Tuesday, March 27, 2007 • Local singing group aims for the stars

A.R. Danes has been involved in music all his life. During the 1970’s he was involved in all aspects of the rock and roll industry, from performing to producing.

Today he spends his time mentoring and helping a younger generation of musicians, trying to help them start off on the right foot in the music industry.

Among his ‘star’ pupils are a couple of 12-year-old girls in 7th grade at Janesville School, Miranda Powell and Bethani Kessler, who perform together under the name Starshine.

Originally a group of three, Starshine now performs as a duo that Danes describes as being very unique.

“You don’t see too many girl group duos,” Danes said. “You either see three to five (girls) or a single (singer), but not many duos.”

Danes said the girls’ idols are in fact the Christian rock group Aly and A.J., two sisters who also sing in a duo style. Aly and A.J. are both signed artists and actresses under contract from Disney, performing songs and occasionally acting in made-for-tv movies on the Disney Channel.

Starshine could be on the same road to success, according to Danes.

“They have a lot of similarity in their style and their actions,” Danes said. “It’s just something two 12 year olds are going to have to grow with to learn the industry. The ins and outs of music can be a rough road or it can be a smooth road.”

Despite their youth, Danes said the girls have some real talent. Danes sent some samples of the girls’ music to people at Disney, and in December the girls passed a phone interview to audition for Disney.

Passing the phone interview paid off in a big way, as the girls are now set to perform for three days on a Disney cruise ship off the coast of Florida at the end of this June. Their audience will consist of roughly 100 talent scouts. With any luck, said Danes, the girls could become part of the Disney lineup.

While Disney is footing the bill for Starshine to participate in the talent search, they won’t be paying transportation costs for the girls and their chaperones to come out. Danes said they are currently in the process of raising money to make the trip, a total of roughly $4,800, round trip.

As of right now, they have raised more than $1,500. Danes said that people from around town have also pledged their support to help the girls get to Florida this summer.

Susanville Supermarket has been donating proceeds from sales generated by the Starshine Donut, a donut available at their bakery named for the group. The same goes for coffee shop Java Jitters with the proceeds from their Starshine Smoothie.

Danes said the group also performs at Java Jitters’ open mike night on occasion, one of multiple venues they can be seen at around town.

Danes said the girls are excited about the chance to perform in front of numerous talent agents this summer, and while he said they wish they had more time to work at their craft, they are still taken back by their success so far.

Both girls are involved in cheerleading at Janesville School, and between school and practice on the weekend, their free time is limited.

“I think they’re a little bit overwhelmed at how fast things have happened since their phone interview with Disney,” Danes said. “Nobody really expected it to happen as overnight as it did.” Many of today’s popular artists got their start working for Disney, including Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, to name a few.