SKYLAW - Denver's new dynamic band debut their first EP "Evolution" (Q&A)[audio]
If you enjoy uniqueness, diversity, creativity & passion then SKYLAW is the band you need to follow this 2016.
I recently had the amazing opportunity to attend and meet "Skylaw" at their debut show. A diverse band that is definitely on the rise. Based in Denver, led by married lead vocalists Layne and Reve Kalell along with Nema Sobhani (Guitar) and Erik Martin (Drums). This group brings a dynamic sound that will for sure make you enjoy yourself. They have recently released their first EP "Evolution" along with strong energy in each track, they've develop their own unique sound and they certainly dominate it.
Individually they all were really nice and humble humans, down to earth and talented. They took the time to sit down with me and talk about their music and what they do.
You can listen to the interview and/or read below.
Jose (Q): How do you feel about the first show like this, headlining?
ERIK: The energy, man. WOOH!
NEMA: We’re looking up towards the stars right now, we’re already looking how to improve after the show.
REVE: We’re pretty hard on ourselves as a collective i feel like - you should see the rehearsals its like we’re always pissed off, they’re all like “it sucks! “Horrible, horrible!
JOSE: As a musician that's how you have to be, you have to be hard on yourself on the music, you listen to it and everyone tells you “oh that’s so good” but next thing you’re like “uh no, its not good”
Jose (Q): Now, i see you guys as a very dynamic band, all each one of you have your own projects, Erik and Nema both of you play for another band and you guys (Reve & Layne) have been doing music together for a while now, how do you feel all of that diversity in genres you guys have contribute to this project?
Reve: well I think that makes us who we are, I have a hip-hop background so being part of hip-hop is based in the energy, she (Layne) has a yoga background, she’s a yoga instructor so a lot of that is Peace and serenity, and these guys (Erik and Nema) are both metal heads, and you know metal heads are the most hard on the music, they really judge the technicality of it.
Jose: Specially the drummer.
Reve: yeah and he (Nema) is the toughest critic and so when you add the energy and bass of the hip-hop, the peace and serenity of the yoga, and the technicality of the metal band then you get kind of this fusion of interesting stuff.
Jose (Q): Sweet, the single that you guys had “Wait for me” is a groundbreaking track and great composition, what was the inspiration behind all of that?
Reve: We (Reve & Layne) were actually in L.A., they (Erik & Nema) were back in Denver, we were out in L.A. for the first time taking meetings and we were on the beach and literally wrote the whole song and made the beat in probably 24, less than 24 hours, went to the studio the next day and recorded it then send it back to them, they threw down their parts, but it was all very organic and it was all inspired by being in L.A. and feeling like we were about to reach our dreams.
Erik: When a song comes together that quickly and there’s no hinges, you know it’s meant to be and there’s no like “uh wait i don’t know what to do with this part”, it literally just flows out of us and you it’s like you KNOW that’s a good song and it just flows.
Jose: That’s very true, sometimes music just comes out of nowhere, it’s a spur of the moment thing so you have to take advantage, as soon you have it, you have to capture it.
(Q): Now coming up to the question. The video, it was well produced, really good scenes of Denver and downtown, what exactly did you guys want to capture to bring the track into life in the video, what was the concept?
REVE: We really just wanted to capture our colorful essence, from the fashion line, to our music, to everything we do is very colorful and vibrant so that was a big part for us is just to make sure those colors were there and have a simple plot that people can kind of “get” without having to follow along, you don’t have to follow from beginning to end to know what the video is about.
NEMA: Also being able to display the musical integrity behind the band too and bring it to life organically was a huge part of it, because from the start when we talked about putting a project together it was kind of manifesting an organic side to it, to know its real, having people vibing, feeling like they are part of it too, bringing that to life was to show you we’re just people you know. It’s all us.
Jose (Q:) Now i know Erik and Nema you guys both play for another band called “Mosaic” it’s a different style that you guys bring to the project, how do you guys like collaborating with a different style of music with the band?
