The Star Prairie Project Unveils "Poor Pitiful Me"—A Spirited Tale of Struggle and Redemption

The Star Prairie Project, an indie music collective founded by songwriter Nolen R. Chew Jr., is back with another compelling release. Known for their genre-blending sound that fuses elements of rock, Americana, and indie influences, the group has amassed a loyal following with their dynamic storytelling and ever-evolving musical style. Their latest single, Poor Pitiful Me, serves as the first pre-release from their upcoming eighth studio album, Little Gems, set to drop on May 16, 2025.

Written by Nolen R. Chew Jr. and Rudiger, and performed by Rudiger and Ivy Marie, Poor Pitiful Me is a high-energy Americana rock ballad that balances humor and introspection. The song introduces listeners to a down-on-his-luck character—a man trapped in addiction, unable to hold a job, and wallowing in self-pity. The journey unfolds through a playful, carnival-inspired banjo introduction before diving into the vibrant chorus, where Ivy Marie joins Rudiger, creating an irresistible hook that lingers long after the song ends.

While the character begins in denial, he eventually comes to terms with his situation, recognizing his own role in his downfall. “The music is light and bouncy, but the story carries a deeper message of perseverance and self-acceptance,” says Nolen R. Chew Jr. The song’s infectious energy, complete with a searing guitar solo and an exhilarating bridge, makes it a standout track that offers both entertainment and insight.

Music with a Message

At its heart, Poor Pitiful Me is more than just a catchy tune—it delivers an important message. “Many people these days feel lost and alone, suffering from low self-esteem and motivation,” Chew explains. “This song approaches the theme of substance abuse and perseverance with a unique, almost clownish carnival style. It’s a fun song with a serious undertone, reminding listeners that change is always possible.”

Following the release of Poor Pitiful Me, fans can expect another pre-release single, Down Boy, dropping on April 25th. The full twelve-track album, Little Gems, will be available on May 16, 2025, offering more of the Star Prairie Project’s signature blend of compelling storytelling and diverse musical influences.

As The Star Prairie Project gears up for the release of Little Gems, Poor Pitiful Me sets the tone for an album that is equal parts entertaining and thought-provoking. With its mix of Americana charm, energetic instrumentation, and an unforgettable chorus, the song solidifies the group’s ability to turn life’s struggles into engaging musical storytelling. Fans can stream Poor Pitiful Me now and look forward to more musical gems from the band in the months ahead.

Poor Pitiful Me tells a lighthearted yet deeply personal story of struggle and redemption. What inspired this particular track, and how did you and Rudiger approach bringing the character to life?

‘Poor Pitiful Me’ was a song that came to me spontaneously. It started out with the lyrical melody about someone who was down and out, a loser who was wrapped in denial and self-pity about his lifestyle and situation. The character is also suffering from depression and substance abuse. They seem often to go hand in hand. Unfortunately, many, many of us suffer from these conditions and circumstances. It’s not funny if you are living through it. Personally, I have suffered from anxiety and depression and periods of substance abuse, too. At times, you wonder if you can recover and reverse things and get back on your feet again. People are struggling every day just to survive, and sometimes, it’s even hard to get out of bed. Many people never recover and beat it. Many do manage to recover and move on. But the recovery often starts with introspection and awareness. Then, personal responsibility follows, allowing the opportunity for change.

Your upcoming album, Little Gems, suggests a collection of carefully curated stories. How does this project differ from your previous releases, and what themes tie the album together?

We were coming off a very challenging concept album, ‘The Shining Ones.’ The subject matter was subliminal and esoteric. It was a very structured process where I was trying to fit certain mystical components into the songs themselves. Each had a theme like ascension, shamanism, mystery schools, divine feminine, etc. It is a deep and complex album that has stretched some of our musical boundaries. After ‘The Shining Ones’ was released in April 2024, I had a group of some odds-and-ends songs that I had been working on with Rudiger and Ivy. I think we had about half an album of material, and I had a few songs that were already mixed, like ‘Poor Pitiful Me’ and ‘Sunshine Skies’ that I thought were quite good. I told my wife Kathy that there were some little gems in that pile of songs. She told me that’s what I should name the album ‘Little Gems,’ and so I did. We wrote another half dozen songs to include a couple of my favorites, ‘Come Runaway With Me’ and ‘Down Boy.’ It was a fun album to write and record. It’s easy to listen to and the songs flow together very seamlessly for a body of work not linked by concept or theme. ‘Little Gems’ is similar to our 2023 album ‘New Day At Dawn’ in the sense that it is a loose collection of individual songs that don’t necessarily follow a theme or mood but find their place naturally and simplistically. The songs are a mix of rock, Americana, and Indie Pop, once again blending genres for a refreshing, unique vibe.

The Star Prairie Project has a unique approach to collaboration, working with artists from around the world. How does this collaborative process shape the music, and what was it like working with Rudiger and Ivy Marie on this track?

Yes, the collaboration is the project. I’m the primary songwriter. I’ll sketch out the song,

verse and chorus and usually add the bridge. I’ll prepare a two or three-track demo tape and send the song to add session vocals and instrumentation. Everyone involved in the song has a wide artistic license in building the song. I have been working with Rudiger and Ivy for a while now, and we’ve put out four or five albums together. It’s fun being able to work unconstrained and do your own thing without having to worry about boundaries. I let them loose to do their thing, and that’s what I think is the magic of The Star Prairie Project. Both Rudiger and Ivy Marie are very talented producers and sound engineers, as well as vocalists and musicians. It is so much fun working with so much talent, and like I mentioned, we are familiar with each other's work now, so it just kind of falls together effortlessly. It’s really quite thrilling when it all comes together, and you look back on what you just created. I just love it.

With Poor Pitiful Me, you’ve crafted a song that balances humor with a deeper message. How important is it to you as a songwriter to address serious topics in an accessible, even playful way?

I think, as a songwriter, it is important to address serious topics in an accessible way. When I first started writing songs I’d just let the lyric come to fit the mood of the melody and just flow with it. The last few years being so contentious about everything I started directing my lyrics through the events that were happening around me. The political and cultural issues need to be expressed too, because they affected my life and moods and emotions. They affect all of us. I just quit worrying about what people thought about my expressions. You can take them or leave them I don’t care. For the most part, I want a positive message, but the events in our lives aren’t always positive. The hurt and the pain and the love and the hope are what make us human. The emotions are the nectar of songwriting. Evoking those experiences and emotions through my music is the goal. That’s why so many of my songs tell a story and speak of our common feelings and experiences we can all relate to.

The Star Prairie Project continues to evolve with each album. Looking ahead, what’s next for you creatively, and how do you see your sound developing in the future?

We have a couple of new projects in the works. I’m currently working on a Rock album

with Marcello Vieira, Ricardo Dikk, and Sandrine Orsini. That’s the gang from Portugal that

produced our 2024 concept album, ‘The Shining Ones.’ We are about halfway into it now. It’s going to be a twelve-song party album that blends classic rock, prog rock, and metal. We’re trying some new things, like blending in a little brass and some songs with wisps of soul and R&B. It’s dynamic, and it’s definitely a sound that makes you want to get up and move your body. Also, Rudiger and I are working on an album with just the two of us contributing. Similar to our second album ‘Rudiger’s Revenge’. We’re starting to get an idea of where the project is going. We’ve written some very exciting new songs that are producing a sound that’s deeper and richer with the music and the lyrics. It’s exciting! There’s a lot going on, and we keep pumping out new and original material. So stay tuned, we have a new album out for release and two more in the works.