The Skye is the limit for this artist, a young and remarkably talented singer-songwriter hailing from east London by way of sunny St Lucia. With a vocal as assertive and defined as it is gentle and unassuming, Skye has a natural star quality, shaping a spotlight that feels right for them on stages that showcase the full scope of their talent, community, and identity.
Speaking with Skye felt like an extension of their music, a nuanced conversation sprawling across a broad spectrum of genres and topics, finally settling on the unconventional harmony of their sound, and how that resonates with their lived experience navigating a complex industry and identity alike. It’s always refreshing to speak with an artist so uniquely intune with their own journey, and Skye is just that, a poetic and profound lyricist and instrumentalist matched by their uplifting demeanour and offbeat approach to songwriting.
Speaking to their stage presence, Skye explains how being an introvert in the spotlight adds to the rawness of their performance, something they recognise in artists like Syd of The Internet, a musician and lyricist who provides an element of representation hard to find in the very binary state of the current musical landscape. With this in mind, Skye is on a steady ascent to notoriety in and beyond their community, establishing their sound and developing their artistic direction in a way that can only be admired.
For someone who doesn’t know your music, how would you describe your sound?
I would say my sound is quite soulful with some jazz, R&B, and slight indie elements. I quite like to use reverb with my vocals and backing vocals to create an ethereal escapism kind of effect, and take more of the jazz elements rather than the traditional drums and classic guitar and steel pans of my Caribbean roots. It’s the brass section that I lean towards more.
What was your musical upbringing like? Did you ever attend performances or festivals growing up?
I was in St Lucia growing up, where they hold The St Lucia Jazz Festival annually, inviting artists to play around the island. I first attended it when I was like 10 or 11 and it was free and so accessible for anyone locally to see it which was so inspiring. Especially during the rainy season in May and June because people wouldn’t normally put events on. They have the carnival in the summer which people know the Caribbean for, like weddings, and honeymoon destinations, but there’s so much more to the island musically.
When I came here I joined choirs and used to sing silly little songs with my mum, she would sing in the house the whole time along with my sisters. It was always loud because people were always singing, especially in the shower (laughs), so I was always around music in some form.
Could you tell me about your music influences? They can be contemporary or a throwback.
I really love Lianne La Havas, she’s had such a big influence on me. I like to create playlists based on emotions or situations; like I have a playlist for a day drive, and a playlist for cooking, or for watching a sunset, or if I’m feeling a bit upset, and I feel like I have at least one of her songs on each of those playlists. She has songs that do all of that.
Another artist I love is Mac Ayers. His music is fun and he has fun on stage, and he really gives light to his instrumentalists which is something I’m drawn to. I like to give some instrumental breaks in my songs – on my track Inside, the saxophone has a solo, and in my track Interpretation the guitar did that. That kind of thing.
Growing up I really liked The Internet, in particular Syd. I never really had a proper icon or something that would represent me as an artist, but I think the fact that they don’t hide their queerness or identity and the lyrics they write makes so much sense to me.
Do you feel like their identity being so present in their music is something you want to do as well? There’s a real vulnerability in artists openly embracing their gender identity, or sexual identity, or queerness, and I think Syd approaches it beautifully. Is that something you feel drawn to?
I agree, I think I’m definitely drawn to it. I’m in a position where I’m still kind of figuring out what and how I want to express my identity, so I really admire queer artists that do that. I guess a lot of queer artists are quite extravagant, but I don’t want to be in that sector, and I feel like for some people that means I don’t want to show it, but that’s not the case, I just want to show it in a different way.
While I’m on this journey I’m discovering and encountering new things that make me realise who I want to be more. There aren’t many artists in between the masculine and feminine that are more androgynous, like it’s so often hyper-sexualising women, so it’s interesting for me to find a space for my music and identity.
“Even though there isn’t a lot of representation I’m still determined to feel safe and create what I want that will still reflect positively in the community.”
Skye
I loved your outfit at the PPL showcase back in May and I’d love to hear more about your style and if your fashion taste matches with your music.
Fashion is a weird one – I’m going for a more masculine androgynous style, but also quite minimalist. I like to look comfortable, but not like joggers (laughs), I feel good like that. I cut and cropped the shirt I wore at that performance – why haven’t I been doing this the whole time?! (Laughs).
You’ve described yourself in the past as an introvert – how does it feel to perform and be centre stage?
I think so, I have a lot of social anxiety and I didn’t have a lot of confidence as a performer. I’ve watched my performances back and asked a couple of people for advice, and they’ve said I’m quite awkward on stage, but not awkward in a bad way (laughs). As soon as I heard “awkward” I thought “I need to try to fix something, I need to try to talk more”, but the more I went through it with them the more I realised it wasn’t me just being introverted and awkward, it actually helps to highlight the rawness of my performance.
I don’t have the “alter-ego” on stage that some artists have, so I’m just trying to become more comfortable with expressing myself on stage. When I get awkward I laugh a lot, and I’m not very good at small talk or cracking jokes, but I’m beginning to embrace my introverted self in performing.
How are you finding the Incubator Programme with UD?
There’s been a really good momentum after the PPL showcase, we’ve been focusing a lot on our direction as artists, which has been incredibly helpful. It’s been really cool, bringing different people in the industry to give talks and help us understand the industry more. I’ve been able to network with other people and create music. I’m excited for what’s to come next.
What does the future hold for Skye?
I really want to perform more, and have a plan to release more tracks, building up to a full EP in spring next year. I’m building my own audience and trying to make sure my music touches the audiences I want to touch, and just be more involved in the queer community really. I’m hoping to perform at Black pride this year too, it’s exciting!
Follow Skye on Instagram + Spotify.
Applications are open for the Incubator Programme 2024/25.
To apply click HERE. Deadline 9am on the 26th August.
Words: Elsa Monteith. A Brighton based writer & broadcaster working in and around the arts and on the radio waves. Subscribe to Elsa’s Discontented newsletter here.
