Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Interviews
Forum Description: Original interviews with Prog artists (which are exclusive to Prog Archives)
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=80228 Printed Date: December 22 2024 at 21:43 Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: The SkysPosted By: toroddfuglesteg
Subject: The Skys
Date Posted: August 02 2011 at 12:53
Lithuanian band THE SKYS was formed on the 10th of November 1995, and have since been an active and highly regarded part of the Lithuanian music scene. They have never managed to establish a firm and stable line-up though, and the latest incarnation of this act consists of Jonas Ciurlionis (vocals, guitar), Aleksandr Liutvinskij (guitar), Justinas Tamasevicius (bass) and Bozena Buinicka (keyboards). A new drummer is apparently in place, but news of who this might be isn't available at the time of writing.
Throughout their 15 year long tenure as a leading art rock band in Lithuania, The Skys have issued three productions: The cassette Civilized in 1997, the cassette EP Dreams in 1999 and finally the full length and official debut CD " Postmodern Game" in 2004.
I got in touch with the band through their managment and Jonas answered my questions.
When,
where and by whom was your band born ? Did any of you have any
experience from any other bands before forming The Skys ? Why did you
choose that name and what does this name means to you ?
Well The Skys were born back in 1995 and since then we had many
changes in line-up. So, originally I’m the only one from the
beginning. Alex joined in 1999, Justas – 2006 and Bo 2008. We all
had previous experiences in different bands I used to play rock and
metal, Alex played in punk band.
The
name was born when we were sitting and discussing how everybody loved
watching the sky and then the name came out – to make it more
interesting we have chosen The Skys instead of the skies. The Skys
means also that the sky is and it is endless without boundaries ergo
free it is beautiful and different every minute.
How
was the music scene in Lithuania when you started ?
Music
scene was very poor back then and so still it is. There’s very
little number of professional musicians, sound engineers, music
industry professionals, music critics. Lithuania is a very small
country and most Lithuanian musicians believe that they have to stick
to their country and sing in Lithuanian. Also, as a small country it
has it’s own music mafia that try to dictate its rules in the music
bizz. Lithuania is overwhelmed by cheap pop which is influenced by
Russian pop and to imagine this it is 10 times worse than Britney
Spears. So the situation is worse than in Kalamazoo.
Over
to your four albums, cassettes included. Your debut album was
Civilized from 1997. Please tell us more about this album.
This
is a conceptual album about civilization issues based on critique and
ideas by Nietzche, Ortega y Gasset, Spengler. This was our first
album and during that days we were just the beginners so lack of
professionalism is obvious. Nevertheless, the ideas are nice and it
is good to listen to it sometimes.
Your
second album was Dreams from 1999. Please tell us more about this
album.
Dreams
was an EP with 4 songs one of them being Virtual Reality (you can get
it on our site for free) other songs are not worthy your attention.
Is
there any plans to release these cassette albums as CDs or digital
downloads ?
Yes,
I think we will work on Civilized but we will need to rerecord. I
think we’ll make a double CD – one containing the original
version and the other being rerecorded.
Your
third and first CD album was Postmodern Game from 2004. Please tell
us more about this album.
This
album contains songs and is less conceptual than “Civilized” or
“Colors of the Desert”. However, as one of our fans has noticed
song themes are mostly associated with the US. So, it is our
“American album” It was also recorded in a hurry as we needed
to have a CD for New York International Music Festival 2004 where we
received “Best International Band” Award and were noticed among
300 performers.
Your
new album is Colors of the Desert from earlier this year. Please tell
us more about this album.
So far this is our
most mature album. It is about the journey to desert. At certain
stages of our lives we all go to the desert. And desert is all around
us – our cities, our daily lives desert may be inside and outside
us. Desert is full of temptations, mirages, thoughts and
conversations with yourself. However, each time we return from the
desert we are different.
