Aston Star Wants to Be a Legend

He sang for President Bill Clinton. And the Sheikh of Dubai.

He placed first at the UDO World Street Dance competition — the first teenager based in the United Arab Emirates to do so.

He attended classes at the American Musical Dramatic Academy in New York City.

He’s working to become a legend, and his name is Aston Star.

Star was born in Zimbabwe but spent his formative years in Dubai before moving to New York City. Each place taught him something new about performing.

“If I need to be a pop star, I need to be able to do a lot of things,” he says.

Other people in Star’s life noticed his capacity to be a triple threat. One teacher at AMDA questioned his purpose in musical theater. “I don’t see you on Broadway,” she told him.

Harsh words from a teacher to a student. But she saw something larger in him. She saw a star.

“I see you as your own artist. I see you as a pop artist,” Star recalls her saying.

His path to pop stardom is exemplified on his recent single “Love Comes to You,” a modern song that pulls from a bygone time.

Star was listening to the likes of Donna Summer, Michael Jackson and Prince before bed one night. As if blessed by his predecessors, he awoke in the middle of the night with a melody in his head. It would serve as the beginning of “Love Comes to You.”

This wasn’t the first time Star had a prophetic moment in his sleep. He once dreamed that his grandfather — his mother’s father — a man he had never met, told him, “Go make me proud, my little star.”

A spiritual person, Star took it as a sign from God. That’s when Aston Mtada became Aston Star.

“Love Comes to You” is a manifestation set to music. Star had repeatedly been told that he’d one day find love.

“In my mind I was like, I’m writing a song that you’re going to manifest [love] if you keep listening to it. I’m going to not chase, I’m going to attract,” Star says.

Like the movies say, love will find you when you stop trying to find it.

Star says the song is perfect for getting ready for a date or a night out with friends, but no matter where you listen to it, Star has a goal in mind for his music: “I want to bring back old music. I want to bring back music that actually had meaning and that felt good to listen to.”

It’s fitting then, that his upcoming EP is called Time Machine.

Star’s vintage sound didn’t come by mistake. “Love Comes to You” traveled the world to five different producers before it was ready to share with the world.

To convey his vision to the producers, Star would sing and beatbox — yes, another talent from the renaissance man.

The producer Owynn recorded the first draft of the song before Chase Jackson pushed it across the finish line alongside Star. The song was mixed and mastered by Paul Carabello.

Star hopes to one day play the song at London’s Summer Time concert series. If you’re at home listening on your phone, Star appreciates that, too.

“The fans who’ve helped and supported you … they kind of become your family,” he says.

Star has his eyes on the future, but he won’t forget where he comes from.

“People who’ve helped me out, I feel like they are the most important people,” he says.

Now, this star is working to become a legend.

“I want people to remember me as an artist who was not afraid to try — and fail — who eventually got there,” Star says. “What I want to be is a legend.”