Review Fix Exclusive: Skye Wallace Talks ‘Scarlet Fever’

Review Fix chats with singer Skye Wallace, who discusses the creative process behind her new album, Scarlet Fever.

Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?

Skye Wallace: Originally I was trained vocally when I was young, so that laid a great foundation for my artistic growth.  The writing and guitar playing came by the time I was in high school, involving influences from Neil Young to Patti Smith to The Weakerthans. The pursuit of music as a career path over the last few years has been an incredible time, starting in Vancouver, making my way to Toronto, and touring as much as I can.

Review Fix: How has your sound evolved over the years??

Wallace: The sound was much folkier when I first started out. Then I got fed up with sounding “pretty” and swung in the other direction. I wanted to create a fire with my music and didn’t feel comfortable in a quiet, sweet category.  Plus I found making loud and upbeat music more fun.

Review Fix: Why do you think people love it still?

Wallace: People have told me that my music is very honest and real, when it comes to the stories in the songwriting and the emotions that my band and I evoke onstage. I think that, though the feel of the music has changed drastically over the years, there remains that underlying common denominator of humanity and emotiveness that ties them together.

Review Fix: What inspired your new single?

Wallace: The song is about a love story set in the Yukon. After a winter apart, Scarlet is arriving in the Dawson City harbour by boat and her lover awaits on land, petrified with uncertainty over the state of their devotion. It’s based on a true story. Scarlet Fever’s energy evokes the messy turmoil of love and lust, and the music video, directed by Nathanael Vass, reflects the jittery, sexy, maddening thrill that comes with it.

Review Fix: What makes it special and different?

Wallace: I think it’s an interesting juxtaposition between fun rock music and an almost traditional storytelling vibe in the lyricism. I write a lot of songs inspired by characters in historical contexts – I think there are so many incredible stories hidden in plain sight throughout history. And the storytelling probably comes from my Newfoundlander roots.

Review Fix: What’s the standout track on the upcoming album? How do you want that song to affect people?

Wallace: I wrote all of the songs during a residency in an old cottage hospital in Newfoundland this fall. I’m excited about all of the songs for different reasons, however there is one song coming out in March called Swing Batter that I’m especially excited about. It’s a powerful feminist story of a woman named Angelina Napolitano who was a subject of severe domestic abuse from her husband and eventually was pushed to murdering him with an axe. I want this song to evoke the power of the story that helped change the Canadian public’s view of domestic abuse and women’s rights.

Review Fix: What are your goals for 2018?

Wallace: The new album will be my focus, and I’ll be touring as much as possible. I did a Europe tour this summer, and I’m planning to go back at least once more in 2018, as well as touring Canada, the States, and the North American summer festival circuit.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Wallace: I’ll be doing a Canadian East Coast tour in November, full details coming soon!

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Wallace: Scarlet Fever was produced by Toronto’s Sam Cash, and sees performances from Toronto artists Rachael Cardiello, Bryn Besse, Brad Kilpatrick, Braden Sauder, and Sam Cash himself!