Q&A: Starcrawler Strikes Again: “Learn to Say Goodbye” Chronicles Heartache and Release
TAPPING INTO THE UNIVERSAL STRUGGLE OF HOLDING ONTO WHAT’S FAMILIAR, EVEN WHEN IT’S DESTRUCTIVE — LA-based rock band Starcrawler is back with a fiery new single, “Learn to Say Goodbye,” recorded at the Foo Fighters’ iconic 606 Studio. The track offers an emotionally charged anthem about the challenges of letting go, even when it’s clear that holding on might cause more harm than good.
Frontwoman Arrow de Wilde captures the desperation and inner turmoil in her raw and magnetic performance, with the band delivering their signature blend of rock grit and melodic intensity.
“I feel like everyone struggles with letting things go sometimes, even if they know that what they’re holding onto might end up hurting them,” says de Wilde, reflecting on the inspiration behind the song. “We wanted to encapsulate that in this song, those desperate feelings you have when you want something so bad that you don’t care what anyone else has to say about it.”
The new single, released alongside an explosive video directed by Gilbert Trejo, encapsulates the band’s fierce live energy, propelling their electric presence from the stage to the screen. The video’s frenetic visuals mirror the intensity of the song, amplifying the raw emotion that de Wilde and the band have honed through relentless touring and high-voltage performances.
Known for their exhilarating live shows and Arrow de Wilde’s charismatic, unpredictable stage presence, Starcrawler continues to push sonic boundaries in the rock scene.
“Learn to Say Goodbye” marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Starcrawler as they gear up for a full U.S. tour with Japanese metal legends Boris. The collaboration promises a dynamic clash of musical styles and a whirlwind of unrelenting rock energy. Fans can also expect even more from Starcrawler in 2025, with a slate of new music on the horizon.
LUNA: Thank you for sitting down and talking to Luna. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. For any readers who aren’t familiar yet, what kind of atmosphere or emotional space do you aim to create for your listeners?
HENRI: I think it'd be nice if the people that listen to the music, heard our music and felt something that connected to their own lives. If it makes people feel understood or something that they could relate to, they're not the only one going through the roughness or even the high parts of life kind of thing.
LUNA: Your new single “Learn to Say Goodbye” has a raw emotional intensity. Can you share what inspired the song's lyrics and themes?
ARROW: We wrote it spontaneously two years ago.
HENRI: We had a big rush that we needed to put something out right then. It's what at the time it felt like we needed to save.
ARROW: It ended up getting saved and held and stuff like that. I think what inspired the lyrics is – I'm personally not going through a breakup or anything – but we did want to write a breakup anthem, either it's about, like a friend or a partner or whatever. I like the idea of the desperation of people being like, ‘dude, just let it go, you know it's over,’ and the person doesn’t give a fuck about about that, or whatever anyone else says. Because even though that's a bit of a toxic experience, I've definitely experienced that, and I know a lot of other people have. I feel like it's a cool, unique way of looking at a certain breakup, whether it's with a friend or partner, family, whatever, you know, because it's not always that cheesy. It totally goes back to that thing of wanting people to relate to a specific type of situation.
LUNA: What was the creative process like when writing and recording “Learn to Say Goodbye?” Did you experiment with any new sounds or production techniques?
HENRI: Well, first we went in and we recorded it a couple years ago with this guy, Rob Schnapf, who helped us form it up a little bit which was really cool. We've been fans of his work. He mixed our first single we ever did. We ended up redoing this song recently when we were gonna put it out for this release. We had a chance to go in and record at the Foo Fighters Studio 606 and a couple years ago. Right before covid, we recorded with Taylor Hawkins at his house. We thought it'd be really cool to give this song a shot. We recorded it down a couple keys and we moved it up. We recorded it to tape, which is our first thing that we've recorded the tape since our first record. We just wanted to try going back to just a raw live performance to tape thing, and it ended up sounding really good, and we mixed it with him, and we produced it ourselves with Oliver as well, which was a really cool experience. We had a lot of fun.
LUNA: “Learn to Say Goodbye” is accompanied by a music video. What is the inspiration behind the video and how was your experience filming it?
ARROW: It got brought up that we needed to have a release while we’re on tour and we need a music video to go along with it. I feel like it helps get a song and you have something to look at, and we’re such a visual band that it would feel weird not to. Right before we left, my boyfriend, Gilbert Trejo, is a director. He had done another video that was shot on 35 millimeter film, and he had an extra roll left and he wanted to use it. A friend gave us a Super 8 film. We were at the beach, and it was during heat waves. It was the perfect time to shoot at the beach because the water was warm and it was midnight.
HENRI: We learned that there's a lot of sand crabs at the beach and we took them home with us unknowingly. We set up the drums for the first day of this tour, and we put on a new drumhead and there were a bunch of sand crabs in the drums. We also learned that it's really tiring to try to run around in the sand.
LUNA: “Learn to Say Goodbye” is one of your first new releases since your She Said album in 2022 and it seems more of a deeper dive into your artistic evolution. Have you experimented more or taken any risks – either lyrically, sonically or emotionally – with “Learn to Say Goodbye” since your previous releases?
HENRI: It feels natural. In one sense, I think the only risk was that we decided to put it out. Nobody told us or anything. We took this into the studio into our own hands. No label was making us do anything. People will either connect with it or they won't. I think that was a leap for us, but there's a bunch of songs that we've been playing live on this tour that aren't out yet that I'm really excited for people to hear, and I think people will connect with them, because they've been connecting really well at the live shows.
LUNA: You’re currently on your U.S. tour with Boris. How has the band been preparing for this tour both physically and mentally?
ARROW: We haven't really been on a long run since last year. I was ready. I was home for a while, so it's a nice little break, and then we'll be back for the holidays, but it felt like it just started.
HENRI: I got a 100 foot long cable, but in doing so, I've been becoming a little bit more risky, and I bruised my chest last night climbing into a balcony from this stage, which maybe I probably shouldn't have done. I'm in a lot of chest pain.
LUNA: What are you most excited for fans to experience during this tour? Are there any surprises or special moments planned that you can share with us?
HENRI: We've been having a really good connection with the audience. I think with any show, it's nice when both the fans and us could forget about life for a second and just be in the moment and experience that energy of live music. That's a really fun thing.
ARROW: Every night, the set's always a little different, so it's not like you're seeing the same exact
set list or anything. It's just an honor of whatever happens, happens.
LUNA: Do you have any pre show or post show rituals and routines that help ensure you play your best show?
ARROW: Post show, I need a red Gatorade. That's pretty much it. My red Gatorade is my post show ritual. If I don't have a red Gatorade, I'm very bummed.
LUNA: Each city brings its own energy. Are there any specific stops on the tour that you're particularly excited to perform in, and why?
ARROW: I’m excited for the Halloween show.
HENRI: Austin should be really fun. I'm excited to go to some places like Grand Rapids, Michigan. My mom's family is from there. We've never done Grand Rapids before. I'm excited to go to new places. We are really excited for North Carolina. Our last few shows there. Pretty exciting. Cat’s Cradle is a legendary place. We've had some really good shows, and unexpected shows have been really good. We had a really fun time in Omaha and in Minneapolis last night. Denver was really great, so just every night's been really amazing, and Boris has been really great to tour with.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like that you would like to share with Luna?
ARROW: I'm feeling good. After this tour, we’re going to Tokyo and Melbourne for a show and then we come back home.
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