IAMTRUSTARR, Bandzoogle: With an inexhaustible amount of creativity woven deep into the layers that make up the artist that is I.Am.Tru.Starr, his career, as a recording artist, is a testament to that of a dedicated craftsman’s. Making sure he was able to come correct with his talents, this Rochester-born musician is now stepping out amongst the shadows with a mission larger than an average vocalist’s.

 

Using his modest upstate roots as motivation for his own music, I.Am.Tru.Starr is working with the intention to lead by example, with a dedicated passion to show the next generation already looking up to him that beautiful things can grow out of what others consider a deadbeat town.

 

“Growing up in places like where I’m from, kids don’t get the chance to dream properly,” the emcee says, with bright eyes. “I’m chasing mine so they don’t ever have to be timid about chasing theirs.”

 

Recording music in a serious capacity since 2012, I.Am.Tru.Starr grew up in music by way of his neighborhood, with his friends challenging him early on to find confidence in his natural ability to rap, going on to form a group out of a local DJ’s basement using borrowed equipment.

 

As a child I.Am.Tru.Starr would emulate the vocal styling of Dave Hollister until his family would tell him to quiet down. Eventually they started listening and whether he was singing classic covers or sneaking in his own rudimentary lyrics, their compliments began to hold weight, especially considering that as a musical household with high standards, his family members were tough critics to please.

 

Channeling the spirit and sounds of the likes of D’Angelo, Fred Hammond, Scarface, Andre 3000 and Donny Hathaway and more, I.Am.Tru.Starr’s current sound is film noir meets 2016. His ability to share his story with potent lyrics and lush melodies, carefully crafted into his own self-described sound of “Soul Hop,” allows him to both reach - and captivate - a varied audience. Taking elements of hip-hop, R&B, funk, gospel and alt-soul, I.Am.Tru.Starr’s battle cry is emotional. His music comes from a place of raw honesty, and that foundation of pure expression is all he has.  After getting swallowed by the wrong crowd and experiencing significant setbacks as a result, I.Am.Tru.Starr prevailed by harnessing a redefined purpose, learning more than the instruments he taught himself during this deeply personal and challenging chapter of darkness.

 

As I.Am.Tru.Starr begins to settle into a space entirely his own musically, he is built up by the people he selectively works with, finding a second family in his curated group of producers and creative minds all united under the undeniable power of art, and truth –