Wyn Starks Chooses To Be Celebrated, Not Tolerated

By Selena Haynes • Photos By Weston Kloefkorn

He brought Sophia Vergara to tears on Season 17 of America’s Got Talent (AGT) with his original song, “Who I Am” which he dedicated to his late twin brother. He recorded with the Grammy award-winning Fisk Jubilee Singers under the directorship of the late Dr. Paul T. Kwami. His debut album, “Black Is Golden,” has been described as a rallying cry for people of color and an inclusive call to the dance floor for all races.

And, with a new album on the way, Wyn Starks says he chooses to be celebrated, not tolerated. He will be appearing for his first-ever Pride performance at Nashville Pride on June 24. Starks said, “I can’t wait to get to do one of these [pride festivals] and be with my family and to be like 100% my authentic self.”

Starks was making music long before his stint on AGT. He grew up singing in church in Minneapolis and toured as a Gospel backup singer before making the move to Nashville. Once in Nashville, he signed with Curb Records. As he grew professionally and artistically, he also began to embrace his whole self and explore his queer identity.

When Starks first moved to Nashville, he wasn’t fully out. Having a religious background, he struggled with coming out. “I’m appreciative of my family for sure and I love my family so much but it’s awesome to be able to pick a family too so that you can be your true authentic self and not be tolerated, but celebrated.”

Starks attributes his journey to learning how to love himself to therapy and simply surrounding himself with people who love and appreciate him for being who he is and of course, music. 

“I’m the saddest I’ve ever been, but I’m the happiest I’ve ever been if that makes any sense. I wish my brother could be here to celebrate all these things and he is. I feel him around me, but he’s an ancestor now. I feel him around me but I wish I had him here,” said Starks. His twin, Caine, passed away in 2020. 

While Starks has dedicated his song “Who I Am” to his brother, there’s more behind the song for him as it relates to his life. 

“Who I Am” has become a universal song to those in the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. “I’ve heard from people from all backgrounds and different countries, just all walks of life how this song impacted them. It’s super cool to see, actually,” said Starks.

Starks mentioned an international dance team from Turkey did a dance to “Who I Am” for their competition. “It brought tears to my eyes. It just hit me that it’s really going worldwide,” said Starks. “I always dreamed about this, you know, and then to watch it happen and start to happen before my eyes really. I’m going so much. Things have been awesome but I don’t always get the time to kind of sit back and reflect. I love those times when I can sit back and reflect and be like wow this is happening right now.”

New Music

Starks released his extended play album, “At The End Of The River” featuring the Fisk Jubilee Singers, in February 2023, which includes the singles “At The End Of The River,” “Circles,” “Dancing My Way,” and “Sparrow.” He dedicated the album to the late Dr. Paul T. Kwami who passed away in 2022. 

“I always get a little emotional talking about him [Dr. Kwami]. I had only known him a very short time, but he left a huge impact – believed in everything I was doing,” said Starks.

For the EP, Starks wanted to capture the Fisk Jubilee sound and he said the songs turned out the way they were always meant to be. 

“What I wanted to do with this project was to grab the Fisk sound. I wanted it to really stay true to their sound. I redid four songs from my album that featured the Fisk Jubilee Singers. I always tell people it was like they were always meant to be, the songs. I still love the originals, but they had definitely took it to a new level. It was magical. It was something that I will never forget. It was just excellence in that place and they were so excited about it.  

For his next album scheduled to be released in the next few months, Starks said, “I started digging a little deeper into my story for a lot of these songs on this next project. I’m even doing a few songs for pride.”

Starks considers “Who I Am” as a kind of diary song and his new music will go deeper into that part of him. “I can see the growth for myself. I think people will too when they hear it,” Starks said. 

Connect with Wyn Starks
https://www.instagram.com/wynstarks/
https://linktr.ee/wynstarks