Starbenders: Singer-Songwriter in New York

About Starbenders

Starbenders is an Atlanta-area rock/pop act formed in 2013 by singer-guitarist Kimi Shelter and bassist Aaron Lecesne, later joined by guitarist Kriss Tokaji and drummer Emily Moon. Early releases arrived under producer Nico Constantine through Institution Records, followed by further singles and albums via Sumerian Records. In 2024, Moon exited and drummer Qi Wei stepped in, marking a clear personnel shift without changing the band’s core songwriting focus. Onstage at New York’s Mercury Lounge, their sets tend to favor tight structure over spectacle.