With a career spanning pop beginnings to Christian music milestones, Stars Go Dim continues to inspire by staying authentic, building hope, and letting the music speak for itself
Roses is your fourth studio album and the first you’ve co-produced. What was most important to you about taking on that creative role this time?
Yes, Roses is the first album I’ve taken on as the main producer, which was really exciting and an incredible experience, bringing these songs to life with many other amazing writers, producers, and musicians.
One thing I realised very quickly with this project is that my vision was so specific that I couldn’t hand it off to anyone else and have it turn out the way I wanted. I needed to be in control of every aspect to maintain that vision.
So I like to view my role in this project more as the lens through which everything was created.
It was one of the most rewarding creative experiences of my 30-year career in music.
You’ve said the album is about slowing down and noticing God’s presence in daily life. How did your own experiences shape that perspective?
Every song I write is an attempt to capture some real piece of my life and my experience in music. To be able to write these songs, it was obviously something I’d been walking through myself.
As we get older, I think some of the concepts of this album begin to become clearer, but for me specifically, this idea of slowing down, being present in the moment, seeing the goodness all around us, noticing God in and through all things, everywhere, all the time— that’s a practice I’ve been leaning into for the past four or five years.
“Mama Don’t Lie (Alright)” sets the tone for Roses with a retro groove. How did that sound come together?
Yes, isn’t it fun!? As I was searching for the sound of this album, I tried a lot of different things. I’m a piano player and naturally lean towards soul/R&B, and sometimes even funk when I sit down and play. Once I gave myself permission to break some norms and go that way, the sound of the album came together quickly and naturally.
It became more about letting the songs and the musicians lead, so I played what felt right, and it ended up sounding like something straight out of 1972!
You made your Grand Ole Opry debut in the summer. How did stepping into that circle feel?
Pretty incredible. Of all the places I’ve played, with some of the biggest artists, on the biggest stages, this one may have been the most special.
I started playing music because my grandma was a songwriter and got me piano lessons when I was young. She also loved Nashville, so I’ve been aware of the Opry most of my life.
Looking ahead, what do you hope fans take away from Roses, and what’s next for Stars Go Dim?
I hope people, in the most basic sense, feel better after listening than they did before. But more than that, I hope they begin to practise some of the ideas the album talks about—slowing down, being present, seeing the good in every moment. The beauty of life is happening all around us, everywhere, all the time. We just have to open our eyes to see it.
I also hope to support this album by playing these songs all over the world. I’m really pressing to see if we can get to the UK in 2026.
