For Stars shimmers with award nods, indie sound

By David Chang
Daily Bruin Contributor

Two architects, a pair of social workers and a graphic artist.
Are these the new-age Village People of the 21st Century?
Thankfully, the answer is a sigh-of-relief “no.” These
everyday working folks can be found moonlighting as the critically
acclaimed indie rock group For Stars.

The San Francisco quintet has been nominated for three
California Music Awards, which celebrate achievements by artists
hailing from the state. For Stars, in all of its indie glory, will
be on full display on March 5 at the Knitting Factory.

Social worker Carlos Forster (vocals/guitar) blends earthy folk
with space rock to produce hauntingly tranquil tunes made for
stargazing sessions in the wee hours. While Forster’s fellow
social worker Christian Preja (bass) and architects Mike Young
(guitar) and Dan Paris (organist/guitarist) have been constants
throughout the years, For Stars has been riding on a drummer
merry-go-round since its founding. Freelance photographer/graphic
artist/drummer Will Waghorn currently holds the unstable position.
Together, the four supply Forster’s ghostly falsetto with an
understated yet ever-present wall of sound.

Like For Stars, numerous bands across the state are working 9 to
5 shifts. However, only a select few have been able to turn their
talents into prestigious honors like multiple CMA nominations.

Although gratefully appreciative of the CMA’s recognition
of his growing musical prowess, Forster, nominated for Outstanding
Male Vocalist and Outstanding Songwriter, still remembers the
bizarre time when the band’s 1998 eponymous debut album and
its 1999 follow-up record, “Windows For Stars,” were
both up for best debut album in successive years.

“I’m not going to knock them or anything, or maybe I
am “¦ it was just so messy,” Forster said in a telephone
interview. “I said to the guy in our label, “˜Why is our
second record now nominated again for best debut record?’ and
he goes, “˜Well, I don’t know but just go with it
because it’s a good thing.'”

Past fiascos aside, For Stars will be vying for the honor of
Outstanding Rock/Pop Album this year with the album, “We Are
All Beautiful People.” Unlike previous records, the third
release features a less prominent Forster. In this case, he opted
to take a much more collaborative approach to crafting songs with a
band.

The spellbinding vocalist still broodingly wails away with
echoing abandon, but the pulsating rhythm section has widened the
spotlight to include itself as well. Sadcore, a melancholy style of
music, remains a staple in its latest offering, but For Stars
noticeably cranks up the clanging guitars and droning
percussion.

“Doing folkish sounding records, it’s nice, but at
the moment, it’s just been really fun to do stuff
that’s a little more dynamic and louder,” Forster said.
“You have to challenge yourself and keep trying to do things
you don’t know if you can do to actually keep yourself
interested.”

Besides full-time jobs back home and dealing with
obscurity’s cruel joke at award shows, an indie outfit like
For Stars must endure the countless comparisons to bands that show
the slightest snippet of similarity. For Stars have been linked to
Bay Area quiet rock standouts the American Music Club and Red House
Painters. A fine line, nevertheless, exists between influence and
derivation.

“I don’t really embrace the derivative
factor,” Forster said, “All bands sound like some other
band somewhat. I don’t think we really sound like Radiohead
or the Replacements or really any other band “¦ there are a
lot of bands that copy other bands and I think that has a lot to do
with what people want to hear, but I think the people you really
want listening to your music are the people who want to hear you be
you.”

For Stars is taking this liberty and desire for originality and
pushing their music to new and less traditional places. The band
may be a blaring horn section away from being depicted as an
acquired taste, but Forster believes the band is not so
experimental or weird that their music can’t reach a lot of
people.

“Whether or not we’re famous, or whether or not this
music is reaching 50,000 to a million people, just being confident
enough to know you’re making good music, and enjoy making the
music and not worry about the whole business part and people
thinking you’re cool (is enough),” Forster said.

For Stars has come a long way from the days when Young’s
little brother temporarily played drums for them. The band has
expanded its usual West Coast swing into Europe. According to
Forster, future projects promise to be better than anything the
band has already done. More importantly, For Stars maintains its
refreshing attitude in the midst of professional glory.

“It’s really gotten more fun as we’ve gotten
older,” Forster said.