Meet the Lithuanian Indie Rock Band The Skys who made a big splash on the music scene when the band first got its start.  The band formed in the 10th of November, 1995. Years later, the band continues to make awesome music and gain more fans along the way. Here is the entire interview our publication completed with the band recently. Discover the magic of the band and why we know music lovers will enjoy the band too. 

Isaac: It’s an amazing time to be a DIY artist/performer/band/musician. What do you enjoy the most about being an indie performer?

Bozena: Artist cannot be as such if he is not free. This is some natural freedom – a gift which cannot be bounded by any difficult tests, contracts, etc. The aim in this Universe is improvement of a soul and freedom is an ultimate condition for this. If an artist is imprisoned, the title INDIE will not free him.

Jonas: So, I guess we enjoy freedom . We work for ourselves we don’t belong to anyone.

Isaac: If you had an opportunity to sign with a major label, would you sign now knowing you may have to give up some of what you have build up over the years about you in the process?

Justas: Depends on the contract agreement and decision by the whole band. Just to be signed by a label without active promotion can be pointless sometimes. However, it can open really “big waters” too.

Bozena: When signing any agreement, the music created before either live or die. Forever lives only what is not chaos what is closed and structured what is guided by beauty and morality what has beauty and good in itself. If a piece is based upon these ideas, it will live forever and if it’s not – then no any contract will save it.

Jonas: Well, I agree depends on the contract. Signing with major is not necessarily a bad thing itself. It also means money and fame. However, as our main goal is neither money nor fame then we don’t see signing with major label as a must. I met many “big” and very rich business people in my life and most of them were assholes standing in a line to the hell. I wouldn’t ever sign a contract with anyone of that kind. Some labels don’t have any respect for the artist. And so artists become slaves – money making machines.

Isaac: I remembered Simon Cowell from American Idol talking about the “it” factor that makes a musician/band stand out. What do you think is your “it” factor that makes you stand out from others in the music business?

Bozena: We bring the good and we have the best manager in the entire universe.

Jonas: Well, we come from Lithuania (how many bands do you know from there? ) We have our own sound – most of the bands today all sound the same. However, the most important “it” is we have soul in our music and most of the bands don’t. 

Isaac: Why should music fans listen to your music? Describe what they are going to get when they listen to your music?

Justas: A good punch of positive energy.

The Skys

Bozena: This music will reach the most distant corners of each soul. It will carry away daily problems and will bring peace to everyone’s heart.

Jonas: Because, it is beautiful and they’ll get katharsis

Isaac: Briefly describe your humble beginnings that led you to where you are at musically now.

Justas: There were quite frequent changes in line-up of The Skys during its existence. It may look as a sign in instability at the first glance, and it affected the band's sound and atmosphere back then for sure. However, I’m happy now with this situation as it led to stable band with good musicians that understand each other and think the same way.

Bozena: I joined The Skys back in 2008. We had to work hard to reach the level we are at now.

Jonas: Well, our beginning was not humble at all . First year of our existence we charted Lithuanian radio kicking down even the biggest Lithuanian “superstars”. Then in one year time we played Vilnius Sports Hall – which was a dream to many Lithuanian bands (good enough for national level). However, as Justas has mentioned frequent changes in line up was always holding us back. It is very difficult to find good musicians here in this small country. Most musicians have a mental disease which is called “Lithuanian mentality”. They think that singing in Lithuanian and doing nothing they’re going to conquer the world. And of course most of them LOVE money.

And we now here at this stage because finally we got all people who think and feel the same (despite different characters). People who are dedicated to what they are doing, band mates who can trust each other. And also, we were lucky enough to get support from the highest quality professionals such as:

John Young (Bonnie Tyler band), Dave Kilminster (Roger Waters band), Snake Davis (Eurythmics), Martin Beedle (Cutting Crew), Tony Spada (Holding Pattern), Anne Marie Helder (Mostly Autumn, Panic Room) and Mr. Steve Rispin (Tina Turner, Elton John, Asia, Tankard, etc) – the guys who worked on our new album “Colours of the Desert”.

Isaac: You have some strong iconic influences. Of these influences, which artist/band do you relate to the most and why?

Justas: It's quite difficult to talk about influences from the perspective of the band. And it's sometimes interesting and surprising to read thoughts of our listeners who say of which bands we remind them. Concluding, many of our listeners hear strong influences of 70's like Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane, Eloy, early Genesis meeting newer bands like Porcupine Tree.

Bozena: I’m mostly influenced by early morning birds choirs, skies, fresh air from the forest, sea and muses.

Jonas: I try not to listen to the music anymore. Silence is good influence. And then nature too – Bo’s right. Justas mentioned all the great bands we like. I would also add classical music, many nice unknown and indie bands that play great music in many different genres.

Isaac: Do you feel that Indie music gets the respect it deserves? Why or why not?

Justas: I think much of really good music does not get into mainstream. Therefore, I'd say that many bands deserve higher respect. Most of the popular music these days is not about just creating nice tunes. It is a product for sale, and naturally sellers (= labels) promote it as a better product than it is in reality. TV and radio broadcasts are able to provide big fan bases, which in turn helps to gather even more fans. I think many of independent artists simply lack the skills needed to advertise their music. Also, independent artists have much more limited financial base comparing to major labels, which makes the first step into successful music career much harder for them.

