STARGIRL
With their new EP STARGIRL dropping today, Robert is ready to step into their true popstar stardom. A proud Taiwanese Queer artist and a force in Naarm's queer ballroom scene, Robert's journey from producing beats in a rural town to headlining sold-out shows in Melbourne is a testament to their boundless creativity. Following the emotional rollercoaster of their debut EP you wouldn't expect cupid to cry, STARGIRL is an anthem of self-assurance and high-energy pop, with the recently released track "CAMBOY" already racking up attention and acclaim.
Astrophe chats to Robert about inspiration, the power of visuals, and how they blend the art of storytelling with a rich, genre-defying sound.
Outside of your art form, where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration from my community, the queer community and the ballroom community in Naarm. I find inspiration from my people and their emotions and my interactions with them. I’m inspired by films and photography and watching the way other people tell stories in their art.
Where do you think you get your personal power from?
I find my personal power by living in a world that wasn’t built for me to be visible but being the absolute most visible I can be.
Is there something you learnt early in your career that you have now disproven?
When I was younger I thought all good songs could be played on piano, if you could strip back the production and the song still holds up and that’s what makes the writing good, but that’s kind of silly. Club music changed that narrative for me, now I know sometimes 4 words can mean so much if it’s delivered and produced right. Sometimes a song just isn’t built for piano.
Within your immediate circle of friends and family or chosen family who is your hero and why?
My mum is my hero, she left all of her family in Taiwan to come and live in Australia and work really hard to give her kids the best life she could, I think we all turned out pretty good. I’m also glad I got to inherit her hair.
How much of a role do other musicians play in inspiring your work?
I try to be inspired by a vibe mostly, like wow I love this song how can I make a song that feels the same way, or I want to be able to dance this way when I perform live so maybe I do that sort of beat or something. I like to reference a vibe other than borrowing lyrical content, I think I have enough to say.
Is there a specific sonic theme, genre or instrument that you draw pure joy from?
I honestly don’t feel pure joy that often, not in a depressing way but I’m always thinking about many things. I guess I use soundtracks like tomcbumpz, daniel.mp3 and Sufjan Stevens to make me feel calm and peace and that gives me room to be happy. Maybe my loved ones talking shit and laughing is the sound of joy.
How does visual aesthetic come to play in your work?
The visuals are everything!! I’ve always been such a visual person and I bring my modelling, acting and dance background into it. Sometimes I will think of a visual first and it will inspire a song, but the visual always mean something. For my single art shoots I’ve been on a motorbike and a horse and when I told my dad I was doing the EP cover shoot and he goes “What have you got this time, a helicopter?” That's the STARGIRL energy.
What are the core values behind your art?
Very gay, very feminine, very emotional, very dancey, very genre blending, very culturally significant, very cheeky.
What was the very first album you bought for yourself?
The Fame - Lady Gaga
First memory of live music?
Lady Gaga Monster Ball Tour
Go to comfort movie / TV show?
The Devil Wears Prada
Who is on your dream collaboration list?
Doechii, Ariana Grande, Doja Cat.
Are there any creatives you'd like to platform right now?
There are literally so many amazing people around, I post my friends gigs and new tracks on my stories. But I’m going to shout out DEVAURA, she is featured on TAIPEI DREAMS and just released an amazing EP of her own!
If you could grant a wish for someone, who and what would it be?
Well if my housemate wishes for us to get a mansion I’ll grant him that ahaha. Nah realistically something more serious and real.
What are you holding whilst posing for an oil painting?
A star? Like one of the big ones from the sky.
Funeral song?
So Happy I Could Die - Lady Gaga
If you could time travel, who are you visiting?
I’m delivering all my songs and experience to my 12 year old self and turning myself into a child star.
If you could change the end of any film what would it be and what would you change it to?
Whiplash and I’d have the teacher get hit by a truck. He made me so anxious.
Why do you think we are here on planet earth at this time?
To love and maybe be loved in return.
What's the weirdest dream you've ever had?
I used to dream as a kid that the bad guys from power rangers tied me up on a giant target and I was spinning around while they threw darts at me. Maybe it means something.
If you were an ice cream flavour, what would it be?
Mint with cookie pieces, girls that get it, get it
Have you ever experienced true love?
I think so, but not in it now </3
If you could learn one new skill instantly, what would it be?
I want to be more flexible but I’m not sure if that’s a skill. I can play a bit but maybe playing piano really really well.
Stream STARGIRL here.
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