Following on from a bold and impressive array of singles over the last few months, LA-based singer and songwriter SKANDRA is soon to be hitting the big time with the release of her latest offering 'Rivers'.
Having already amassed more than one million streams on Spotify, thanks largely to going viral on TikTok, 'Rivers' is a fresh and anthemic slice of alt-pop that we all need right now. Following in the footsteps of the likes of Sigrid and Robyn, this bright and sweeping delight looks set to become one of the must-hear releases of the moment.
So with her new single soaring right now, we sat down with her to find out more about her background and what has influenced her most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The piano. Pianos are melodic and percussive all at once. I think they’re my favorite instrument because they mimic my personality. I’ve been playing the piano since I was 5 years old. Though classically trained, I learned the basics of song structure and how to write poetry around the age of 11. These combined and transformed me into a songwriter and I haven’t stopped writing since.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
The people in my life have always been my biggest source of inspiration. Whether experiences, relationships or even the essence of a person’s being. I tend to find the intimate, hidden details of a person the most inspirational thing in the world. Even in myself. I tend to focus on how I’m reacting to a situation in order to write about it. There’s something honest and refreshing about it. I own up to my weaknesses and flaws. I guess I hope that in this, others can see that in the art and feel less alone.
What kind of music did you love as a teenager?
I was always hunting for new artists as a teenager. There was something so special about hearing an artist at the beginning of their career because it’s usually the most raw you’ll ever get them. I remember hearing “Haligh Haligh a Lie Haligh” by Bright Eyes on some small indie blog. It was the first song I’d ever heard by Conor Oberst. It was like finding gold. When I was 14, I accidentally attended one of Rilo Kiley’s shows at the old Knitting Factory in Los Angeles and just the sight of a female at a keyboard fronting a band changed my life. I started a band by the next weekend. I also grew up listening to Bjork, Radiohead, The Cure, Bob Dylan and other greats. I’ve gone through phases with music and have explored quite a bit of it. There were months when I was 16 years old, where I strictly listened to Aphex Twin, Squarepusher and Sigur Ros. There was another era of angry music. I bathed in music. I lived it. I love it. As a teeanger, it was always a matter of who mirrored me emotionally.
Can you remember the first song that made you want to pursue a life in music?
“Maybe Not” by Cat Power. I listened in headphones, cried and plopped myself onto the ground of my bedroom and wrote my first song. It was called “Just Sleep”. Maybe I’ll record it one day.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Currently, I’ve been listening to music that lives far away from the genre that I create. I tend to get hard on myself if I create a standard. I know where I am in my career. I know that I’m still forming and finding this new voice. So, I listen to bands like The Walters while I clean. I’ve been loving all of Alice Boman’s releases and become nostalgic for Lykke Li’s first album and Keaton Henson’s body work.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
All of them.
What has been the most unusual moment in your career so far?
Well, the last couple of weeks have been beyond unusual. I recorded this set of songs in November 2019 and was going to release them in March of 2020. I had a release show planned, a music video, plans for each release and more. The pandemic hit and I postponed these things indefinitely. Becoming antsy, my husband, who’s a filmmaker and wonderful artist himself, decided that he wanted to help me with promotion. He had the bright idea of telling his audience on TikTok our story. As a result, his video has received over 17 million views and Skandra has over a million streams on Spotify. I catapulted from taking baby steps with this new musical endeavor to acquiring a wonderful fanbase within 7 days. This was fairly unusual, to say the least. Beautiful and unusual.
Outside of music, what is your biggest passion?
Besides writing, in general, I’ve always been an advocate for Human Rights. Whether being trained by an FBI agent on the signs of human trafficking an reporting locations and suspicions to her or spending years helping a law firm take down Monsanto, I’ve always had this side of me that wants the best for all of humanity. There is so much injustice in this world. I’d love to die knowing that I’ve helped in fighting for justice and a decent shot at life for as many people as possible.
If you weren’t a musician, what other path do you think you might have taken?
There was never another path for me. I’ve contemplated this sort of question many times. Especially through failures. Yet, no matter what, art has always been my passion. I love making it. I love exposing it. I love helping fellow artists become the best versions of themselves. There’s nothing in the world I could imagine myself doing. I joke that art is my religion.
And what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start a career in music?
Persistence is the key to anything and everything. Look at failures as lessons learned. Have standards but don’t compare yourself to anyone. Find your voice. Take the time you need to find your voice. Every second counts. It all adds up. Your art truly does matter.
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SKANDRA's new single 'Rivers' is available to stream and download now. Watch the new video for it in the player below.