Interview: Lonely Starboy Speaks on Art, Pressure, and Staying Independent

Hi, everyone. It’s Anthony Stirford from Anthony XO.Music. Today, I’m here for a special interview with the Tajikistani artist Lonely Starboy. His newest project, Lonely Nights, is out now on Spotify. Since last year, he has been releasing new music regularly on Spotify and building a catalog rooted in vulnerability and independence. He makes music on FL Studio by using instruments like Piano, Bass, Synthesizer, and Key Board. Today I’m making a conversation with him to discuss his journey so far, the challenges of staying independent, and how emotion continues to shape his sound.
For people discovering you for the first time, how would you describe who Lonely Starboy is as an artist?
Lonely Starboy: I see myself as an artist who transforms deep emotions – alone, pain, dream and silence – into music. Lonely Starboy is the voice of nights: when people feel ignored, misunderstood or lost. My music is honest, doesn’t hide emotions, and more than a show, tells the truth. I want the listener to see myself in my songs and feel like I’m not alone.
You’re from Dushanbe, Tajikistan. How has growing up there shaped your sound and perspective?
Lonely Starboy: Yes, I am from Dushanbe, but the sound of music here and the music culture here are completely different from other countries.
When did you first realize you wanted to make music seriously?
Lonely Starboy: When I saw that my previous life was very bitter and dark, I wanted to express my pain through music, and that’s how I became a musician.
Why did you choose the name “Lonely Starboy,” and what does it represent to you?
Lonely Starboy: Yes, the pseudonym Lonely Starboy allowed me to express my bitter pain through music. Before I became Lonely Starboy, I had the pseudonym Pure Starboy. Then I realized that I had no friends or anyone who liked me except my family, that is, my father, my mother, my brother, and my sisters. That’s why I got Lonely Starboy.
You started producing music in late 2025. What pushed you to finally release music publicly?
Lonely Starboy: I just wanted to be known.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when you were just starting out?
Lonely Starboy: What problems do you have in mind?
Did you have any support system early on, or were you mostly on your own?
Lonely Starboy: No, I had no one to support me and I didn’t want my family to know that I was a musician. Then 3 people came into my life who gave me a lot of support and I am grateful to them.
How did people around you react when you first started making music?
Lonely Starboy: The reactions of the people around me were different, for example, I told my classmates that I wanted to do this and showed them the song “Revenge”, which is my first song. But they didn’t like it, saying that this job doesn’t suit you, while others said that you can’t do something like this because you can’t do it well. But right now, my most streamed song on Spotify is “Revenge.”
You produce your music entirely on FL Studio. How did you learn to use it?
Lonely Starboy: Yes, you are right in saying that I make everything with FL Studio and no one taught me this. It’s all my own efforts. I didn’t learn from anywhere. Just trying, trying, trying and trying again.
What instruments or sounds do you naturally gravitate toward when creating a track?
Lonely Starboy: I use keyboards and an 808 kick drum more than guitars.
Do you usually start a song with melody, chords, or emotion?
Lonely Starboy: You know, whenever I get emotional, I quickly compose a song of my own, and I use it on the guitar first, and when I see that the melody doesn’t sound good on the guitar, I change it.
How long does it usually take you to finish a song from idea to final version?
Lonely Starboy: It takes me 2 or 3 weeks to finish a piece of music, sometimes 1 week, because I work so hard on it. Sometimes 2 or 3 days is enough.
Lonely Nights is your first studio album. What does this project mean to you personally?
Lonely Starboy: This album is a dark and bittersweet story that I finished in about a month or a month and a half.
The album focuses heavily on emotion and isolation. Was this based on real experiences?
Lonely Starboy: The most difficult part of Lonely Nights was the music on Lonely Nights and Solitude, which were less emotionally charged.
Which song best represents you as an artist right now?
Lonely Starboy: I think I’m not that well-known right now, and the most streamed songs on Spotify are Revenge and Basic.
Looking back, is there anything you would change about the album?
Lonely Starboy: I don’t think there is such a thing.
Which artists or producers have influenced your sound the most?
Lonely Starboy: I am most inspired by the world-famous artist The Weeknd.
Do you feel pressure to sound “international,” or do you focus on being authentic?
Lonely Starboy: I prefer dark music.
How do you balance emotion with production when making instrumental-focused music?
Lonely Starboy: Instrumentals should only be dark. That is, I use RnB Soul culture
How did it feel seeing people listen to your music on Spotify for the first time?
Lonely Starboy: When I first saw the stream on Spotify, it gave me a very happy feeling.
Did any feedback surprise you, either positive or negative?
Lonely Starboy: Not yet.
You’re only 18 and fully independent. What keeps you motivated to continue?
Lonely Starboy: One of them is inspired by The Weeknd and one is from a bad experience I had.
Have you ever thought about quitting, and what made you keep going?
Lonely Starboy: Not now, nothing.
What does success look like to you right now?
Lonely Starboy: Success for me is the victory that I was able to shut the mouth of those who said “you can’t”.
Are you already working on new music after Lonely Nights?
Lonely Starboy: Yes, I’m currently working on a song and I want to create new albums.
Do you see yourself experimenting with different sounds or genres in the future?
Lonely Starboy: Not now.
Would you consider collaborating with other artists, locally or internationally?
Lonely Starboy: Yes, I want to collaborate with artists from other countries.
Where do you want to see yourself as an artist in the next two to three years?
Lonely Starboy: Right now I have no thoughts about future successes, because it is all in God’s hands whether I will succeed or not.
What message do you want listeners to take away from your music?
Lonely Starboy: Lonely days and nights, darkness.
What advice would you give to other young artists who are just starting out?
Lonely Starboy: I am still young and inexperienced, and I can’t tell them anything yet.
Is there anything you’d like to say directly to your listeners and supporters?
Lonely Starboy: To my supporters, I want to say thank you all and I appreciate your support. Thank you. You all have a place in my heart.

As the conversation ends, one thing becomes clear: Lonely Starboy is not interested in shortcuts. His music is less about visibility and more about truth, even when that truth feels uncomfortable. Whether his audience grows slowly or suddenly, his commitment to authenticity remains at the center of everything he creates.