We were lucky to catch up with Roderick Fecker recently and have shared our conversation below.
Roderick, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
Star time podcast was meaningful it started with me talking about life experiences and personal topics such as work school and childhood , it was good at first then i started to do interview collaborations and that was where the retooling of the show came about i think realized that there weren’t as many plays vies on podcast platforms so i took a break and started to retool the platform again. Then i came back and star time live was born interviewing artist, celebs and people who were doing big things in my network at this point more people
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Roddy, aka *The Star*. I consider myself a versatile person in the arts. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY with two parents, three sisters, and two brothers. Growing up was insightful — I was always in competition with my little sister in academics and other parts of life. She was naturally talented in many things, and I often came in second.
As a teenager, I modeled in my sister’s grandmother’s pageant and took part in church programs, which sparked my singing and songwriting. Over time, I started writing songs and experimenting with beat-making programs. I’d sit in my room listening to R&B on the radio and watching music videos on MTV and BET.
In high school, I gained confidence in singing. My classmates would sing in class, in the hallways, and at lunch, and I joined in. At Paul Robeson High School, there was a writing center and a program called *Off the Hook* that performed around the city. The open mics were where I really shined.
One day I saw a group called the Blaze Up Clique and asked to join. They gave me an audition — I sang Raheem DeVaughn’s “You” — and got accepted right away. At first, we spent summers just hanging out, but eventually we realized we had to get to work. We started rehearsing on the stoop with Ken aka Mr. Gentleman, but I suggested moving to my basement for rehearsals and song creation. Rondell aka Aaron Sands and my friend Rashawn began making beats, and soon we were recording songs multiple times a week.
I sang on a few Blaze Up Clique tracks, and we eventually recorded three songs in the studio: *Teddy Overload*, *I’m a Star*, and *Rebound*. *Rebound* was tough to get right, but *Teddy Overload* became a hometown hit, even getting played on Power 105’s “Unsigned Hype” show. It went viral on my college campus — people would yell, “Hey, that’s the Teddy Overload boys!” One of my greatest accomplishments is that release in 2010. The other songs didn’t reach the same success, making us a one-hit wonder.
After a few years, the group disbanded. Being loyal, I stuck with Malimal, who still wanted to make music. He released singles like *Payday Flow*, and I assisted him with performances around NYC. We even recorded *Cigarette Ashes* for the mixtape *September*.
Meanwhile, other members formed the Young Premiere Boyz, promoting NYC nightclubs. I joined them, helping bring people out and posting flyers on Instagram and Facebook. We built a following and reputation, even recording content on YouTube for Blaze Up TV and YPG TV.
Around this time, I tried DJing. I did about 8–10 gigs over two years, but my mixing wasn’t strong, and people criticized my transitions. One night, a senior DJ showed me tools and taught me how to read the room — that was eye-opening. Still, after a rough summer basement party, I quit taking DJ gigs for a while.
Later, I became a cohost on the Premiere Boyz Podcast, which launched on September 11, 2019, with Aaron Sands and Ken aka Mr. Gentleman. By then, I had gone from singer, DJ, and promoter to podcaster. People knew me as Roddy the Star, DJ Retro, and now *The Star Roddy Rod* on all platforms. I also contributed to Mr. Gentleman Lifestyle Podcast for the Old School Show.
In March 2024, I launched my own podcast, *Star Time*, which is still available on all platforms and YouTube. These days, I act in skits and web series to build my following on Instagram and TikTok. I love being around people, and I’m a kind guy. For business, my Instagram is @Star.TimeRoddy — follow me and let’s connect.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Working in the IT field is very competitive. I went to school, earned my Bachelor’s Degree, and still struggled to find full-time work. I managed to get into the field through contracting, and for many years I worked short-term contracts — including some in New Jersey. Contracting is temporary by nature, and I took a lot of them because I needed money and wasn’t getting hired for the jobs I really wanted. It was a frustrating time in my life, with stretches where I would be without work for months, sometimes even up to a year. Those experiences only made me push harder to find steady work, but they also led to a lot of stagnant nights — studying, taking tests, and not getting called back. At times, I advanced only to get fired and then ended up on unemployment. Those setbacks made me want to stop trying altogether, but they also shaped my resilience and determination to keep going in such a competitive industry.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Putting out content, such as reels skits and my interviews for my podcast, that people enjoy is a rewarding aspect especially if they are laughing and sharing it to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: linktr.ee/startimepodcastwithroddy
- Instagram: star.timeroddy
- Youtube: Startimepodcastwithroddy
- Other: Goodpods Startime podcast
