EMQ’s With Skies Turn Black
EMQ’s With Skies Turn Black
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with UK Electronic Metal band, Skies Turn Black. Huge thanks to them for taking part.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are from the North of England. We have members from Leeds, Huddersfield, Manchester, Newcastle and Burnley. The metal scene for us has definitely been expanding and beginning to thrive again after covid. More venues are having regular rock nights that have people coming out like Grand Central in Manchester. It’s class.
Tell us about your new album “Broken Hearts & Bad Habits”. What’s the background on its creation?
There’s a lot of themes throughout the album that are brought up and challenged. A lot of the album is very inward facing and quite reflective which I think is interesting. Especially, considering how many of us have written from the same point of view on different personal challenges that ultimately come down to being about a bad habit or a broken heart situation. The Angel into More Than That is a nice example of a Bad Habit song going into a broken heart song. Angel is very much a sexy tune and talks about having a bit too much of a good time with someone who you ultimately know is not right for you. To then be going into MTT straight after and have a reflective outlook on the same situation, holding yourself to a higher standard to what you want from life and more specifically a partner.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Rush will always be the reason I initially got excited with music. 20 years I reckon I have been listening to Rush and the ‘favourite’ album changes every year with that discography. As I discovered more music and grew up with an alternative scene, other bands really inspired the kind of ‘live musician’ I wanted to be. Bands like Four Year Strong, A Day To Remember, Avenged, Bullet. Every time I saw them it was a rowdy show and an epic performance.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
I would have to say Rou Reynolds of Enter Shikari. The way Shikari use electronics with heavy music is fascinating to me and that’s something that resonates in our music. To get some expertise from someone like Rou would be incredible.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Download or Slam Dunk are the festivals I always feel the most at home at. It feels like the community I am part of. Course there are some incredible fests in Europe and America that would be insane. But something about making it at a festival where there is a personal connection is something special.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
I don’t think we tend to get a lot of weird stuff, but I once got an Easter Egg as a gift from someone at a show which was really sweet. I think they tried swapping it for a tee.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Thank you for sticking with us and turning up to shows and being rowdy. We have made some great friends with people who connected with us through our music and not one person goes unappreciated.
The artwork for the album is striking. What inspired them?
When we set out the moodboard for the album it was very 80’s. Very neon. Very stranger things. That’s the vibe we got from the album. A nostalgic 80’s feel but totally modernised. So we searched high and low for an artist who could really nail this for us, and we actually found our fave Toni Vingle by accident! I was having a scroll through FB and Toni’s mum had posted a piece of her artwork in an Electric Callboy fan group I’m in of the Elevator Operator poster and I thought it was class. So after actively searching for weeks to find someone we got a bit of serendipity and found Toni who has nailed the artwork.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
He’s not one you would call a rock star really, ’cause he was such a modest, quiet guy. But I would have to see Neil Peart. Absolute genius. To be able to see Rush again would be unbelievable.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Strangely, the most enjoyable moments I would say we have had as a band are the things that come with spending a load of time together and being such good friends. The last tour we had, when were all together in the van heading to gigs was a highlight. Talking absolute rubbish and crying laughing is the main thing I remember from that tour. The gigs are fun and that’s absolutely why we do what we do. But the bits where you are hanging out with your mates is what sticks with you.
The cathartic side of things come with absolutely knit picking a mix and making minute (but to you huge) changes.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Probably a fairer money flow from streams.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Just one? Gotta be A Farewell to Kings by Rush
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?
Vinyl has so much soul to it so it has to be the one. CD’s are great, but now a lot of cars don’t have CD’s which was a big part of my music listening time. Getting the record player out and sticking a vinyl on feels special.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Bloodstock 2023 is up there.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I would be spending my time brewing beer I reckon. I loved brewing and was getting set up with a lot of kit to step it up but the brew partner thought it was a good idea to move to the Caribbean. When he comes back. Maybe.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Well, there’s 4 lads in the band so I guess they take up 4 invites. They’re always a laugh. The 5th can be filled with our manager Joel. He lives in the states and we have only spoken through video calls etc so it would be class to sit and have a beer with him.
What’s next for you?
The Album Launch show is the next thing we have in the calendar, then its filling up the rest of the year and looking to 2026. Nothing concrete for next year yet but… it could be interesting.
What social media/website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Skiesturnblack.com
Skiesturnblack.com/store
https://linktr.ee/skiesturnblack
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thanks for reading! Hit us up on the socials, buy the album, stream the album. Always appreciate the support x
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
