Thanks to her combination of 1950’s style and current pop rhythms, Sky Colette’s 2016 has already gotten off to a great start with support from MTV and Young Money among others behind her. Having just released her latest single “Hey Big Spender”, she kindly agreed to this interview to chat favourite tunes, dream shows and social media.
PW: Please introduce yourself.
Sky Colette: Hello! My name is Sky Colette and I’m a pop singer-songwriter and Southern native who believes in pursuing your dreams. I moved out to LA to do exactly that!
PW: How would you sum yourself up in five words?
SC: Spontaneous, creative, charismatic, bubbly, and passionate.
PW: When did you first realise you wanted to be a singer and performer?
SC: I started singing when I was two years old. It’s the first thing that I thought about when I woke up in the morning. My mom said I knew every song on the radio and of course I would sing for anyone who would listen to me. At 5 years old, I knew that was my purpose in life.
PW: Which bands or artists did you grow up listening to and what impact did they have on you?
SC: I grew up listening to a lot of amazing singers including Sade, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige and various others. A lot of the vocalists have amazing range and are and/or were extremely passionate about their music and their artistry.
PW: Have your influences changed much as you’ve gotten older?
SC: Yes and no. Yes, because music constantly changes and I feel that every artist should listen to a variety of different music. Whether you like it or not you should have an understating of today’s music because music is always evolving. No, because the classics will always be the classics and I appreciate them for that reason.
PW: Can you recall the first album you bought and concert you attended?
SC: Yes, it was Alicia Keys’ Keys In A Minor. The first concert was a Brian McKnight concert on Valentine’s Day.
PW: Is there a particular band or artist you might say you sound similar to?
SC: A lot of my listeners say I’m a cross between Katy Perry, Lana Del Rey and Sade, which I think is a huge honor! They are all phenomenal artists in their own right.
PW: Tell me about your single “Hey Big Spender”. Is there a story behind it?
SC: “Hey Big Spender” is a song that I came up with after being in a relationship with a guy who was always broke. I was tired of not doing fun things together because he had no money. Honestly in 2016, dating is so different. There are some men who want the woman to pay for everything. So “Hey Big Spender” is a description of the type of man that I wish my ex was – someone with financial security.
PW: How easy or hard do you find the song-writing process and from who or what do you get your ideas?
SC: I have been writing since I was 11 and started writing poetry at 16. The song-writing process is usually fairly easy for me because the words come from a genuine place. I write from the heart and from my experiences.
PW: In your opinion, what makes a song truly great, and from that, which song is the greatest ever written and why?
SC: The song has to be relatable to its audience, make people feel something, and addictive. “I Will Always Love You” for me is the greatest song ever written because it has all those elements and more. It is such a classic song that touches all people of all ages and backgrounds.
PW: Whose musical career would you most like to emulate and why?
SC: If I had to choose, it would be Whitney Houston because she could sing any genre and was loved and appreciated by all people and age groups.
PW: Are there plans for an album in the pipeline?
SC: Yes and details will definitely be coming soon!
PW: What are your upcoming tour and performance plans?
SC: I haven’t confirmed anything yet but I would love to open up for a major act this summer so stay tuned for details.
PW: If you could play one venue with three other bands or artists who can be living or dead, who would you choose and why?
SC: Definitely Taylor Swift, Adele and Bruno Mars. I think it would be a great show and we all would have a lot of fun!
PW: How has social media impacted your career and would you agree it’s vital for artists today to be socially interactive?
SC: It has definitely helped me to reach more people and be more visible. I think it’s huge and every artist should take it very seriously because it helps you build a brand.
PW: Finally then, what’s your ultimate goal as an artist? What would you like future generations of music fans and other artists to say about you many years down the line?
SC: I would love to be a Grammy award winning artist and songwriter and have toured internationally a few times. I would like generations of music fans to say that I inspired them to pursue their dreams and that I thought about them throughout the whole creative process and gave them my best because I feel that the music lovers deserve an artist’s best.
Check out “Hey Big Spender” below and for more information on Sky Colette, give her page a like on Facebook or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
