From drawing inspiration from the likes of Hemingway and Dostoyevsky to embracing the profound connections made during live performances, Skymachine has come a long way. As someone who has traveled extensively, his perspective on music as a unifying force is both refreshing and thought-provoking, seen in his brand new release, Everything, Now. In an exclusive interview with The Skadoosh, the artist share his journey with us.
Who do you think are your greatest influences in making pop music?
I am influenced greatly by the way things happen, the way life ebbs and flows through your fingers. And my music is a response to that. You can’t create in a vacuum; your art is always a place in time, space, and emotion, and that’s really beautiful. I get a lot from guys like Kerouac, Hemingway, and even Dostoyevsky, people who think a little less linear about life and meaning. In terms of musical influence, it’s always changing, but I am drawn to a lot of records from the 70s and 80s.
Your social media shows the stage presence you elicit effectively. What can fans anticipate from your live performances?
I like to hope that a live show can communicate something beyond music. For a group of unconnected people to meet in a certain space with no affiliation to each other beyond a remote interest in a collection of songs, that’s quite profound, and I want to experience something with them. The best shows have two-way dialogue, and we try to facilitate that. It’s also not very long or drawn out. I can’t really stand for long sets unless the artist really has the body of work to justify it.
Tell us more about your latest album, Everything, Now.
Everything, Now is a culmination of the last four years spent living in London and traveling around Europe. A lot of it came out of these new experiences, and things like Covid and lockdowns and that desire to be with people and have shared experiences. It’s a work I’m really proud of and excited for people to be able to hear it finally. I worked on it pretty independently, producing and mixing it in between other projects.
How do you approach your songwriting process?
It’s a bit of a slow journey for me. Some artists are really good at sitting in a session and getting things written in a couple of hours. I tend to take quite a long approach, maybe sitting on lyrics for a few months, tweaking and rewriting as I reflect on what I’m experiencing and trying to say. Often I come up with a lyric I really like, but I haven’t found a way to sing it with conviction, so I either have to scrap it or live with it until it’s mine. And musically, I’ll maybe have a roadmap in my head but enjoy trying lots of things and seeing what I like. So that does take quite a long time.
As an artist who has traveled quite a bit, how do you think it affected your journey as a musician?
I think it’s taught me that people are people. We are all one race, with the same desires and dreams, and yearnings, and music can communicate and unite people where language can’t. So there’s a respect there that I have. Meeting new cultures and being in uncomfortable or unfamiliar settings definitely jolts my creativity too. I also enjoy the freedom of creating on the road. It’s very minimal, and you are restricted to what you have with you at the time, but those restrictions often push you to get the most out of what you have.
“There are common threads running through the shared human experience.” - what do you wish the listeners take away from your music?
My favorite albums are like a soundtrack to a moment in time for me, and every time I listen to them, it takes me back to a certain moment or feeling. I’d like my music to be that for somebody.
What has been the most challenging aspect of being an independent musician so far?
Being independent means you really have to wear a lot of different hats, and some fit better than others. I’m definitely not so motivated on the organizational side of things which does get messy somewhat. But all in all, you grow and learn a lot from having to figure out how things work.
What are your future endeavors?
I’m spending a lot of time at the moment writing and producing with other artists. I find it’s a great way to learn and grow while just enjoying making music. So I haven’t really thought too hard about my own art. But at some point, I will light that candle again. I don’t have many future aspirations beyond wanting to write the truest music I can and perform it the best I can, and hopefully connect with people.
As someone who has navigated the music industry, what advice would you give to emerging artists seeking to carve their own path?
Exactly that. Carve your own path. Don’t worry too much about what everyone else is doing, just find your lane and run that. And don’t focus too much on what you think other people want from you as an artist, just do what you love and if you love it, that’s enough.
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