DJ Starsky

**Paul Mahomes Culver** (August 16, 1989-September 29, 2016; aged 27) better known by his pseudonym **DJ Starsky** was a American disc jockey and producer best known for his 2011 debut album *Feel Better Now?* and his song with Lena Hall called *Blood Auction*. Paul took the DJ Starsky name from the character David Michael Starsky, from Starsky and Hutch.

## DJ Starsky

### Born

Paul Mahomes Culver; August 16, 1989; Eau Claire, Wisconsin

## Musical Career

### Genres

Dubstep, Alternative dance, Industrial techno, Happy hardcore, French house

## Early life and career

Paul Culver was born to mother Traci Culver (born 1962 \*died 2020\*) and father Scott Culver (born 1961 \*died 2018\*), Paul's little sister, Mikayla Culver was born four years later on May 31, 1993 (age 30). Paul developed a love of electronic music and producing it. He cites The Fat of The Land by The Prodigy and Homework by Daft Punk as big influences to his career. In 2009, he self-released his debut song with great friend Christina Grimmie called *Wii Play Hard* which was featured on his self-released debut EP *Dinosaur Graffiti* which was released in 2010. In which he took the name DJ Starsky after his favorite TV show Starsky and Hutch

## Career

### Main career (2011-2016)

On August 13, 2011, DJ Starsky was signed to Skrillex's label OWSLA, as one of the first signees. On October 17, 2011, he released his debut studio album *Feel Better Now?* which sold 3,000,000 copies in the United States alone and was certified triple platinum by the RIAA. He headlined is own shows, opened for Deadmau5 for several dates and even played New Zealand's Soundscape in 2012. In 2013, he released his one hit wonder song called *Blood Auction* with Lena Hall being featured. This charted the Billboard 200 and was a summer radio hit of 2013. In 2014, he released his second studio album *Wendigo* which featured a huge alternative dance influence. He toured on Van's Warped Tour throughout 2014 on the Journeys Stage from July 18, 2014 to July 30, 2014. On October 31, 2014, he remixed the song Dragula by Rob Zombie for a Halloween remix compilation album called *That's So Spooky*. In 2015, he remixed the song B.B.B.F.F for the compilation album *Friendship is Magic: Remixed* under the name Starsky Culver.

### Posthumous releases (2016-2021)

After DJ Starsky passed away on September 29, 2016, his family found a lot of unreleased material. In 2017, DJ Starsky's family released the first posthumous DJ Starsky album, *Gift of Fun* which featured a huge french house influence. In 2018, a unreleased song called *Teething Doll* which featured Christina Grimmie which was recorded on June 3, 2016 was released with rave reviews. In 2020, DJ Starsky released the final posthumous album *Forever In Our Hearts* which featured a happy hardcore influence and had completed the four album requirement from Owsla. In 2021, Mikayla announced on social media that the DJ Starsky and Starsky Culver name would be retired to honor the DJ's legacy.

## Discography

*Dinosaur Graffiti (2010, EP)*

*Feel Better Now? (2011)*

*Wendigo (2014)*

*Gift of Fun (2017)*

*Forever In Our Hearts (2020)*

## Personal life

Paul Culver resided in Gainesville, Florida from 2010 until his death in 2016, along with his wife Laurenzside, whom he was married to from 2010 to his death in 2016. They had one child together named Deonna Vee Culver (born 2013; age 10) which Mikayla currently has custody of. Paul Culver came out as bisexual in 2016 following his reveal of dating Patrick "Pat" Julianelle from 2006 until 2008 where he broke up with him due to them not being a perfect match. He's owned two St Bernard dogs named Beethoven (born 2008) and Aang (born 2008) from 2009 until his death in 2016. Both of them have passed due to old age in 2020. On top of that he owned a house Brahman bull named Ferdinand (1999-2017) and a tamed lioness named Simba (1997-2011).

In high school, he was the lead vocalist to a nu metal band called *Rebelle* which self-released one EP in 2003 and one studio album in 2005, before breaking up in 2007. However, the band would reunite in 2013 for a high school graduates of 2007 reunion party.

## Depression and death

On June 10, 2016, DJ Starsky got a call from one of Christina Grimmie's friends, she said "She's gone Paul... She was shot.". DJ Starsky started a amphetamine addiction to cope with his now spiraling depression. On September 29, 2016 at 7:06pm, he talked to Mikayla Culver for the final time and said to her before hanging up "I love you, incase i don't see you ever again, please take good care of my dogs, my bull and my child for me. Okay?" This sent a panic through Mikayla, who called the police. DJ Starsky would write a suicide note and hang himself following the call. He was 27 years old. Tributes began pouring in from the likes of Owsla artists and non-Owsla artists alike.