Starting off the year strong with a steady stream of new music which includes her hard-hitting singles “Hit My Line” and “Fix Me,” SKYLER has continued to prove to be quite the force to be reckoned with in the world of bass.
Being an open-format DJ turned full-time producer, this trap prodigy continues to showcase her production prowess and artistic evolution with her latest offerings, which are all part of her forthcoming EP due out this summer on Monstercat.
Still buzzing from the release of her recent single “Haunt You,” we took the time to get to know SKYLER a little better!
SKYLER – Haunt You | Download |
TSS: Who or what introduced you to the world of electronic dance music?
SKYLER: I stumbled into the world of electronic music on my own ironically enough. Going into middle school, I moved to a new town and didn’t know a single person, so I felt like I spent a lot of my time listening and discovering music by myself which really fueled my passion and love for music at a young age. The first artists I organically discovered were Deadmau5 & Kaskade around 2008/2009. Since then I’ve been hooked.
TSS: What made you fall in love with dance music as a whole?
SKYLER: I remember going to one of my first underground electronic shows back in high school with a group of friends and just feeling the sheer euphoria. I was in awe of the energy, the excitement, the people and the music. It really felt like belonging to an exclusive little community that opened its arms to everyone. At the time, it was the perfect escape I needed from a rocky home life.
TSS: What made you want to follow a path in music?
SKYLER: Weirdly enough, I’ve always known I was going to pursue some type of career in music. I just never knew what exactly it was going to be since I didn’t play any instruments growing up. Because I grew up listening to the OG’s that took EDM mainstream, it made me fascinated by beat making and production..
TSS: Which producers / DJs do you admire and why?
SKYLER: A few DJs/Producers I have always admired and looked up to would be RL Grime, Gesaffelstein, Alison Wonderland, Skrillex, Skeler, Rezz, Troyboi and Hex Cougar. I choose these artists because I find my own music influenced by these artists. I really respect them as pioneers and rule breakers within their respective genres. Each one has influenced my artistry in some shape or form creatively.
TSS: DJing or production – which came first?
SKYLER: DJing came first for me, even though I wanted to learn production first but it became a catalyst for me to understand music more as a whole as well as gave me the income to be able to go to music school. I’ve actually been professionally DJing since 2012, but finally felt ready to transition over to make my own creative visions as an artist come to life within the past 4 years.
TSS: For anyone who may not be familiar with SKYLER, how would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?
SKYLER: My music is a fusion of Trap, Wave and Future Bass. I love combining ethereal and melodic elements with harder sounding basses and trap drums which have always been the key components to my sound.
TSS: What does your studio setup look like these days?
SKYLER: My studio setup honestly isn’t anything crazy, it’s pretty stationary actually haha. My setup consists of an M1 Macbook, a Samsung monitor screen, Novation Circuit Tracks, M-Audio Midi Keyboard and a Focusrite Scarlett with 2 Rokit KRK studio monitors.
TSS: When it comes to production, where do you find your inspiration?
SKYLER: I usually find inspiration in various ways; whether that’s just listening to a variety of different genres of music and/or reference tracks, live shows, art and nature. Sometimes it’s also just looking inwards and honing in on an experience or an emotion and seeing how I could sonically recreate that feeling.
TSS: When you have a rough week or hit a wall creatively, how do you get yourself back on track?
SKYLER: I try to take a step back and take a break from what I’m doing to just reset the brain a bit. I never try to force anything since I just find myself getting frustrated whenever I do. To get back on track creatively some of my go to methods are self care – whether that’s going to the gym, a spa, taking a hot bath/shower or just getting out of my element with a short getaway. I find that the more relaxed your body and mind are, creativity always flows better.
TSS: Tell us a little about your single “Haunt You” and how your forthcoming EP came together.
SKYLER: This record has a lot of call-and-response play within the dialogue and melodic composition. It’s supposed to insinuate a power struggle that stems from internal conflict. This could be best referenced to the saying, ‘to love and to let go.’ When you love something, but you know you need to let it go, an inner turmoil sparks that can be all consuming, whether that be a person, place, or thing that triggers you to reflect back at the distant memories that metaphorically ‘Haunt You.’ My forthcoming EP was really the brainchild behind my entire rebrand. I felt like I was making music that was more in tune with my present day self which shifted my long-term vision for my project.
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TSS: How does it feel to continue to have releases on the powerhouse dance music imprint that is Monstercat?
SKYLER: I’ve never been more hype to be releasing with such an amazing label and team that makes up the Monstercat family. I’m eternally grateful that I’ve been able to find the perfect home for most of my records with such an expansive and supporting community!
TSS: What does SKYLER have in store for the remainder of 2023 and beyond?
SKYLER: I’ve been laser-focused on perfecting my craft this year while undergoing my rebrand. I’m hoping to get another EP finished by the end of year and to be able to put on a nice run of shows together for summer and fall for the EP! I’m also finally launching my Twitch channel where I’m planning on playing some exclusive sets in some cool locations.
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