Starrah | |
|---|---|
 Starrah in 2020 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brittany Talia Hazzard |
| Also known as | Starrah |
| Born | June 14, 1990 |
| Origin | Delaware, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels | Mad Decent |
Brittany Talia Hazzard, [1] professionally known as Starrah, is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper from Delaware. [2] Best known as a prolific songwriter for music industry artists, Starrah has co-written three singles which have peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100: " Havana" for Camila Cabello in 2017, " Girls Like You" for Maroon 5 the following year, and " Savage Remix" for Megan Thee Stallion (featuring Beyoncé) in 2020; [3] the latter won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Song. [4] In addition, she has co-written multiple songs that have peaked within the top 20 on the chart, including Rihanna's " Needed Me," Normani's " Wild Side" (featuring Cardi B), Halsey's " Now or Never," Kevin Gates' " 2 Phones," Nicki Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne's " No Frauds," and Drake's " Fake Love."
Her notable songwriting credits include Travis Scott's Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2017), Calvin Harris's Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1 (2018)—including the Top 20 single " Feels" featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, and Big Sean—Nicki Minaj's Queen (2018), and Madame X (2018) by Madonna.
As a recording artist, Starrah signed with Diplo's Mad Decent record label to release an eponymous collaborative project with the producer (titled Starrah x Diplo) in 2017. She released her debut commercial single, "How It Goes" on August 12, 2020, which preceded the release of her debut studio album, The Longest Interlude (2021). [3]
Early life and career
Starrah grew up in Delaware as the youngest of nine siblings. [5] She has stated that she "grew up in the ghetto" and has written lyrics about police raids she experienced as a child. [5] [6] Her songwriting grew from writing short stories and poems. [7] She attended Delaware State University and moved to Los Angeles after graduation to pursue a music career. [5] [6] After a period of uploading music to SoundCloud and selling samples through Instagram, a manager in the industry reached out to her. [7] He connected her to more songwriters which led to Starrah writing " Be Real" by Kid Ink in 2015, which reached No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. [7]
In 2016, Starrah wrote several songs that became top 40 hits. " 2 Phones" by Kevin Gates reached double platinum status. [8] Rihanna's single " Needed Me" reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent 42 weeks on the chart. [8]
On September 22, 2017, Starrah released a joint EP with producer Diplo titled Starrah x Diplo. [9]
In April 2019, Starrah formed a partnership with Hipgnosis Songs Fund. [10] [11] She worked closely with Madonna for her 2019 album Madame X, writing on six tracks. [6]
Starrah released her debut single "How It Goes" on August 12, 2020. [12] [3]
Artistry
Starrah stated that she writes lyrics first, and then finds a melody and production to fit them. [5] [6] In her early career, she was sometimes turned away from studio sessions for being "too urban", but later found success with urban crossover into mainstream pop music. [5]
Personal life
Due to a mixture of social anxiety and wishes for privacy, Starrah avoids being photographed and recognized in public. [5] [6] Starrah identifies as queer. [5] [13]
Discography
Studio albums
- 2021: The Longest Interlude
EP
- Starrah x Diplo (with Diplo) (2017)
Singles
As lead artist
- 2014
- Starrah – "Low" prod. Noah "40" Shebib
- 2016
- Starrah – "Rush / Rush (Remix)" featuring Kehlani
- Starrah – "Dirty Diana"
- 2017
- Starrah and Diplo – "Imperfections"
- Starrah and Diplo – " Swerve"
- 2018
- Starrah – "Codeine Cowgirl" prod. Aleksei
- 2020
- Starrah – "How It Goes" prod. June Nawakii
- Starrah – "Keep Calm"
- 2021
- Starrah - "Miss This"
- Skrillex, Starrah and Four Tet – " Butterflies"
As featured artist / guest appearances
- 2015
- Kid Ink featuring Starrah – "Blowin' Swishers Part. 2"
- Jeremih featuring Starrah – "Pass Dat"
- The Weeknd featuring Starrah and Jeremih – "Pass Dat (Remix)"
- G-Eazy featuring Starrah – " Order More"
- 2016
- Belly featuring Starrah – "It's All Love"
- Travis Scott with Young Thug featuring Quavo – " Pick Up the Phone" (Additional vocals)
- Cashmere Cat featuring Starrah, 2 Chainz, and Tory Lanez – "Throw Myself a Party"
- The Weeknd – "True Colors" (Additional vocals)
- 2017
- Charli XCX featuring Starrah and Raye – "Dreamer"
- Big Sean featuring Eminem – " No Favors" (Additional vocals)
- Big Sean – "Jump Out the Window" (Additional vocals)
- Big Sean featuring Starrah and Flint Chozen Choir – "Bigger Than Me"
- Calvin Harris featuring Young Thug, Pharrell Williams and Ariana Grande – " Heatstroke" (Additional background vocals)
- Halsey – "Now or Never" (Additional vocals)
- Kid Ink featuring Starrah – "No Strings"
- Major Lazer featuring Quavo, Travis Scott and Camila Cabello – "Know No Better" (Background vocals)
- Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug – "Havana" (Additional vocals)
Songwriting credits
References
- ^ "Credits / Charli XCX / Number 1 Angel". Tidal. March 10, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ "Meet Starrah, The Hit Songwriter Who Has Her Own Summer Anthem". PigeonsandPlanes. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c Zidel, Alex (August 12, 2020). "Starrah Releases Debut Single "How It Goes"". HotNewHipHop.
- ^ "Brittany Hazzard". GRAMMY.com. April 22, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Coscarelli, Joe (December 28, 2017). "Why Every Pop Star Wants a Piece of Starrah". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c d e Hockley-Smith, Smith (June 13, 2019). "How Starrah Went From Working Retail to Writing For Madonna". Billboard.
- ^ a b c Lyle, Ashley (April 6, 2017). "Starrah, the Hitmaker Behind Songs From Drake, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, Is Ready For the Spotlight". Billboard.
- ^ a b Phillips, Yoh (December 7, 2016). "Meet Starrah, the Songwriter Behind Drake, Travis & Rihanna's Biggest 2016 Hits". DJ Booth.
- ^ Bein, Kat (September 22, 2017). "Starrah & Diplo's New EP Is Full of Slow Rumble Sensuality". Billboard.
- ^ Stassen, Murray (April 23, 2019). "Hipgnosis Songs Fund Acquires Catalog From Camila Cabello Co-Writer Starrah". Music Business Worldwide.
- ^ Paine, Andre (April 23, 2019). "Hipgnosis acquires Starrah catalogue". Music Week.
- ^ Angermiller, Michele Amabile (August 11, 2020). "Hitmaker Starrah Releases Debut Single as a Solo Artist". Variety.
- ^ Darville, Jordan (January 18, 2018). "Starrah on homophobic rappers: "Their hooks be written by me and I'm LGBT af"". The Fader.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
- Living people
- Musicians from California
- 21st-century American musicians
- Songwriters from California
- African-American songwriters
- American hip hop singers
- Grammy Award winners
- Mad Decent artists
- 21st-century American singers
- American pop musicians
- American women pop singers
- 1990 births
- 21st-century African-American women singers
- 21st-century American women singers