Sky Picnic

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SKY PICNIC is a psychedelic rock band from Brooklyn/New York that surrounds the listener in a mystical and fairy tale like world of psychedelia, taking you to the edge of the universe and the unknown regions of the mind. They have been described as 'dark and eerie layered psychedelia' and 'highly textured psychedelic space-rock', while drawing comparisons to styles as diverse as Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd and early Slowdive.

I got in touch with the band and here is their story.
##################################################################################
Your biography has been covered in your ProgArchives profile so 
let's bypass the biography details. But which bands were you influenced by and 
why did you choose that name ?   

Chris:  The Sky Picnic name came 
about from a friend of mine who had these word magnets on his door that 
haphazardly spelled out "sky picnic".  I loved the imagery of those words and 
filed it away.  Then when it came time to name the band, it seemed like a 
logical choice, especially fitting of our music.

As far as influences, the big 
ones are Syd's Pink Floyd, Tomorrow, the Beatles, King Crimson, Yes, the Pretty 
Things.  For me as a guitarist, the styles and sounds of David Gilmour and Reine 
Fiske are my main influences.  I think this contributes to the fact that Sky 
Picnic has a very un-American sound, and it is definitely because of who we 
listen to and follow. 

Leah: The influences are pretty 
much the same for all of us, although I have been inspired by newer bands lately 
like Stardeath and White Dwarfs.

Your music is full of associations to LSD tripping dairy 
cows, sheep and cockerels in some vast farmfields somewhere in the west. How is 
it to play this type of flowery music in the rather urban Brooklyn, New York 
?

Pete: For me, it's refreshing and inspiring to be part of 
a band that doesn't follow the current "Brooklyn Sound" or "Brooklyn Look" per 
se. It can make alot of people unsure what to think of us at first, but once we 
start playing, we find that our music speaks to everyone, regardless, and hope 
it can be brief sojurn from the everyday. As a drummer, my job is to make people 
feel something rhythmically, and that must shine through all musics, regardless 
of style.

Chris:  It makes you have to work extra hard to win over 
an audience.  The scene here is rather "hard", or on the other end of the 
spectrum, "dancy."  It's a challenge to go against that grain.  And it's hard to 
encounter the more laid-back crowds.  Same with writing here...I find I need to 
mentally escape my surroundings to get in that state of surrealism to go about 
creating.  Thankfully, we have a ton of parks here!

Leah: I don't think the kind of music we play would go 
over as well in rural areas - it's kind of weird, and kind of retro, and in a 
place like New York where everyone has already seen and heard things that are 
way more "out there" than psychedelic music (noise music anyone?) it's easier to 
take in and appreciate.

Over to your 
four releases so far. Please tell us more about.......

Synesthesia 
from 2008

Chris: That one was 
recorded under interesting circumstances.  We had a few songs ready to go and we 
knew we had to get something officially recorded and released after just having 
done a series of demos the previous year.  We had just parted ways with our 
first drummer and we weren't really sure what was happening with the band.  So 
with me on the drums by default (having grown up as a drummer), Leah and myself 
laid down the foundation for the band.  While some of it doesn't necessarily 
hold up well for me just 3 years later, I really dig some of those tunes, like 
"Moons of Jupiter" and "Tea Break".  That EP certainly has it's charms and it 
really came together quickly in the sense that we had no real plan and just 
hoped for the best.  

Leah: This seems like 
it's from so long ago!  It was kind of all over the place style wise - some 
songs are a little pop-y, some are a little crazy, and there's even a 
mini-rock-opera.  The composition reminds me of early David Bowie albums - lots 
of different ideas before we settled on a cohesive sound.

Pete: Much like Steve 
Howe and Time & A Word, I did not play on this but made it to the cover 
photos. I dig these songs alot but alas they are fading from our 
setlist!

Lost Is Found 
from 2010

Chris: This was 
originally featured on a compilation called "Trip Inside This House Vol III".  
We put it out ourselves as a digital-only single release.  We're working on a 
better re-worked version for the next LP.  Recording sessions anecdote: An 
absolute monsoon of a storm hit that day, and I recall driving through sheets of 
rain.  Everytime I hear these songs, I feel like rain just permiates from the 
music's vibe.

