Strange Highways Music & Publishing

Tag: I’m A Star

  • Goodbye, Old Friend

    Goodbye, Old Friend

    Stack 23

    In this episode, Jeff reads his latest post, “Goodbye, Old Friend” — episode 23 of his ongoing Substack. Today marks the release of I’m A Star: The Remixes and the completion of the Starr Love audiobook, which also means saying goodbye to a story Jeff has carried around for over thirty years. Plus, a look at what’s coming this fall, including a synth vocal project, a licensing album, an animated series about a dog named Sipsey, and the next book already taking shape.

    Click here for the full article on Substack

    Jeff Elder Isn’t Real is a Substack by writer and musician Jeff Elder, a place where the curtain is half open. Part memoir, part creative process, part cultural observation. Warm, honest, and a little strange. Just like life.

    Subscribe to Jeff Elder Isn’t Real on Substack for new posts every week, including audio versions of most every essay.

  • Stu Starr — I’m A Star: The Remixes Out July 3rd

    Stu Starr — I’m A Star: The Remixes Out July 3rd

    Stu Starr Is Back — And He’s Brought the Dance Floor With Him

    If you’ve been following the Starr Love universe, you already know Stu Starr doesn’t do anything small. So, it should come as no surprise that his breakout single I’m A Star isn’t just getting a remix — it’s getting three of them.

    I’m A Star: The Remixes drops July 3rd on Amazon, Spotify, Bandcamp, and all major digital platforms. Pre-orders are available now.

    What’s on the EP

    This three-track remix EP takes Stu’s signature anthem in three different directions — all of them bold, all of them unapologetically over the top.

    The Tired Ass Dance Mix is the core extended dance floor version — deeper bass, fuller arrangement, built for maximum impact. This is the one made for the dance floor.

    The Red Red Groove Remix comes courtesy of Mike Castle of Red Red Groove, the legendary Tulsa industrial band whose underground roots share DNA with the same scene that inspired the world of Starr Love. If you know the history, this one hits different.

    The House of Sterling Remix takes a smoother, deeper approach — a house-influenced reimagining that gives the anthem a whole new groove.

    The Story Behind the Song

    For the uninitiated — I’m A Star is Stu Starr’s hit single, the song that finally gave him the fame he’d been chasing his entire life. It exists both within the pages of Starr Love, Jeff Elder’s darkly comic book set in the heart of Route 66 — Tulsa, Oklahoma — and as a real release, blurring the line between fiction and reality in a way that’s very much intentional.

    This remix EP is the next chapter in the ongoing Starr Love multimedia rollout, which continues this summer with the release of the Starr Love audiobook, narrated by Jeff Elder himself. More details on that coming soon.

    Pre-Order Now

    I’m A Star: The Remixes is available for pre-order at the links below now and releases July 3rd. Grab it on Bandcamp, Amazon, or wherever you stream music.

    Amazon Music

    Bandcamp

    Spread the Starr Love. 🌟

  • I’m A Star Music Video Arrives

    I’m A Star Music Video Arrives

    It’s here.

    Earlier this year, Stu Starr arrived. Now, after his MTV debut today, he’s sure to be even more famous — just like the Jackson family!

    The official music video for I’m A Star is now live on YouTube. I’m A Star is Stu Starr’s breakout hit — the song that launches him into the spotlight and sets everything in motion.

    If you haven’t read the book yet, Starr Love is the story of Stu Starr, a performer who buys into the myth of fame and gets swallowed by his own legend. It’s satire, it’s dark, it’s funny, and unfortunately it feels more like a documentary every day.

    I made this video myself — yes, that there’s some of that AI video you’ve heard tale about and yes, it’s a little cheesy. But honestly? Stu wouldn’t have it any other way. Fair warning: there’s a barista in the opening who has a thing about her little jug. We don’t judge here. Well, not about that. It’s what makes AI fun.

    This video is for Stu — and for everyone who knows they’re a star too. Even if nobody else has figured it out yet.

    Baby, baby, baby — you’re a star. Give it a watch, share it if it moves you, and if you haven’t picked up the book yet, now is a great time.

    Spread the Starr Love. 🌟

    Coming Soon

    While you’re here, a couple of things worth putting on your radar. A brand new remix of I’m A Star is coming in July, along with the Starr Love audiobook — narrated by me, recorded in a questionable motel on I-20 in Texas, with occasional bird cameos. More details on both as we get closer.

    A Note for This Weekend

    One more thing. It’s a holiday weekend here in the US, and for the first time since launching Jeff Elder Isn’t Real, I’m taking the weekend off. No Substack post this Saturday. This is part of a new rule I’m trying to stick to — no working on holidays. First time I’ve actually followed through on that, so we’ll see how it goes.

    To everyone reading this, happy holiday weekend. Spend time with the people who matter most, get some rest, and remember that life is too short to be working around the clock. So I keep telling myself, anyway.

    See you next week!

