Weekly > Interviews
Sky Larkin
In the same way that Wichita Records had me so excited about a band in 2008 with Los Campesinos!, they’ve repeated the trick this year again, albeit a band a little closer to home for me this time.
Sky Larkin are the latest band to decide that Leeds needs more music on the map and are readying themselves to release their debut album The Golden Spike on 9th February.
Ahead of that though they released the single Beeline this week and still found time to catch up with us for a quick chat. Lead singer Katie was kind enough to answer our questions just before the band set off on tour.
We’ve just seen the back of 2008, you must have had a great year as a band looking back on the year?
Certainly! We’ve made some of the sweetest friends and seen some far off places. I also fulfilled my ambition of making an album before the 5-year young person’s railcard I got when I was 18 ran out. Hooray!
Looking ahead though you are just heading off on the Huw Stephens tour with Pulled Apart by Horses etc are you looking forward to it?
Of course! Huw has been very kind with his support of us, and we have been friends with members of PAbH for years so it is going to be a hella lot of fun. Come on down!
Your album comes out in February what can you tell us about The Golden Spike, starting with the title?
Well, like many debut records it is an anthology of songs from different times. When lots of these songs were written we had no idea we would ever get to make an album! So when I was thinking of what to call it I couldn’t think of the record thematically but rather as what the actual object would mean to us.
The Golden Spike was driven to signify the completion of the American trans-continental railroad- all the effort, distance and labor was distilled into this one object. It’s something I originally read about in the writings of Earthworks / Land artist Robert Smithson (who inspired some of the songs on the record like Fossil, I). This album is our Golden Spike, it is the object that pins the songs together and pins us three together as people.
The album was recorded in Seattle with John Goodmanson, how was that process with him and how was it recording in a fairly famous rock and roll city?
It was interesting to be in Seattle because unlike somewhere like Manchester, which in my opinion ate itself musically and is now struggling to be reborn, the musical community I met there isn’t hanging onto the coat-tails of the past.
Recording with John was a dream- he’s got such a great instinct for sounds, we were also lucky that Jason from Death Cab let us record at their Two Sticks Audio and borrow their equipment- all we had was the guitars we could take as baggage allowance!
Weblinks
Add to favouritesOn the album you have some of your older songs and singles did you toy with the idea of leaving them off and making a completely new album from scratch or did you feel they were too important to leave off?
Some older songs are on there and some we left off, I think we tried to find the right balance so the record would hang together right whilst still reflecting the evolution of the band.
You’ve signed to Wichita Recordings who have a great reputation with up and coming bands, I presume they have been equally supportive with yourselves?
Totally! We seem to be constantly saying to each other “This would be great..could it work?” and then we find a way to make it happen between us. They are as excited to try new things as we are so it is great to feel their enthusiasm. Everyone we have met through them have been good eggs.
Was it an easy decision to sign with them or were you tempted to stay closer to home with someone like Bad Sneakers or Dance To The Radio?
There were other options open to us that would’ve meant a few months less of temping/chefing/labouring but Wichita was at the top of list from the very beginning so I’m glad our wait paid off and we got the prom date we wanted.
What will you consider to have been a successful year for Sky Larkin when you get to the end of 2009?
Our record is released so that is a triumph in itself! I’m always overwhelmed that people are so interested in what we are doing, I hope people enjoy the record.
Finally any other up and coming bands that you’d like to make our readers aware of that you are fans of yourselves?
Apart from PAbH there’s two more local friends we’d like to point out:
Mechanical Owl and Dinosaur Pile Up and also our friend from Seattle (who assisted recording our record)
Have your say...
Comment Guidlines
You must be logged in to post a comment. Go Login or Register first.
We waffle on enough without letting you lot do it too. Comments are limited to 300 characters.
Try and keep on topic if you can and no insulting the contributors. All hate mail can be addressed to Kev.