HEART-TO-HEART: chelsea costar
“Being able to work with folks who understand your vision for songs, while still bringing their own artistic intuition and ideas is such a virtue, and something I’m really grateful to experience…”
2026 is set to be a defining year for Magandjin/Brisbane singer-songwriter Chelsea Costar. With her effortless style and clear artistic vision, she brings something genuinely fresh and exciting to the table. I love how she describes this chapter as ‘the year of the stargirl’ — a concept that perfectly captures the energy and intention she’s carrying into the year ahead.
Published: 09/03/2026
FHR (Flaming Heart Records): Congrats on your new single, Chelsea! maybe, just maybe dropped on Valentine’s Day. Tell us more about the meaning behind the song and if the release date was intentional?
Chelsea (Costar, lead singer): Thank you so much! It’s a joy to see the song out in the world. maybe, just maybe is a love song captured by an anxious girl taking a big shot, so yes — the Valentine’s Day release felt almost necessary!!
FHR: You compare falling in love to gambling. Where did that metaphor come from and did it reveal anything about how you approach love in real life?
Chelsea: The gambling metaphor and the song itself came from my 2024 self falling in love for the first time after a long-term relationship, and it was extremely daunting but so exciting. I think this perspective of love really comes from being an overthinker (a running theme in my songs), who isn’t afraid to take that leap and let love in sometimes. Love is scary, but it can also be very beautiful and fulfilling if you give it the opportunity.
FHR: You’ve described 2026 as “the year of the stargirl”. What does being a “stargirl” mean to you and what are you manifesting this year?
Chelsea: The whole “stargirl” thing came from my last name, Costar, and felt like a really natural brand for my work, reminiscent of whimsy and connection. I think being a “stargirl” is also deeply rooted in having a strong sense of self, being unabashedly yourself, and living life with a big heart.
For me, 2026 being “the year of the stargirl” is both professional and personal. It’s about showing up as myself, sharing my work with the world, and not shying away from my dreams, no matter how tough it might feel. Many years ago, someone told me that they hoped nobody would stop me from achieving my goals, because I deserve to achieve them – those words stuck with me since reading them and have motivated me everyday. Simply put, you’ll hopefully be seeing and hearing a lot of chelsea costar this year!
Alongside putting in the work, I’m really manifesting a fruitful and lucky year. I’d really love to play some interstate shows, or even be a tour support! I’m opening myself to happiness, success, new friends, and finding inspiration in anything <3
FHR: This track features some beautiful collaboration, from Gerry Rossi’s lead guitar to Ethan Wood’s production. What do you love most about working collaboratively?
Chelsea: Being able to work with folks who understand your vision for songs, while still bringing their own artistic intuition and ideas is such a virtue, and something I’m really grateful to experience through my collaborative work. I can tend to feel overwhelmed by all of the avenues I could take my songs, so having that shared development really helps me to realise where a song could or should go. I love working with such beautiful and talented friends, so a big shout out goes to Ethan, Gerry, Ruby, James, and Harper who worked on this track with me!
FHR: You have mentioned maybe, just maybe takes inspirations from Bon Iver, Lizzy McAlpine and Blondshell. What draws you to these artists and what songs of theirs stand out most to you?
Chelsea: Bon Iver has been one of my greatest musical inspirations since I rediscovered Blood Bank in about 2019. Justin Vernon is incredible all-round, but I have always admired the musical progression through the Bon Iver albums, and the abstract but entirely human songwriting. The strumming pattern in Lump Sum actually somewhat inspired the ending of maybe, just maybe with those strong hits. My real standout Bon Iver track though is Perth – it’s so raw and real and moving, nothing can beat it.
Lizzy McAlpine is another amazing all-rounder with fantastic lyricism, but I always get pulled in by the arrangements of her songs. The instrumentation choices blow me away, even from the most intimate ballads, all of the choices feel so deliberately perfect. I was playing her song erase me on guitar and that’s where I started playing around with the chords that became maybe, just maybe’s verse, so that would be my track alongside All Falls Down.
Blondshell’s lyricism is so honest yet poetic, which is something I really try to do in my own work. There’s also this strong sense of femininity I feel through her music, which is beautifully underpinned by her alt-rock sound. Olympus and Kiss City will always stand-out to me, there’s such a power within those tracks.
FHR: Take us through the shoot of the music video! Tell us more about your vision and how everyone involved brought it to life.
Chelsea: I always tend to lean more towards music videos that focus on a particular vibe, or world that the song reflects, rather than a narrative. For maybe, just maybe, this was really centered around gambling in a dimly lit bar, and funnily enough, rolling around on the floor. Working with Phoebe and Harry was so easy as they’re both incredibly talented friends of mine, who really understood the vision I wanted to achieve. We spent the night in the beautiful Black Bear Lodge, capturing everything with the help of Jay, Carmen and Hayden. Ultimately, I wanted the video to feel flirty, but uncertain, with the gambling tones highlighted by my collaged playing cards.
FHR: Your first single, the laundromat song, debuted in late 2024. What’s it been like stepping out into the Brisbane music scene and what highlights have you gotten to experience?
Chelsea: The Brisbane music scene is so thrilling and gorgeous. I feel really lucky to now live in a city with such amazing art and a connected community, everyone is so welcoming. Some of my highlights have been my visits to 4ZZZ, playing The Triffid Beer Garden on sunny afternoons, meeting new people, and many many more beautiful moments.
FHR: Name your favourite seventies classic rock album and noughties indie folk album!
Chelsea: Easily goes to Rumours by Fleetwood Mac and For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver. These albums are basically the syllabus of my writing.
FHR: What are you most looking forward to in 2026 and what can we expect from chelsea costar?
Chelsea: I’ve been writing a lot of new songs lately, and I’m really excited to develop them further. In 2026, I’m trying to experiment more with my sound and the writing techniques I use, from small things like borrowing Gerry’s e-bow, to playing around with different genres and subgenres. The band and I also have some tentative plans for recording, so maybe (just maybe hehe) you’ll see a body of work towards the end of the year!
