Diandra Interviews Skela: Finding The Story In Your Song
Jadedness feels like a common effect in the music industry/ any business that commodifies humanity and our desires. For Skela, her newest single Elvis and her newest journey in music have allowed to speak up in what she wants for herself. The result is a sound and person that has no problem cutting away certain layers of herself to reveal new ones, of which our interview discusses how simplicity expands your creativity.
Diandra: As someone whom has written a novel, what literary characters do you think Skela is like?
Skela: Skela to a certain degree is a character. Strangely, I always compare her to guidance counselors in YA novels. She is sort of this wiser person.
Diandra: Do you think, in time, you have grown in guiding yourself beyond Skela, and, if so, how has that affected you as an artist?
Skela: Yeah. Maybe, I have grown out of one shell. You cling on to these ideas of yourself. We cling on to music as a sense of self and strength and identity. We cling on to it to see versions of ourselves that we think we should be. I think, as an artist, I am a spectator. Like most artists, I watch to see how things are off. It is not, necessarily, that you see things differently, but, in realizing you are watching the world, you feel different. It is like you are watching the watchers. It is a challenge of feeling confident and jaded, all at once, as you walk these charcoals of very fine lines.
Diandra: What do you think has made you jaded about the music industry?
Skela: I think it is realizing it all doesn’t matter. I know that sounds really ego of me. Yet, at the same time, it all does matter so much. I think that is what has made me feel jaded; realizing it is about choosing which thought bubble you want to think from. In the beginning of my career, I was so eager and had these rose-colored glasses on how things would work. I think that I have grown up. You realize that the world is so much bigger than what you think, and I think jaded adds a little perspective.
Diandra: You don’t think there is freedom in knowing that all you can do is care for what you want while knowing no one cares about what you want?
Skela: Yeah! There is total freedom in that if you choose it. There are some days when I am down about it, and there are other days when I feel light and weightless by it. It is confusing and a “day to day thing”. I think it goes for the world. It like choosing to watch the news or saying, “I don’t think I want see how the world is sinking today.” (she laughs)
Diandra: Well, this confusion and jadedness feels like its showing in your new music because Elvis is a bit of a darker side to you.
Skela: Yeah. I was in LA for two weeks, and the label set up all these sessions. I think like 14, and I was exhausted. The day we wrote Elvis, I was so tired, and we wrote it very quickly. It fell right out, and I had no guard up. Sometimes, that happens, and, in the song, I think you can hear I am tired and jaded. In the song, I say the world is a lonely place and I am my own company, but, at the same time, I would like some company. (she laughs) I was genuinely thinking like, “Maybe, this song is for people.” Like, yes, it is for me, but I was okay with it being accessible like for people.
Skela – Building You Up (Video 1/10)
Diandra: I do find it intriguing that you used Elvis, this larger than life, but tragic figure that felt lonely, in reference to Skela.
Skela: My mom worshipped Elvis. Loved him! I grew up watching all his movies, and I loved his music because it was so sad. I was obsessed with that song, ‘You were always on my mind,” (she sings) I wanted “Elvis” to be this strong chord but not so depressing.
Diandra: Well, Elvis was accessible. Why do you think there is a hesitance to be accessible or make music for “the people”?
Skela: It is amazing to participate in cultural movements. Everybody wants to be apart of new genres and musics. So, I don’t think there is a hesitance. I think it is that I never think about whether a song should be accessible. Usually, I am like whoever likes it likes it. Yet, I felt like for this song I thought of the general. I thought of others and how I really want this song to be easily liked. It is kind of like making a plate of chocolate chip cookies, and saying, “Whoever wants can take some?” And you know everyone loves chocolate chip cookies (she laughs). Am I making sense? I have grown into my sound and am being honest, and I love that it is an “old-timey” song.
Do you think, in a way, your own exhaustion helped clear your creativity?
Skela: That is a good point. This year has been a lot of cutting away. I have experimented so much as an artist because why not? Keep going until something feels right and correct. I wanted Elvis’ video to feel simple and stripped down. It is almost like a tree. It is low to the ground and you see these leaves and branches, and, as it grows older and taller, you see the trunk for what it is. I think, as I get older, I stand a little bit taller. You get lighter and are more okay with doing what you want. I want my new music to seem like it is a new me. I want my new music to be firmly planted like, someone that knows who they are. I have never known more about myself than I do now so I want it to feel like I am honestly being myself, and, sonically, it will feel more like Elvis.
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