NEMA: It’s crazy cause it’s so similar you know? we (Nema & Erik) jam a lot, like they (Reve & Layne) go and warm up and they’re doing their “ahhh ahh” (imitates singing) and while they’re doing that we’re just jammin’ and a lot of times it’s like weird how we write music and it comes together, sometimes it just comes with the song and it’s perfect, sometimes we’re just jammin’ and we’re coming up with stuff and it’s like “THAT! what was that? that’s a song i wanna try” you know? and so we just do that, we don’t do a genre specific, sometimes it’s groovy and heavy and it goes to Skylaw, sometimes it's chill and it goes to the other band, so it’s really that we’re just kind of focusing on like, you know, a really great vehicle for delivering a positive message and we really stress melodic, emotional, powerful, dynamic music and you can really take it anyway you want, but once they get their spin on it, it ends up a Skylaw song.
Jose (Q): That’s really cool, following up to that, you guys are trying to bring that Peace into the shows that you have and try and promote it as you said, How do you feel that music can always be the best way to promote that?
REVE: Music is the last avenue of media that still influences and affects people, you know? When they watch TV, it’s in the background, when they watch a movie they’re thinking about something else. Music is literally one of the last avenues where people listen and it changes their mood, it changes their energy and it makes them think about certain things, makes them feel certain things, so that’s all we have, you know? we don’t have any other way and I have a political background and a more activism background so that’s a main objective of mine and I just knew that this was the only way to do it, this was the only way to make people feel something
JOSE: Like you said during the show, There's a lot of crazy things going on right now and the only way to stay positive is by having that power in music that allows you to, you know like you said “Music, you hear it and makes you think about something right away", there’s something about it that brings you to that emotion right away in that moment, so that’s a good things that you guys are doing that, trying to promote that, because not many bands nowadays are doing it, they’re just wanting to get band together and get it out to the fans, but promoting something else a side with your music is good.
Jose (Q): One of the last question, is there Any words of advice of that you guys have to give for aspiring artist? Because what I do here at hidden idea Records is I want to give the listener, the fans that the bands already have, a more intimate look as to what you do, do you have anything you could say to a fan?
LAYNE: Yeah, first and foremost do something that is true to your heart, something that truly empowers you, otherwise it’s not going to be authentic and it won’t come across that way to other people, they only way it works is if it’s authentic and the only way that people will connect to you is if it’s real, so i would say doing something that is really true inside of you and locking out the outside influences and sticking with it, following one course until success.
NEMA: I think of her (Layne) when you ask that question because she’s like the purest and optimist of the group and you need that you know? someone to really be constantly positive and pushing you to not give up, don’t be a skeptic things like that.
ERIK: The road is so long, if you just look at everything that you have to do, like for the show we’re like "look at this list, it’s like a thousand things we gotta do" and its like “gotta do this and that and blah blah like OH MY GOD!” but if you just take one thing at a time and have a check-list and you slowly work towards everything, you’ll make it and you’ll get there and you slowly like - you know we were worrying about the weather and this and that, but then it comes together and you gotta remember to stay positive because when you’re down on yourself is never a good thing.
JOSE: Otherwise everything falls.
ERIK: Yeah!, then you quit and you never make it.
REVE: They pretty much said everything i would say, but that last thing i will say is that as an artist know that there is a time to listen to people and take their advice but there’s also a lot of times just to tell people to shut the F up and do you. Because you know what you want to make, we had so many people telling us “oh you guys should do this with you sound” or “you should do this or do that”. NO we’re like We KNOW what we want to do. So even if you suck, just keep doing you and eventually you will get good enough that you could make a living off of that.
JOSE: Awsome! seriously you guys are incredible. Individually and as a band, Thank you guys, i did some research about everything you guys did before you came together as Skylaw and all i can say is that I’m impressed. So i really appreciate you so much for taking the time for doing this.
These guys are truly amazing and talented and i'll be sure to bring you more of their music in the future, so for now enjoy their latest EP "Evolution".
"EVOLUTION" (EP) IS NOW AVAILABLE THRU BANDCAMP [GET YOUR COPY TODAY]
The single "Wait for me" really shows the dynamics of the group.
"Fueled by the passion of four very talented musicians, SkyLaw represents a wide variety of genres. With a foundation of lyrical hip-hop and electro-pop, the band comes together to deliver an unforgettable experience of sound. With a mission to take the best elements of every style of music to form a fusion of universally appealing messages, their goal is to uplift and inspire. Through activism and community outreach, SkyLaw strives to make a position change in the world."
"Get on your feet And come in to The Light"
This one is by far their grooviest track in their album along with "Indigo" and both show the diversity of genres they bring to the table.
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