The singer/songwriter has its own special place in the pantheon of music lore. Part storyteller, part musician, they are expected to be masters of both, a multihyphenate that conveys their two distinct crafts through a single medium. Growing up in Los Angeles to a family of musicians, Marlon Rabenreither is acutely aware of both the rigors and pitfalls of his craft – something his moniker, Gold Star, hints at – seemingly both a reference to the glamorous yet seedy walk of fame in Hollywood and a nod to an iconic Hollywood studio owned by Phil Spector and frequented by the likes of Brian Wilson. A voracious reader, much of Marlon’s music lends itself to the multitudes found in novels of Samuel Beckett and James Joyce, both speaking to real-life moments while also questioning their deeper underlying meanings and the human experience. This thoughtfulness enamored Lucinda Williams to Marlon’s writing, and after joining her on tour, set his career into high gear. With four albums released in seven years and a fifth on the way, Marlon is quickly carving out his place as an important voice in Los Angeles.