Working
on this album was great experience and fun! The recording took place
in two cities Vilnius where Martin BEEDLE (Cutting Crew, Sarah
Brightman, Zucchero, John Young Band) recorded drums; and London at
Liscombes Park Studio which is famous for Uriah Heep and Asia albums.
The producer of the album is John YOUNG (Bonnie Tyler, ex-Scorpions,
The Strawbs) who also recorded parts of keyboards and bac vocals.
Sound engineer is Steve Rispin (it would take pages to list all the
bands he worked with but some: Elton John, Tina Turner, Dave
Kilminster, Tankard, Asia, Uriah Heep, etc, etc, etc… and now The
Skys). Other great guys we recorded with was Dave KILMINSTER (Roger
Waters band) - guitar, Snake DAVIS (Eurythmics, P. McCartney,
Motorhead, and many more) – sax; Anne Marie HELDER (Panic Room,
Mostly Autumn) – vocals and also our American friend Tony SPADA
(Holding Pattern) on guitar.
The
album is available for digital download via http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colours-of-the-Desert/dp/B004NN8098/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1" rel="nofollow - And physical CD
released is planned in November, 2011.
For
those of us unknown with your music; how would you describe you music
and which bands would you compare yourself with ?
We
worked for years to have unique sound and I think we have succeeded.
However, people like to compare. Here are what people say:
“If
Pink Floyd had sex with Depeche Mode (as of late), this would be the
result”, “Sounds like Pink Floyd's older brother who takes
steroids.” “reminds a little of The Gathering”, “Sounds like
Alice in Chains, minus the heroin” “I can hear elements of bands
like Dream Theatre, Symphony X and Queensryche” "Knights in
White satin" “No doubt a Pink Floyd influence for all to hear,
but you've added your own touches” “reminds me of Grace Slick
from Jefferson Airplane” ”I think I'm now hearing the Genesis
influence with the Peter Gabriel sound.” “I can see the Roger
Waters influence but it seems also you have a David Gilmour presence
as well” “Reminds me of Emerson Lake and Palmer and Jefferson
Airplane more than some of the other comparisons” “A very 70's,
trippy synth prog based sound with a gothic atmosphere and unique,
evolving arrangments. Imagine the 70's prog, rush-esq type elements
of Opeth and Porcupine Tree exagerated by 10x with a very wide and
lush pink floyd type sound scape that weaves through lots of
eccentric style changes within the rock/ alt gerne.” “Perfect
Circle/Primus/Phish is what influences I hear...” “have an urge
to hear some Boston or Nazareth” “Brings back memories of
Rennaisance, Focus, Triumvirat” Got the picture? Not yet? Then add
King Crimson and Eloy and you’ll get it.
You
have had a long career and is pretty big in Lithuania with also a
fanbase in Holland. What is your plans for this year and beyond ?
After
releasing the album we plan to tour Europe and then later the States
maybe. So, if you want to see us alive – just drop us a line and we
will come to play for you.
To
wrap up this interview, is there anything you want to add to this
interview ?
Yes,
special thanx to Guillaume Cazenave and his family for long years
support. Thanx to all the guys we worked with. Thanx to all the bands
we played with. Thanx to all the people who listen to us. Thanx to
all the people who don’t listen to us. Thanx to Prog Archives for
the interview. Thanx to all radio stations who play us and also to
those who don’t. Thanx to our great manager. Thanx to the world and
everybody. Thanx to all that I’ve forgotten to mention. Thanx!
Thanx to Jonas for this interview
Their PA profile is http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=5683" rel="nofollow - and their homepage's http://www.theskys.com" rel="nofollow -
Replies: Posted By: codas
Date Posted: January 06 2012 at 05:28
Vote for The Skys to play at Sweden Rock Festival. We need your support! http://www.swedenrock.com/index.cfm?pg=574&lg=2" rel="nofollow - http://www.swedenrock.com/index.cfm?pg=574&lg=2 Thank you!!! :)
Posted By: Finnforest
Date Posted: January 06 2012 at 05:56