Interview: Skye Edwards
6 min read
As the front woman of acclaimed trip-hop/pop outfit Morcheeba, success is something singer Skye Edwards is very accustomed to. With numerous records under her belt as the lead singer of Morcheeba throughout the past 20 years and over staple studio records including Big Calm, Fragments of Freedom and Head Up High, Edwards has also presented to us several solo packages over the years.
As we approach this weeks release of her 4th solo effort, In A Low Light, we caught up with the talented songbird to discuss her career as one of the leading female artists in British music. During our interview we also discussed the inspiration behind her latest collection and how she juggles a successful career and a family. Here is what Skye had to tell us…
Brendon Veevers: How are you Skye and where in the world does our interview find you?
Skye Edwards: I’m fine thanks, at home. I live in the country. Leaves are falling. It’s a cool but sunny autumn day.
BV: Firstly, congratulations on the upcoming release of your new album In A Low Light. We have been listening to the album non-stop and its absolutely exquisite. How are you feeling with the release date quickly approaching? Do you get nervous ahead of a new album release?
SE: Thank you. I feel good about the release. No I’m not nervous. What is there to be nervous about? In A Low Light is not the type of record that will be played all over the radio so I have no big expectations on that part. I’m super happy with it and have had some very positive feedback from fans that bought the CD and Vinyl already.
BV: Can you tell us a bit about the title of the record. Why did you choose to go with In A Low Light and what does the title represent to you and the collection?
SE: In A Low Light comes from a line in one of the songs on the album and it just captures the mood, sets the tone. Mellow and ambient. Relaxed and chilled.
BV: The new album is not too far away from being released. What can you tell us about the new album in terms of style? Is it in a similar vein to previous solo records or your work in Morcheeba?
SE: Well, as for the style I knew the type of album that I wanted to create with a lot of its creativity coming from the experimental approach of composer / producer Robert Logan. He introduced the cinematic layers and depth which creates the overall style. It’s his production that puts In A Low Light in a different place than my previous 3 records and the Morcheeba albums.
BV: Where would you say you drew the most inspiration from when putting In A Low Light together from a lyrical and instrumental perspective?
SE: The whole album started with just me sat at my piano and my iPhone to record the ideas.
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BV: Most people know you first and foremost as the front woman of Morcheeba. Is it important, or even an incentive in some way, for you to keep these two identities – Morcheeba Skye and solo Skye – separate?
SE: It’s kind of impossible to have two completely different identities, but I do try. There’s absolutely no point making an album similar to Morcheeba. I remember when I recorded my first solo album, I said to the producer, Pat Leonard, “I don’t want to sound like Morcheeba” and he said that’s not easy cos your voice is a big part of the Morcheeba sound. So I tried singing in different key than usual. And really tried to push my self lyrically.
BV: What type of musician would you say you are when it comes to writing and recording new material– spontaneous or co-ordinated? Do you go in with a hard and fast blueprint of how you want a record to sound and represent for you as a solo artist or it is more of an organic and unplanned process?
SE: No, I’m more in the ‘organic and unplanned’ aisle when it comes to song writing. Sometimes starting with an idea or loose direction.
BV: Alongside your music career you also have 4 children and a husband – both full time jobs in themselves. Has it been difficult managing a successful career and keeping up with the demands that being a recording artist and touring artist brings and the demands of being a mother and wife? How do you balance things?
SE: That’s hilarious that you included having a husband as part of a ‘full time job and a half’! I don’t feel there are any demands being a wife. My husband plays bass in Morcheeba and we work together for my solo projects. I’ve always said that I’m lucky because I get to take my kids to work with me, until they reach school age. Then they come in the school holidays. Festival season during the summer holidays is my favourite time to tour. Yes, it can be difficult balancing career and parenthood, same as most families.
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BV: Have any of your children shown an interest in a music career themselves and what is the best advice you would offer them ahead of going down this path?
SE: My eldest son plays drums in a band called The Blue Pursuit. My advice to him was ‘Just treat it as a hobby son and get a proper job, it will be a long time before you’re earning money as a drummer. Then Ross offered him the gig as Morcheeba’s drummer. And I had to eat my words ever since!
BV: What can you tell us about tour dates to promote In A Low Light? Are there any plans to tour the album and if so, where are you hoping the tour will take you?
SE: I’d love to do a few shows round Europe in key territories and perhaps a few dates in the US. We’ll see how it goes.
BV: Having released a length catalogue of albums and singles, both as part of Morcheeba and an established and acclaimed solo act, what moment, accomplishment and/or piece of work from your career would you say you are the most proud of?
SE: I’m proud to be able to say that I have had a successful singing career for almost 20 years. And I’m still doing what I love. Writing, singing, and touring.
BV: Aside from releasing and promoting In A Low Light, what’s next for Skye Edwards? Are there plans in the pipeline for future projects or are you going to take things as they come?
SE: There will be another solo album further down the line with Robert Logan. And of course new music from Morcheeba.
Skye’s brand new album In A Low Light is out on Friday. UK fans can also catch Skye when she performs at Under The Bridge in London on Wednesday 11th November. Tickets priced at £15.
::: RenownedForSound.com’s Editor and Founder –
Interviewing and reviewing the best in new music and globally recognized artists is his passion.
Over the years he has been lucky enough to review thousands of music releases and concerts and interview artists ranging from top selling superstars like 27-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss, Boyz II Men, Roxette, Cyndi Lauper, Lisa Loeb and iconic Eagles front man/songwriter, Glenn Frey through to more recent successes including Newton Faulkner, Janelle Monae and Caro Emerald.
Brendon manages and coordinates the amazing team of writers on RenownedForSound.com who are based in the UK, the U.S and Australia.
