The brainchild of Nolen R. Chew Jr, The Star Prairie Project focuses on writing and collaborating on original songs with musicians and producers, before turning them into complete records. Latest single, ‘To Warm A Cold Heart’, is out now.
With nod to The Alan Parsons Project, as well as his hometown of Star Prairie, Wisconsin, Chew’s project has seen him work with contributors from all over the world, and develop a catalogue of music that has expanded across ten studio albums, and over 100 songs. His sound crosses genres, including folk, country, Americana, and also several styles of rock music.
Chew is proof that you *can* teach an old dog new tricks. He came to songwriting later in life, first picking up a guitar at the age of 51 – without any background in music – and quickly discovering an interest in rearranging chord progressions, and writing his own song lyrics, rather than simply learning the songs of others.
Discipline runs strong in Chew: prior to his music career he was 25 years in the Air Force, where he worked in nuclear operations and arms control, before retiring in 2001. Of course, “retiring” doesn’t mean he stopped doing everything, and now, with his wife and their pets, he lives in a cabin on He now lives with his wife and their pets in a cabin on a lake in west-central Wisconsin, where he spends plenty of time writing, when he’s not gardening, or taking long walks.
Chew’s extensive catalogue has so far amassed more than 15 million streams on Spotify alone, and he describes his music as “unique but familiar” and “classic yet original”, taking inspiration from the likes of the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Coldplay, the Black Keys, and Greta Van Fleet.
New single, ‘To Warm A Cold Heart’ had its genesis during one of his long walks along the lake. Chew found himself thinking about those people whose minds are closed and their hearts are cold, and how the two might require different ways to change them. As he recalls, “Closed minds can be open with new information, but how can you warm up a cold heart?”; a question which became the foundation of the song. With lyrics that return to trust, empathy, kindness and the idea of starting over, he then wonders what it might take to reach someone who has become emotionally distant. In the end, the song concludes that love and hope would be the best ways to restore connection. Featuring stunning vocals by Sandrine Orsini, ‘To Warm A Cold Heart’ is taken from their latest album, ‘Shadows On The Wall’, which can be streamed and downloaded here.
‘To Warm A Cold Heart’ is accompanied by a video that was created and produced by Pedro Salvador and Pedro Martinho, and filmed in Portugal. The concept stays close to the recording process, showing the group setting up and working together on the song. Instead of coming up with a different narrative, the clip remains focused on those people behind the recording, and captures their interactions. We are treated to a fly on the wall experience, and are made to feel as though we too are part of the production.
Nolen R. Chew Jr is now concentrating on promoting the current album, while at the same time developing new material – working alongside vocalist, producer, multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer, Rudiger, he’s already completed a twelve song Americana album, that’s drawn on their more than seven years of working together.
Watch the music video for ‘To Warm A Cold Heart’ below, and find out more about The Star Prairie Project and their music online on their official website, Facebook, and Instagram.
