Gold Star

Gold Star

Gold Star is the solo project of Marlon Rabenreither, an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. He begins in the band Sister Ruby Band, where the sound leans towards reverb and fuzz, then moves into Gold Star with a focus on slide guitar, harmonies and organ. He starts making music after working as a painter, and describes songwriting as the creative form that stays with him even in sleep.

Early work and style

Gold Star’s debut full-length, Dark Days, is an Americana record. It brings together twangy country influence, blues elements and a dark, haunted mood. Rabenreither writes much of the title track while asleep, and songs such as “Sadie,” “Nowhere” and “Reckless” carry the record’s mournful, spooky tone. “Nowhere” also nods to the opening track of The Byrds’ Sweetheart of the Rodeo, an album that helps shape the record’s sound.

Career context

In the early period of Gold Star, Rabenreither opens for Lucinda Williams, who encourages him to keep writing songs. Gold Star is active from 2012 to the present and releases music on Music by Gold Star.