Q&A with talented Perth artist Skyuka |
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For Rappfox readers who aren’t familiar with Skyuka, tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m an Artist from Perth who fuses electronic pop, trip hop, trap and synth sounds intertwined with soul vocals and sweeping falsettos. I am dog obsessed and I wish Pokemon were real so I could have one as an additional pet. Skyuka is an interesting name, how did the name come about? Well I was in a Melbourne book store and the autobiography of Nina Simone caught my eye. The book was called “I put a spell on you” and just as I was deciding whether to purchase the book or not, the song “I put a spell on you” started playing in the store. So I decided then and there I MUST have this book. Anyway when I read the autobiography, I found out that the town where Nina Simone was born (Tryon, North Carolina) was originally going to be called Skyuka. However they decided not to call it that because according to legend, Skyuka was the name of an Indian chief who was lynched. I loved the name Skyuka and I love Nina Simone so it felt like a good fit. You’re relatively new to the Perth scene but have been making music for sometime now, what made you decide to come out and start promoting yourself and your music? I’ve always written songs but I didn’t really start delving into the world of production until about 3 years ago after I moved back to Perth from Sydney. Prior to Perth I was in a 5 piece band called Zombie Cats for a few years and I wrote all the music but never touched the production side of things. I started “Skyuka” about 2 years ago as a solo project and it just felt really empowering to be able to do a show on my own and make music exactly the way I wanted to make it. |
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Your music feels very authentic and some of the situations you sing about very relatable, what are some of the inspirations behind your music?
Well unfortunately lately my main inspiration has been heart break, (super cliched I know!!) but making music and writing seems to be the only way I can move through grief.
And what is it about your creative process that makes your tracks sound so real?
When I write and create, it’s so cathartic for me, every single line has to align with how I feel, even if that feeling is fleeting or changes...I feel like I’m just catching moments of emotion and transforming them into art. “Gotta catch em all.” haha
You are a part of the Fresh Juice Collective and have collaborated with Bluntfield of Mad Fap Entertainment previously, how did you link up with these other creatives?
We all met each other through music and since then have become quite good friends with a common goal. We all really wanted to support each other musically so we thought it would be a great way to achieve this.
You have an eclectic style infusing hip hop, pop, trip hop, electronic music, who are some of your artistic inspirations?
I am quite inspired by Kevin Parker and his synth sounds plus the poetic lyricism of Bjork and her uniqueness. I am also inspired by the vintage soul sounds and honest lyrics of the great Amy Winehouse. Ooh and Frank Ocean all the way!
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Your latest single is I Wish I Didn’t Know Your Address, which will be released 30th September, tell me about your process of producing and writing the music.
I had the vision for this song right from the start, I wanted to write a track that began with spoken word and then transitioned into something entirely different. I wrote the spoken word section first (as I was driving) but I didn’t write any other lyrics until I had the right chords. I wanted the chord progression to be just right and evoke a certain feeling because I think it’s incredible that chords on their own can evoke so much, even without any lyrics! I then made the beat in Logic and got my brother (Token Friend) to put down the guitar and bass as I wanted some live elements in there mixed in with the electronic sounds. I recorded everything from home and then took it to Sam from Shakedown Studios to mix and master and that was the icing on the cake. The music video for I Wish I Didn’t Know Your Address has a lovely ethereal and magical vibe about it, what was the process for creating and shooting the visuals? I wanted to make sure that the music video had a strong narrative and would really give the song context so I spent some sleepless nights coming up with creative ideas. I worked with Yaegar from YS Productions and he really brought so much to the rooms we shot in through his choice of lighting. A lot of it was actually shot inside my house and I just transformed the space by pretending I was an interior decorator for a night haha. |
What else is on your cards for Skyuka girl for the end of 2020?
I’ll be featuring on the opening track of Bitter Belief’s album which will be out at the end of this year, plus a Fresh Juice Collective gig and working on more material behind the scenes.
Thank you for your time! x
Follow Skyuka and her music on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
I’ll be featuring on the opening track of Bitter Belief’s album which will be out at the end of this year, plus a Fresh Juice Collective gig and working on more material behind the scenes.
Thank you for your time! x
Follow Skyuka and her music on Facebook | Instagram | Spotify