Leah: Best b-side 
ever.

The Unknown 
Regions from 2011

Chris: Another 
digital-only release...

Leah: Songs we didn't 
know what to do with I guess.... they were too early for the next album, too 
late for the last one, didn't really fit in with anything.  But they're all 
awesome songs that needed a home.

Chris: That sums it 
up nicely.  I will add the only reason we even bothered with this was to record 
a cover of Tomorrow's "Revolution" for a Fruits De Mer Records comp (just 
released this week- shameless plug!).  Since we had time left, we put down a few 
more tunes that were laying around.  Put this and the previous single together, 
and you have a nice "Odds N Sods"-type release.

Farther In 
This Fairy Tale from 2011

Chris: The first 
full-length, released on Nasoni Records of Germany.  This is the first release 
of ours that is indicitive of how we sound.  It's a 
conceptual piece that deals with the end of innocence and a journey to find 
oneself, although people can draw their own meanings from there, as I like to 
leave it sort of open ended.  Alot of care went into this: from writing and 
arranging to mixing and effects to mastering.  Being a perfectionist does have 
it's merits!

Leah: It's nearing a 
year since this was released on vinyl, and it's still hard to believe that it's 
true.  It's probably the coolest thing I've ever done, and I still love the 
album, but the next one is going to blow everyone away.  "FITFT" was just the 
beginning - our first real cohesive work that we're proud of. I think the 
relative success of the release has gotten us all excited about our music, and 
has inspired us all to do great things.

Pete: A "feather in 
our cap," not just for the band but for me personally. Vinyl pressing and 
selling internationally, this is one of, if not the, proudest achievements of my 
drumming life. Until our next record! 

Chris: I'm also glad 
it's been received rather well, and has been selling nicely.  It's little things 
like that that make you want to keep on going and also improving.

For those of 
us unfamiliar with your music; how would you describe your music and which bands 
would you compare yourself with?

Chris: Modernized classic British psychedelic 
rock with progressive leanings.  It's mystical and eerie, yet flowery and 
bouncy.  

Leah: I will always 
compare us to early Pink Floyd, with smatterings of other 60's psych, and newer 
neo-psych/alternative.

How is the 
creativity in your band from coming up with the riffs to getting them onto a 
record?

Pete: Chris always 
has the germ of an idea - sometimes complete, sometimes not so much. I love it 
when we all start working on arrangements in reheasals, and the songs start to 
crystalize. We are all extraordinarily democratic about arrangements, ideas and 
production; and that is how our best pieces have come into existence.

Leah: We just seem to 
get each other very well.  Things fall into place like magic.

Chris: And it's an 
ever-evolving process.  If we pushed the envelope this far last time, then we 
need to go even further next time. No resting on our laurels.

What is your current status and what is the plans for your band in the 
future ?

Leah: Making a new record, about to be famous.  
Basic stuff.

Pete: We have put the finishing touches on the 
songs for the follow up to "FITFT" and are looking forward to recording after 
the new year. Going on a tour of Europe where we seem to sell a majority of 
records would be one big goal of mine!

Chris:  2012 will be brought in with the arduous 
process of producing and mixing on the horizon...!   (I kid...seriously, it's 
fun stuff!)  We also have a festival we're putting together in January that's 
going to be pretty big, called the "Keep Off the Grass Fest" in NYC.  And more 
shows from there it would seem, followed by shopping the new LP around.

To wrap up this interview, is there anything you want to add to this 
interview ? 

Chris: It's always great to know that people want 
to read about our band, and the more new people we can reach, the better.  You 
can check us out on the web at http://skypicnic.bandcamp.com and/or 
 http://skypicnicmusic.com.  Again, 
thank you very much for the opportunity to do this!  

Leah: (P.S.- buy our 
record.............!!)