Bozena: Any good music deserves respect. It doesn’t matter if it’s indie or if it’s not. There are positive and negative aspects everywhere. We need an objective look.

Jonas: Well, Yes and No. Most indie bands all sound the same – I hate that. There’s total over production in music. There are billions of bands and labels. Every second guy now plays in a band. And most of them are bad or mediocre. However, there are very good bands which deserve more as not all of them can get through this “battle for the attention” . At the same time many of MTV band are total crap which are no names again in couple of years after when labels sucked everything they could give. Also, here in Lithuania we often have situation when most untalented are on top and try to block the talented ones.

Isaac: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be and why?

Bozena: If you don’t like something you need to start from yourself. First, you have to understand if you’re doing everything right before changing the rest of the world. If I were able, I would impose control in such small countries as Lithuania. As the present situation, when some man who has no knowledge about rock music at all speaks about it and a person who has no knowledge in music analyzes Pierre Boulez, Luigi Nono, J.S.Bach. Can this be? If yes, then it is obvious that Bach was a composer for cell phones. Music like any other form of art must be controlled by professionals and not businessman who have no clue about it and are interested only in seeing shakin’ asses.

Jonas: Less greedy entertainment and more soul & art.

Isaac: Do you think in the near future that DIY artists/bands will be the norm and big record companies will be very limited?

Justas: Music business has changed rapidly over last few years, and it will still change in the future. Internet shopping and music downloads is one of such examples - people are turning from listening to physical CDs to using virtual resources. Such changes also make illegal copying of music much easier. I think labels that are able to adapt to all these changes and foresee upcoming ones will be much more successful than those who don’t. However, they will still need professional marketing experts and business analytics, and which is much easier to get for the majors. Therefore, I think majors will still hold the biggest share of the market, even though if DIY artists’ part will increase over next few years because of low budgets needed to promote on the Internet.

Bozena: I don’t know… I think we need big companies as they can present music to wide audiences in an effective and fast way. Many artists would still be unknown if not big labels. I think there must be major and indie artists – everyone has his own way.

Isaac: What type of feedbacks have you been receiving about your music from fans and music critics?

Justas: We receive a lot of positive feedback which means we're on the right track and it drives us further. Constructive criticism is also good for a band as it lets to think of things in a bit different way we see them. Of course we receive negative feedback with no arguments, but that's a thing everybody gets, and there is no way to change it.

Bozena: We worked for years to have unique sound and I think we have succeeded. However, people like to compare. Here are what people say:

“If Pink Floyd had sex with Depeche Mode (as of late), this would be the result”, “Sounds like Pink Floyd's older brother who takes steroids.” “reminds a little of The Gathering”, “Sounds like Alice in Chains, minus the heroin” “I can hear elements of bands like Dream Theatre, Symphony X and Queensryche” "Knights in White satin" “No doubt a Pink Floyd influence for all to hear, but you've added your own touches” “reminds me of Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane” ”I think I'm now hearing the Genesis influence with the Peter Gabriel sound.” “I can see the Roger Waters influence but it seems also you have a David Gilmour presence as well” “Reminds me of Emerson Lake and Palmer and Jefferson Airplane more than some of the other comparisons” “A very 70's, trippy synth prog based sound with a gothic atmosphere and unique, evolving arrangements. Imagine the 70's prog, rush-esq type elements of Opeth and Porcupine Tree exaggerated by 10x with a very wide and lush pink floyd type sound scape that weaves through lots of eccentric style changes within the rock/ alt genre.” “Perfect Circle/Primus/Phish is what influences I hear...” “have an urge to hear some Boston or Nazareth” “Brings back memories of Renaissance, Focus, Triumvirat” Got the picture? Not yet? Then add King Crimson and Eloy and you’ll get it.

Jonas: I would also add that there always are some people who think that our music sux

Isaac: If you knew that you would never gain fame and fortune with what you are doing now, would you continue to make music? Explain.

Justas: Yes, because music is in our hearts.

Bozena: You never know. If you’re gifted and if you’re able to create – then you must do it because otherwise you can regret it later for ages. And life has many different moments – you must explore both sides: positive and negative. One must go through pros and cons. However, never give up as it’s a natural way.

Jonas: Sure, I would – just to piss everybody who hates us In fact we have a lot of it in Lithuania. If being serious – if destined you will get fame and fortune and music critics all together will not stop you. And vice versa – if not destined all major labels will not help you. The question is what you do if you get fame and fortune? Won’t you become an asshole? If not then you’re worth it.

Isaac: How do you handle negative feedback or negative energy about your music?

Justas: As I mentioned earlier, constructive criticism is not a bad thing. Speaking about really negative energy - we just ignore it. Everyone receives it, and that's life.

Jonas: we block it with our positive energy . All bands must know there’s going to be somebody who will hate you and/or your music. Just stay calm. Don’t bother. It’s just waste of time and energy. Music speaks itself.

Isaac: What role do your family and friends play in the equation of your pursuant of a music career?

Jonas: I don’t think it is a good idea to involve your mom, dad, grandfather, grandmother, sister, brother, cousins you wife and husband, and your kids as well as grandchildren and some other relatives into your music career . However, it is very important to get support from them. I guess it is sad when your closest people turn their backs to you.

Isaac: What is the best site/s that you can be found on the Internet?

www.theskys.com

Isaac: The floor is yours; final words…..

Thank you, Isaac!