'America's Got Talent' on NBC: Who is Wyn Starks? ‘Black Is Golden’ artist is a racial equality advocate
NBC's 'America's Got Talent' is a classic with 16 seasons of nonstop action. Since magician Dustin Tavella was named the Season 16 Winner in September, viewers have been eager to find out which act will take home the next $1 million prize. Wyn Starks is one of the many contestants preparing to charm the judges with his lovely vocals.
'AGT' consistently draws a wide range of talent, from sublime vocalists to breathtaking aerial acts. Fans are even more eager to witness the judge auditions now that 'AGT's preliminary auditions concluded in April. Among the many talents showcased in this week's audition is a vocalist who is no stranger to reality show programming. The sound of Wyn Starks' voice is like pressing the rewind button. Starks, who performs a Motown-tinged style of throwback soul/pop, has already had a lot of success in the United States, with his single 'Circles' having over a million plays on Spotify — a tune that could easily be mistaken for a '60s classic. His sound on the radio highlights not just the multi-octave range of his elastic voice, but also the strength of his lyrics. Here's everything you need to know about the 'Black is Golden' star, Wyn Starks.
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Who is Wyn Starks?
Wyn Starks is a multidisciplinary artist who resists categorization. When he starts singing, identities like black, gay, soul, and pop become unimportant. His multi-octave vocal range and genuine emotion combine well with his retro pop style and hopeless romantic sensibility to create truly distinctive pop songs. Add to that his not-so-recent coming out, which has led him to a road of total self-acceptance, and you've got yourself a fascinating artist.
Wyn Starks, who was born and raised in Minneapolis, had a profound love of music as a youngster and knew from a young age that he wanted to be a singer. He acquired a liking for the sounds of pop, soul, and R&B, as well as Gospel music, after being influenced by singers like Prince, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder. He grew up singing in church and eventually toured as a Gospel backup vocalist for a few years. However, he gradually took it upon himself to develop as an artist and work on his own tunes.
When the chance to go to Nashville arrived, he took it on the advice of a friend, feeling the desire to live somewhere as diverse as his art. Six months after relocating, Starks signed with Curb Records and enlisted the roster of Sidewalk Records, which is owned by Curb and houses more of the label's pop/soul artists. Being in such a multicultural place, he started working with a variety of songwriters with whom he connected, allowing him to grow as a songwriter and extend his voice. Surrounding himself with a broad support system of people with varying perspectives and values allowed him to grow not only professionally as an artist, but also personally.
Starks felt comfortable coming out as gay in recent years and has since been living his true self. In 2019, he released his first song 'Circles,' taken from his 2020 debut EP, 'Who I Am,' with tracks from the EP appearing on 'American Idol,' and 'Dancing My Way,' besides being featured on the popular CBS show 'Love Island.' As an artist who has always been interested in social/racial justice, his style has evolved to incorporate tunes about justice and racial equality, all while preserving his distinct combination of classic soul and progressive pop sounds.
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Starks released his album 'Black Is Golden' in 2021, which acts as a rallying cry for people of color as well as an inclusive invitation to the dance floor for individuals of all races. Its diverse musical selection, which includes sparkling pop songs, soul classics, rhythmic bangers, and gospel ballads, bolsters the album's fundamental theme of diversity. Wyn Starks is an artist you should keep an eye on, as he has plans to tour with Delta Rae and compose more music for his second EP. Fans can expect to watch him grow even more as he prepares to audition for the latest season of 'AGT.'
Wyn Starks will be on NBC's 'America's Got Talent' Season 17 on Tuesday at 8 pm. Subsequent episodes will air at the same time every Tuesday. Viewers who do not have cable can watch the show via streaming services such as Sling TV, fuboTV, Hulu With Live TV, AT&T TV, or YouTube TV.