Interview: Skye Wallace talks latest single

Skye Wallace of Toronto, Ontario is what happens when a classically trained singer with east coast roots discovers punk rock in their youth.

Her voice and sound, accompanied by her full band, is a force to be reckoned with. Her newest album Something Wicked, produced by Jim Bryson, was listed as one of Vancouver Weekly’s Best Albums of 2016 and CBC’s Top 8 Albums You Need To Hear This Month.

Skye has just released her new track Scarlet Fever which is a rock song telling a love story set in the Yukon.
The track is the first song she has shared since her last album Something Wicked, which Skye released last year.

We managed to catch up with Skye as she talked about the latest single and more!

So how has the release of Scarlet Fever gone down with fans so far?
I was really stoked to release this one, but I’ve been blown away by the messages and comments I’ve received regarding the song and video. Some really great write ups too! Noisey said they were “burning love over Scarlet Fever,” so that’s pretty sweet!

Tell us something about the track no one else knows?
This song is actually a remake! It was a bonus track from my 2014 release Living Parts, but we’ve since reworked and totally revamped it in the live show over the last few years. It’s almost a completely different song now, but it’d be an interesting thing to dig up!

What was your favourite moment recording the single?
I love working with Rachael Cardiello. She’s a magic woman on the viola and it’s so fun to watch her spin her web of sound.
In fact, each person involved in the project was incredible to work with, Bryn Besse and Brad Kilpatrick on bass & drums, Sam Cash producing, and Braden Sauder as sound engineer.

If you could work with any artist or band on a new song, who would it be and why?
I would be over the moon to work with St. Vincent. She’s everything. Her instrumentation, her songwriting, her weirdness. And she’s such a bad ass spokeswoman for female-identifying members of the music industry.
And if we’re shooting for the moon here, I would include Patti Smith and PJ Harvey in this list too.

As far as Canadians go, I would love to work with Joel Plaskett. His album “Ashtray Rock” he did as the Joel Plaskett Emergency really hit home for me in high school and I think it’d be a really interesting blend of sounds.

So you’ve got a couple of tour dates coming up in Canada, what one are you looking forward playing most?
We’re playing The BOG in Montreal tomorrow (Saturday) and that is going to be one hell of a time. I’ve played there once before and, I’ve gotta say, it’s a crazy cool spot.
Also excited for our Toronto show at The Cameron House back room on Sunday night!

If you could play at any stadium or venue in the world, where would it be and why?
I’ve always wanted to play Glastonbury. All that mud. All that energy. So dope.

What was the first gig you ever attended as a kid?
I used to go to emo shows when I was in high school in Kitchener, ON – those really stuck with me.
Lots of punk rock and post hardcore influences there. Really played into my little angsty teenage emotions.

Will there be more music on it’s way this year?
Early 2018 will see a new single, video, and tour, and then a new album will be released later in 2018. I’m so stoked to show everyone what we’ve been working on.