    Jeff

  • Starr Love Is Officially Here

    Starr Love Is Officially Here

    Today marks a milestone I’ve been working toward for a very long time. My new book, Starr Love, is officially out in the wild — available now in both Kindle and print — and I’m thrilled to finally share it with you. Alongside the book, I’m also releasing a companion single, “I’m A Star” by Stu Starr, which ties directly into the story’s universe. Both projects go live today, and it feels surreal to see them come together at last.

    A Story Decades in the Making

    This book has a long history. I first came up with the idea in the 90s, when my friend Joe Christ had shifted from making music to making indie films. I originally built the concept as something to pitch to him, my band would do the soundtrack, blah blah blah. Life, of course, had other plans. Joe passed away before I ever finished it, and the project sat unfinished for years.

    In many ways, Starr Love became my way of finally completing that idea. If you’re familiar with Joe’s work, imagine something he might have co‑produced with John Waters: a strange, funny, slightly chaotic look at the quest for fame, filtered through the lens of someone who has spent a lifetime around music, performance, and the people who chase the spotlight.

    Building Stu Starr’s World

    One of the most enjoyable parts of writing this book was creating the world around Stu Starr — a fictional pop star with big dreams, questionable decisions, and a universe full of real‑life echoes. I had a blast weaving in little nods to places and moments from my own past.

    Readers familiar with my hometown, Tulsa, will spot a few recognizable locations: record stores, restaurants, The Max, and other pieces of the city’s musical DNA. And for my fellow Duran Duran fans, you may notice a wink or two in the form of Sterling Vaughn and his band, Tiger Baby. Then, there’s Julian Rainwater and ol’ Rowdy… I’ll leave those two to your own imagination.

    To bring Stu’s world to life even further, I recorded a companion single, “I’m A Star,” which releases today as well. It’s a fun extension of the book’s tone — part satire, part homage, part glitter‑covered chaos.

    What’s Coming Next

    The release of Starr Love is just the beginning. Over the next few months, I’ll be expanding Stu Starr’s universe even further.

    Audiobook (Coming Soon)

    An audiobook edition is currently in production and will be released in the next few months (date TBA). I’ll be narrating it myself, which, I’m sure, will be its own wild and rewarding experience.

    Extended Dance Remix EP

    To keep the legend alive, I’ll also be releasing an extended dance remix EP of “I’m A Star” to coincide with the audiobook launch. Think club‑ready, glitter‑covered chaos — very Stu Starr. Stay tuned!

    Wider Ebook Availability

    Right now, the ebook is exclusive to Amazon for the initial 90‑day launch period. After that window closes, Starr Love will also be available on additional platforms including Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and more.

    Where to Read and Listen

    Starr Love is available now on Amazon. I kept the Kindle price low, and it’s also included in Kindle Unlimited if that’s your preferred way to read.

    Book Link:
    Kindle & Print Version from Amazon

    Companion Single – “I’m A Star” by Stu Starr – Available from all major streaming services, including:
    Spotify
    Amazon Music

    A Small Favor, If You Enjoy It

    If you do pick up the book and enjoy it, an honest Amazon review would help more than you know. Early reviews are a huge part of how Amazon’s system recommends books to new readers, and every single one makes a difference. Same with the song.

    Thank you for taking the time to check out this project. It’s been a long road getting here, and I’m excited to finally share Stu Starr’s world with you — and even more excited for what’s still to come.

    Jeff

  • New Single Release: “I’m A Star” by Stu Starr — Straight From the Prison Yard

    New Single Release: “I’m A Star” by Stu Starr — Straight From the Prison Yard

    Every once in a while, a project comes along that feels so strange, so chaotic, and so unexpectedly electric that you can’t help but follow it wherever it leads. Today, I get to share one of those moments.

    I’m thrilled to announce the debut single from rising underground personality Stu Starr — a track called “I’m A Star.” And yes, the rumors are true: this song was recorded from inside the state prison.

    Stu’s cellmate, Rowdy, sent me his vocals through monitored phone lines, raw and unfiltered, straight from the yard. My job was to take that energy — the bravado, the delusion, the charisma, the sheer force of will — and shape it into a full studio production. What came out the other side is a high‑energy dance track that somehow manages to be both chaotic and irresistible. It’s Stu at his most determined, declaring his fame long before the world has caught up.

    Early download access is available now through my Bandcamp page:

    I’m A Star – Early Access:
    https://jeffelder.bandcamp.com/track/im-a-star

    The single will be released worldwide on all major streaming services on February 14, 2026, alongside the release of Starr Love, a book I wrote featuring Stu Starr.

    Here’s what Stu had to say about the track:

    “They tried to lock me up, but they couldn’t lock up my destiny. I’ve always known the world was waiting for me — now they finally get to hear what a real star sounds like.”
    — Stu Starr

    And from my side of the studio:

    “Working with Stu is unlike anything I’ve ever done. Rowdy sends me these raw, chaotic phone recordings of him from inside, and somehow there’s always a spark in them. My job is just to shape that spark into something the world can dance to.”
    — Producer, Jeff Elder

    This whole project has been a wild ride — part music experiment, part character study, part world‑building fever dream — and I’m excited to finally share it with you.

    More updates soon as we get closer to release day.

    Jeff