Dublin-based four-piece, Sky Atlas have released the title track from their upcoming debut EP Stone. We asked lead singer and guitarist, Lughaidh Armstrong-Maycock the BIG questions . . .
The band, who studied and formed at BIMM in Dublin, also features multi-instrumentalist Louis Younge, drummer Ryan McClelland, and bassist Danilo Ward.
Speaking about their new EP, Younge says, "It's a true reflection of us, musically, as a unit and it’s music that we really like playing and listening to.
"First and foremost – I know it sounds kind of stupid, but we want people to enjoy it. They’re not little nuggets of energy, it’s not a pop album, it’s a little bit deeper than that. I would love to get into bed and close my eyes and stick on my nice headphones and just swim in sound for about 25 minutes. That’s what I want this to mean to people."
Tell us three things about yourself?
I grew up in a very musical family and have always been surrounded by music for as long as I can remember. You could always hear faint echoes of my mother playing her fiddle in the house or the crashing of cymbals from my brother drumming upstairs. My mother, Dee Armstrong, has always been a big inspiration for me, having toured with her band Kíla for the past 30 years; and I always saw myself pursuing a life in music as well. We often play and write together - which is an absolute pleasure. Stone is actually a perfect example of our work together. I originally wrote and demoed the track with Mum in our garden shed in Leitrim during the first lockdown. I then brought the track to the lads in Sky Atlas where we continued to arrange and add to it. It was incredible to watch it grow and develop and I am thrilled with how all of our ideas have come together to create this piece.
How would you describe your music?
I’d say our music is quite eclectic in that we all come from slightly different musical backgrounds. I come from more of a folk background, whereas Louis is more classically trained. Ryan is a big rock and jazz fan and Danilo is very into shoegaze and soundscapes/heavy music. The result is a bit of a melting pot of sounds, with the tunes we’re currently working on being quite atmospheric and cinematic.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I’ve got so many! To name a few, I take lots of inspiration from Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Alabama Shakes, Half Moon Run, Jack White, Nick Cave, David Byrne, Paul Simon, Nick Drake, and Fiona Apple.
How did you occupy yourself during the coronavirus restrictions?
For the most part, I have been finishing up with college, so most of my time was spent writing up my thesis and completing all other assignments. Between the college deadlines, I’ve been trying to stay as creatively active as possible - writing, recording, demoing, and collaborating with different artists, writers and even doing work for a number of dance pieces. Working with Sky Atlas to get the EP together has been my main priority aside from the college work. Though there were obviously a number of setbacks, it’s been so important to still have a creative outlet and be working with people, even if it’s just over FaceTime. Really helps to break up the days a little!
What’s your favourite song right now?
I’ve actually been listening to a relatively new band called Sorry. They have a song called As the Sun Sets. I think it’s great!
Favourite lyric of all time?
It has to be Leonard Cohen’s Suzanne: "And the sun pours down like honey on our lady of the harbour/And she shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers/There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning/They are leaning out for love and they will lean that way forever/While Suzanne holds the mirror"
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I think it would be torturous in any case, however, I don’t think I could live without Watermelon Man by Herbie Hancock!
Where can people find your music/more information?
The best place to find the band is through our website. You can listen to us on Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, and all the major streaming services and we’re also on all the usual social media sites - Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Get in touch anytime!
