Growing up in a small coastal farming community just outside of Raglan, fledgling indie pop artist Star says she’s been singing for as long as she can remember.

By the age of 15 Star Knuiman knew music was more than just a passion and started experimenting with writing songs, drawing from her own experiences, emotions, and the people around her. At school Star competed in Rockquest three years in a row, describing it as a really great learning experience and platform to gain confidence with performing.

“It taught me a lot about self-management and preparing for gigs, and also how to navigate working with others. I didn’t actually sing during my first two years at Rockquest, I was just playing the guitar. That was quite hard because all I wanted to do was to sing! But at the time I was just too shy to put myself out there. However in my last year of school, I entered with a band as the singer!”

Along with bucolic Waikato farm scenes, the video that accompanies her breezy, feel-good debut single When You’re Around includes Star playing electric guitar and performing with bandmates.

“For my live performances, I play with my three really good friends who are actually in their own heavy metal band Abstract Fish Lungs – so quite a different sound to my music,” she laughs.

“They’re all from Raglan, and I have grown up with them, but only really started jamming with them all in October last year. I don’t write music with them, but they definitely add a super cool element to my live performances.”

When You’re Around was written together with Reiki Ruawai and former Raglan local Muroki, who she describes as an absolute legend.

“It’s been super inspiring as a young musician watching Muroki’s journey, and seeing how it is completely possible to make a career out of music! He is an incredible musician and also such an amazing producer, who really has the ear for it. I’ve always really looked up to Muroki, and I feel super lucky to be able to create music with him. 

“Reiki is such a kind and talented person, he sings with heart and soul. He has beautiful storytelling in his music and is such a cool human, another inspiring person to look up to as a young musician.” 

Both musicians are close friends of her brother, so Star has known them for much of her life. When Muroki was home from Berlin in January 2025, he reached out saying he’d be keen to write and produce a song with her.

“I was more than excited,” beams the now 18-year old pop singer. When You’re Around resulted from her first ever studio session, the demo also recorded at The Yard in Raglan.

“When it was time to re-record the vocals to make the song ready for release, Muroki had already gone back to Europe. I went up to Auckland to Broome Recordings and worked in person with the amazing Jacob Brown, while Muroki was with us over Zoom!” 

Super conveniently given the name Star at birth, she has big goals for the future.

“But looking a year from now I would love to have opened for some big touring artists, released more music, and gained more of a following of people who want to hear my songs!”