GUSHER MEETS*: SKYLARK
PHOTOS BY: PETER MATLOWA
PETER MATLOWA SITS DOWN AND SPEAKS TO SKYLARK ABOUT HIS DEBUT ALBUM SKYPARK, WITH THE NO ROOM FOR MISTAKES MUSIC VIDEO—directed by peter matlowa— PREMIERING 25 Nov.
Skylark (B. Thato Daniel Makoae, 2000), Vaal triangle based artist released 10 track album SKYPARK EARLIER THIS YEAR, IN JANUARY. he explores various sounds, fused into an interesting and refreshing body of work.
skylark’s perspective on music is colorful—he stopped us to specify that he defines genre by colour;“for example, I see hip hop as red. the harder and more underground it gets, the darker the shade of red it becomes. some genres are a mix of colours—like king kunta. for me funk feels yellow. combined with rap, results in an orange.“
Peter:
What are some of the ideas/ themes you aimed to explore with this album?? What did the process behind it look like?
Skylark:
at first I was trying to stay away from rap. the first song I recorded was Malibu. I just wanted the grootmans at the grooves to dance to that. Saturday night was mad inspired by Cosmo pyke—skate rogers had the sample on a loop, then we started mimicking Cosmo on it. thats how I came up with the chorus.of course, bah bah had to get a verse, he really versatile and stupid. Bloom fury came after I re-realised the beauty of rap, contradicting myself. this was through Tyler the creator—he just be reminding me. his production is immensley beautiful—I jacked that beat from him btw. I had been meaning to link skate with bahbah for so long, when it finally happened he just redid the verse for Saturday night, because the previous one had mad hiss and disorientating sounds, almost as if he had recorded it in a taxi rank. than after hours of no inspiration, he decided to make a beat. we didn't have time to write lyrics because it was late, so we recorded harmonies and later added on lyrics. that's how narcissist came to be, I just kept it as is cause it sounds perfect to me.
Peter:
Yooo!! What ever happened to that boombot tape you dropped?? Which year was that?
Skylark:
I dropped that in 2015. I was 15 at the time so i feel that the beat selection and lyrics were ahead of their time. it's on Audiomack. I am lowkey not a fan of that project because I was artistically immature, if that makes sense. S.O.D & Skate Rogers have been producing for me since the beginning I owe them the world!!
Peter:
Would you say you have artistically grown since then?? in what ways, if so?
SkylarK:
I've grown out of my fear to experiment when making music. I don't care what people may think—if it's good to me then it’s Godly.
Peter:
that Brings me to my next question, have you recieved any negative feedback on skypark? the What’s overall reciept of your project been like?
Skylark:
a close homie walked up to me looked me in the eye and said osobina swaar? (you sing now?) that was the only mixed review of the project I got, other than that, nothing but love from literally everyone— even my mom. you were the first to hear it, I luh u stupid!
Peter:
Are you working on any new music?
Skylark:
Yes, Yes i am hahaha... this may be my first interview but this prolly gon be the best interview i ever have.
Peter:
thanks for letting us into your brain.
Skylark:
thanks for having me.
No room for mistakes (officail music video) premiere
GUSHER SELECTS: SSSKYLARKKK
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