Starset

Founded in 2013 in Columbus, Ohio, United States by singer‑songwriter Dustin Bates, Starset is an alternative rock project with a strong cinematic dimension, blending heavy guitars, electronic layers and orchestral arrangements. Around Bates — who is also a keyboardist and a trained scientist — the band is organized as a classic rock lineup, augmented on stage by a sci‑fi‑inspired visual setup that extends the narrative universe of the Starset Society. The debut album, Transmissions (2014), establishes a mix of melodic rock, metal influences and electronic textures built around themes related to space, the media and technological excesses. With Vessels (2017) Starset accentuates contrasts between atmospheric passages and more massive sections, while maintaining a conceptual thread that links the songs. Divisions (2019) deepens this approach by steering the sound further toward electronic and industrial rock, whereas Horizons (2021) broadens the palette again with film‑like structures and large‑scale audiovisual spectacle. In studio as well as on stage, Starset occupies a place in a contemporary rock scene where science fiction, dystopian narratives and digital production are central to the group’s overall aesthetic.