Sky Picnic
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=83313
Printed Date: December 22 2024 at 18:11
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Topic: Sky Picnic
Posted By: toroddfuglesteg
Subject: Sky Picnic
Date Posted: December 07 2011 at 13:50
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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/" rel="nofollow - and/or
http://skypicnicmusic.com/" rel="nofollow - . 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 http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=6688" rel="nofollow - and homepage is http://skypicnicmusic.com" rel="nofollow - |
Replies:
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: December 11 2011 at 14:19
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Glad to read the members' point of view. Sky Picnic is a band I must explore. ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: skypicnic
Date Posted: October 25 2012 at 15:47
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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 |
Posted By: dianneazuma54
Date Posted: November 23 2012 at 23:56
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What are some unique places to have a picnic near Tampa? |