pleasure working with him! (smiles)
BR - The Afterglow comes across, fundamentally, as a very optimistic album, lyrically speaking, although in a couple of songs like Rubicon and There Has To Be A Reason, there is a feeling in the lyrics about the challenges of domestic disputes within couples. Maybe Rob, being the chief songwriter, may explain a little more in details the genesis of those songs, please?
RF - Well, thanks for your feedback about those two songs, that's interesting. To be honest, both songs are not about disputes. Rubicon is a song alluding to the theme of making difficult decisions and needing to cross a metaphorical Rubicon river made of reasons, allowing us all to make it through, as a leap forward to the future. There Has To Be A Reason is maybe a little more obscure song. It's still verging on the side of optimism, like, you think you know when is a situation what supposes to happen to then discover, at your expenses, that you were wrong about it. That's a kind of a personal experience, which doesn't involve anything domestic at all, but I guess it's something that happens, sooner or later, in the lives of many people. And I was glad to hear that you felt a deep aura of optimism, in our new record, because we felt the same about it. I like to think of myself as a positive person and I hope that that filtered through the lyrics of the new album. There are a few ruminations about mortality and things, like in the song called Invincible, but it was always intended in an optimistic way and hopefully, with a little bit of humour here and there.
KillerStar's James Sedge and Robert Fleming
BR - The mention of the closing track of the album, Invincible, works as a perfect segue for our next question. Gerry Leonard, another very classy artist and again, ex Bowie lead guitarist and musical director, collaborated on guitar both on Invincible and to Rubicon, to us, the real "Rock Suites" of the album. Do you both feel that The presence of Leonard on both tracks carried that kind of Ambient element, on those splendid songs?
RF - Absolutely, hundred percent. We met him in New York, when he played guitar in our US live performances and we loved what he brought into the sound of the band, onstage. We really wanted him to feature, on some of the new songs, because he is an absolute master at what he does, especially on those cool, guitar Ambient layers he brought on the record. We absolutely loved his contribution on The Afterglow.
BR - When we did some researches about both of you as musicians, we found particularly interesting the very diverse musical background of James, who had collaborated with several musicians in very diverse music fields, like Blues or Acid Jazz, for example. Given all these musical experiences, James, do you feel yourself more like a stereotypical Rock type of drummer or do you feel that playing different genres would allow you to be able to morph into different styles, because you like to be challenged, as an artist?
JS - To be honest with you, I feel more like a chameleon, when it comes to drumming. I started with Rock. 1981, my first gig was Rush, at Wembley Arena and then, my journey took me to an unplanned left turn. I got into Jazz and then Funk, all around the block. I love music in its entirety, all of it and maybe, jack of all trades, master of none, ha? (Smiles). I loved playing Acid Jazz, Blues, those were fabulous times and I enjoyed all of them. Rob and I have been into Blues bands as well and, as Rob will tell you, he was also into Funk bands. KillerStar is a project where we really wanted to Rock out, we had that itch of wanting to do so.
RF - Totally. Rock was the first love for me too, back many moons ago and particularly, of songs that present different twists and turns within. Rock songs that have got melodies, sparkles.. love Classic Rock and Indie Rock too very much. I like things that come together in a little bit of a mix and although we have no Blues elements incorporated in the sound of KillerStar, we have got incredible pianists like Mike Garson that brings in those precious Jazz layers. And also we got heavy guitars, shimmering guitar sounds and a little spark of Ambient, as we discussed before, thanks to Gerry.. I do really enjoy that mix of elements I was telling you of and all those fabulous musicians playing with us. They undoubtedly contribute brilliantly in creating this mix. Again, I am a bit like James, we both really like a lot of different kind of music, go to a lot of gigs together and if you look at my record collection, you will find there a very eclectic selection of records of different genres.
BR - Robert, which of the new songs off The Afterglow presented more challenges to you to compose and to be arranged?
RF - I can't think of any particular challenge, on top of my head. Rubicon, maybe, in terms of arrangement might have been a bit more complicated to pair with the song's lyrics but, apart of that, I don't think myself and James got stuck on any of the other album’s songs, while we were putting them together.
JS - I remember to have done quite a lot of work on the song Invincible, with overdubs, which is also a nightmare about trying to figure out to play it live tonight and in the next days! (Smiles). But I enjoy working on overdubs, a little like Alan Parsons used to do, with that way of wanting to paint a proper picture of the songs he was working on. So, yes, if you listen carefully to Invincible, you will hear lots and lots of percussive things coming in and out of the mix.. I think I must have spent a month, just working on that particular song! On other songs of the album, I played once and that was it.
RF - There Has To Be A Reason was also a song that had an unusual genesis. The song was quite a raw demo, which is unusual for my standards, but I decided to send it anyway to Earl m and when I received the guitar part from him, it was just sublime, with that slide sound that fitted so well into the demo, once I recorded the vocals on it. Even Earl was pleasantly surprised about the way the song came out, just like a perfect mosaic, so much so that the song is now one of my favourite off the album, although, truth to be told, I love the whole of The Afterglow very much too.
BR - Before parting company, our website is curious to know whether now, with two albums on your belt, there is the possibility of a proper KillerStar Tour, after the shows at The 100 Club starting tonight. Is there any plan in place about that or, maybe, the fact that travelling between UK and US, in view of recent worldwide events, makes almost prohibitive the possibility of having all those fabulous musicians that played on the album touring with you?
RF - It is something we are thinking about it. We have not yet put a plan in place and put off momentarily the idea, because we wish to understand first how well, hopefully, The Afterglow will be received by people and how well attended the shows at The 100 Club are going to be, although I have heard that 2 of the 3 nights at The 100 Club have already sold out. It is challenging, logistically, like you said, to get everyone together and if indeed we'd manage to set up a proper long Tour, we want to ensure that it's logistically doable and worthwhile. We had quite a few people getting in touch and asking about tour dates and our availability as a band. We'd love to do that, but we have also to figure other aspects, such as would that be the same band with the same musicians that played on The Afterglow or perhaps, a more mixed one with British musicians, due to the logistic issues that may arise, as you referred too into your question. But for the time being, we are so looking forward to get back and play once again at that wonderful venue and historical music landmark that is The 100 Club, a place that we love, where I played many gigs in my life and it is also, most importantly, an independent, family ran venue, one of the very few left in London, sadly.
JS - If I may add, London works on many levels, as a location, also for those that are flying to the UK purposely for this occasion.. yes, who knows, we might be tempted of organising a tour in support of the new album, either with the line-up that played on it or maybe just some of them plus some British musicians.. time will tell but for now, we just want to have a great time at The 100 Club showcasing the new songs.