Thank you to the band for this interview

Their PA profile is here and homepage is here

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
toroddfuglesteg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Retired Joined: March 04 2008 Location: Retirement Home Status: Offline Points: 3658	Topic: Sky Picnic Posted: December 07 2011 at 13:50
	SKY PICNIC is a psychedelic rock band from Brooklyn/New York that surrounds the listener in a mystical and fairy tale like world of psychedelia, taking you to the edge of the universe and the unknown regions of the mind. They have been described as 'dark and eerie layered psychedelia' and 'highly textured psychedelic space-rock', while drawing comparisons to styles as diverse as Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd and early Slowdive. I got in touch with the band and here is their story. ################################################################################## Your biography has been covered in your ProgArchives profile so let's bypass the biography details. But which bands were you influenced by and why did you choose that name ? Chris: The Sky Picnic name came about from a friend of mine who had these word magnets on his door that haphazardly spelled out "sky picnic". I loved the imagery of those words and filed it away. Then when it came time to name the band, it seemed like a logical choice, especially fitting of our music. As far as influences, the big ones are Syd's Pink Floyd, Tomorrow, the Beatles, King Crimson, Yes, the Pretty Things. For me as a guitarist, the styles and sounds of David Gilmour and Reine Fiske are my main influences. I think this contributes to the fact that Sky Picnic has a very un-American sound, and it is definitely because of who we listen to and follow. Leah: The influences are pretty much the same for all of us, although I have been inspired by newer bands lately like Stardeath and White Dwarfs. Your music is full of associations to LSD tripping dairy cows, sheep and cockerels in some vast farmfields somewhere in the west. How is it to play this type of flowery music in the rather urban Brooklyn, New York ? Pete: For me, it's refreshing and inspiring to be part of a band that doesn't follow the current "Brooklyn Sound" or "Brooklyn Look" per se. It can make alot of people unsure what to think of us at first, but once we start playing, we find that our music speaks to everyone, regardless, and hope it can be brief sojurn from the everyday. As a drummer, my job is to make people feel something rhythmically, and that must shine through all musics, regardless of style. Chris: It makes you have to work extra hard to win over an audience. The scene here is rather "hard", or on the other end of the spectrum, "dancy." It's a challenge to go against that grain. And it's hard to encounter the more laid-back crowds. Same with writing here...I find I need to mentally escape my surroundings to get in that state of surrealism to go about creating. Thankfully, we have a ton of parks here! Leah: I don't think the kind of music we play would go over as well in rural areas - it's kind of weird, and kind of retro, and in a place like New York where everyone has already seen and heard things that are way more "out there" than psychedelic music (noise music anyone?) it's easier to take in and appreciate. Over to your four releases so far. Please tell us more about....... Synesthesia from 2008 Chris: That one was recorded under interesting circumstances. We had a few songs ready to go and we knew we had to get something officially recorded and released after just having done a series of demos the previous year. We had just parted ways with our first drummer and we weren't really sure what was happening with the band. So with me on the drums by default (having grown up as a drummer), Leah and myself laid down the foundation for the band. While some of it doesn't necessarily hold up well for me just 3 years later, I really dig some of those tunes, like "Moons of Jupiter" and "Tea Break". That EP certainly has it's charms and it really came together quickly in the sense that we had no real plan and just hoped for the best. Leah: This seems like it's from so long ago! It was kind of all over the place style wise - some songs are a little pop-y, some are a little crazy, and there's even a mini-rock-opera. The composition reminds me of early David Bowie albums - lots of different ideas before we settled on a cohesive sound. Pete: Much like Steve Howe and Time & A Word, I did not play on this but made it to the cover photos. I dig these songs alot but alas they are fading from our setlist! Lost Is Found from 2010 Chris: This was originally featured on a compilation called "Trip Inside This House Vol III". We put it out ourselves as a digital-only single release. We're working on a better re-worked version for the next LP. Recording sessions anecdote: An absolute monsoon of a storm hit that day, and I recall driving through sheets of rain. Everytime I hear these songs, I feel like rain just permiates from the music's vibe. Leah: Best b-side ever. The Unknown Regions from 2011 Chris: Another digital-only release... Leah: Songs we didn't know what to do with I guess.... they were too early for the next album, too late for the last one, didn't really fit in with anything. But they're all awesome songs that needed a home. Chris: That sums it up nicely. I will add the only reason we even bothered with this was to record a cover of Tomorrow's "Revolution" for a Fruits De Mer Records comp (just released this week- shameless plug!). Since we had time left, we put down a few more tunes that were laying around. Put this and the previous single together, and you have a nice "Odds N Sods"-type release. Farther In This Fairy Tale from 2011 Chris: The first full-length, released on Nasoni Records of Germany. This is the first release of ours that is indicitive of how we sound. It's a conceptual piece that deals with the end of innocence and a journey to find oneself, although people can draw their own meanings from there, as I like to leave it sort of open ended. Alot of care went into this: from writing and arranging to mixing and effects to mastering. Being a perfectionist does have it's merits! Leah: It's nearing a year since this was released on vinyl, and it's still hard to believe that it's true. It's probably the coolest thing I've ever done, and I still love the album, but the next one is going to blow everyone away. "FITFT" was just the beginning - our first real cohesive work that we're proud of. I think the relative success of the release has gotten us all excited about our music, and has inspired us all to do great things. Pete: A "feather in our cap," not just for the band but for me personally. Vinyl pressing and selling internationally, this is one of, if not the, proudest achievements of my drumming life. Until our next record! Chris: I'm also glad it's been received rather well, and has been selling nicely. It's little things like that that make you want to keep on going and also improving. For those of us unfamiliar with your music; how would you describe your music and which bands would you compare yourself with? Chris: Modernized classic British psychedelic rock with progressive leanings. It's mystical and eerie, yet flowery and bouncy. Leah: I will always compare us to early Pink Floyd, with smatterings of other 60's psych, and newer neo-psych/alternative. How is the creativity in your band from coming up with the riffs to getting them onto a record? Pete: Chris always has the germ of an idea - sometimes complete, sometimes not so much. I love it when we all start working on arrangements in reheasals, and the songs start to crystalize. We are all extraordinarily democratic about arrangements, ideas and production; and that is how our best pieces have come into existence. Leah: We just seem to get each other very well. Things fall into place like magic. Chris: And it's an ever-evolving process. If we pushed the envelope this far last time, then we need to go even further next time. No resting on our laurels. What is your current status and what is the plans for your band in the future ? Leah: Making a new record, about to be famous. Basic stuff. Pete: We have put the finishing touches on the songs for the follow up to "FITFT" and are looking forward to recording after the new year. Going on a tour of Europe where we seem to sell a majority of records would be one big goal of mine! Chris: 2012 will be brought in with the arduous process of producing and mixing on the horizon...! (I kid...seriously, it's fun stuff!) We also have a festival we're putting together in January that's going to be pretty big, called the "Keep Off the Grass Fest" in NYC. And more shows from there it would seem, followed by shopping the new LP around. To wrap up this interview, is there anything you want to add to this interview ? Chris: It's always great to know that people want to read about our band, and the more new people we can reach, the better. You can check us out on the web at http://skypicnic.bandcamp.com and/or http://skypicnicmusic.com. Again, thank you very much for the opportunity to do this! Leah: (P.S.- buy our record.............!!) Thank you to the band for this interview Their PA profile is here and homepage is here

memowakeman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 19 2005 Location: Mexico City Status: Offline Points: 13032	Posted: December 11 2011 at 14:19
	Glad to read the members' point of view. Sky Picnic is a band I must explore.
	Follow me on twitter @memowakeman

skypicnic Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Joined: November 06 2011 Status: Offline Points: 7	Posted: October 25 2012 at 15:47
	I posted this is another thread as well, but our new album is due out on Nasoni Records later next month and we're looking to get as much press and airplay as we can leading up to that. If anyone wants a copy of it for review/ play or wants to set up another interview, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us! Chris http://skypicnic.bandcamp.com

dianneazuma54 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Newbie Online Spam Joined: November 23 2012 Status: Offline Points: 8	Posted: November 23 2012 at 23:56
	What are some unique places to have a picnic near Tampa?