For most up-and-coming independent musicians, the measure of an album's success nowadays is largely based on how it's perceived by the Internet. In this regard "Ruby Dagger," Alaska Synthpop duo Starship Amazing's latest self-released collection, is on fire.
The full-length album, released Tuesday, rocketed to the No. 1 spot on the music-sharing site Bandcamp almost immediately, earning the group praise, further adoration from fans, and in one instance, a wistful dance by an elated toddler.
On Twitter, an outpouring of support followed after the album's release. Listeners called it "excellent," "amazing" (in all caps), "uplifting" and "eargasmic," among other things. Starship responded by expressing their genuine delight over the album's reception:
Derek Alexander and Calvin Hansen, the men behind the music, are no strangers to Internet popularity, the pair's double album, "Scoops the Robot" and "An Apocalypse in Binary: The Memoirs of Gearhart Deckrion," received extensive praise from all corners of the web when it went live in 2010. Since then, Starship has racked up a solid following of loyal fans from across the U.S. and abroad. Seven releases later, Ruby Dagger appears to be repeating the legacy of Scoops and Gearhart, but Alexander and Hansen remain humble.
"I woke up this morning," Alexander said, "and Calvin had texted me and said we're No. 1 (on Bandcamp). I was too tired to talk and couldn't really comprehend it right away. It's been awesome, so awesome ... just knowing people are really digging (the new album)." He chuckled before adding, "We're just two dudes from Anchorage, Alaska."
The nine tracks that make up "Ruby Dagger," like a bright red Ferrari weaving in and out of traffic on a sagebrush-infested highway, interlaces crisp melodies with playful obstacles. Hiccups, burps, blips and delays actively flutter and skip across the deeper, richer soundscape. The result is a profoundly playful electronic album that neither comes across as too complex nor too repetitive. Instead, it's an easy listen, even if at times a little epic: mischievous yellow butterflies on a quiet summer day in Oz.
In the past, Starship has been filed under the "chip tune" music genre because of the bands frequent use of video game sounds, but Alexander offers a different label.
"I describe us as having more of a 'synthpop' sound. It fits us way better maybe (than chip tune). A lot of (our music) has to do with the tones we use. There's a certain simplicity in it and what it drives is really fun ... you could even describe us as pop."
Starship employs a MIDI keyboard, a piano-style instrument that on its own doesn't make noise, but once plugged into a computer or other electronic device can access a plethora of tones, to achieve some truly unique sounds.
"People actually use to have walls of synthesizers because each keyboard would have different tones," Alexander explained, "but with a MIDI it takes all the tones you'd find (on traditional instruments) and you can work them digitally ... you can download tones and buy cartridge and that allow you to get really specific sounds. That's how we're able to create the older video game sound you hear (on the album)."
Call them chip tune or call them synthpop. Whatever your label, these two Alaskans don't care too much as long as their fans are happy.
"When your peers say it's good, all the hard work is worth it," Alexander confessed. "When people say the record make them happy, that's one of the reasons why I'm into music."
On Thursday, Starship will join TuneStar of Noise Channel for a "Ruby Dagger" listening party. Alexander and Hansen will talk, take questions and go through the new album, as well as their previous EP, "Space Jam," during a livestream broadcast beginning at 6 p.m. Alaska Standard Time (7 p.m. Pacific time). The show will not be repeated and, most likely, will not be archived either, so be sure to tune in. Further details are here.
However, if you miss it or if you just can't wait, "Ruby Dagger" is now available for purchase through Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon, or you can stream it and listen for free via Spotify, Soundcloud and Starship's tumblr, here.
What's next for the duo? Alexander says Starship will be taking a hiatus from making music in order to focus on promoting and sharing the new album. "(In the past) we haven't really done that, we usually just put (an album) out and let it find an audience." After all, he adds, "We're just two dudes, we both have day jobs and social lives. This is a side hustle, a hobby." Promoting an album and recruiting new fans is harder than it looks, although Starship makes it look pretty easy.
Contact Katie Medred at katie(at)alaskadispatch.com