StarBenders

StarBenders are a glam rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 2013 by vocalist and guitarist Kimi Shelter after she contacted former bandmate Aaron Lecesne about starting a new project. The group’s sound combines glam rock, punk, hard rock and garage rock elements with pop sensibility, and they describe it as “blasphemous candy-coated bubblegum punk”.

Line-up

The original line-up expands from Shelter and Lecesne to include guitarist Kriss Tokaji and drummer Emily Moon. Current members are Kimi Shelter on vocals and guitar, Aaron Lecesne on bass, Kriss Tokaji on guitar and Qi Wei on drums. Former members include Kyle Gordon on rhythm guitar, Katie Herron on drums and Emily Moon, who leaves the drums in 2024.

Background

Shelter’s approach is shaped by her teenage years in rural Georgia, where she has described repeated clashes with law enforcement over minor curfew and skateboarding issues. She also meets drummer Katie Herron at a wilderness therapy camp for troubled youth, and the two later reconnect after college to begin work on the band. Those shared experiences feed into StarBenders’ themes of alienation, defiance and sexuality, often presented through a teenage perspective. Shelter says she writes from the viewpoint of her 14-year-old self.

The band also adds bassist Aaron Lecesne from Atlanta’s local music scene, while Kriss Tokaji is discovered performing in Birmingham, Alabama. StarBenders’ recordings involve producers and engineers including Nico Constantine, who signs the band to Institution Records and produces their work, as well as Jeff Bakos and Jeff Golden, whose credits include Sonic Youth, Black Flag and Bad Brains.

Releases

On Institution Records, StarBenders release three EPs, one full-length album, one 7-inch and six singles. They later release two singles and one full-length album on Sumerian Records. Their albums include Heavy Petting (2016), Love Potions (2020), Take Back The Night (2023) and The Beast Goes On (2025). Their EPs include Starbenders (2014), Julian (2018), Starbenders on Audiotree Live (2018) and Japanese Rooms (2019).

Performance and touring

StarBenders are known for high-energy live performances and for a style that draws on classic and alternative rock. Their music is framed around immediacy, attitude and emotional intensity. The band also announces a Europe tour for summer 2026.