Review Fix Exclusive: SKo Talks ‘Planes’ And More

Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter SKo, who breaks down her passion for music and why her new track, “Planes,” is a must-listen.

About SKo:

The Los Angeles singer-songwriter-producer is a music industry vet with a slew of accomplishments under her belt. You’ve heard her music in TV shows on MTV, VH1, and E!, while Billboard Magazine praised her songwriting credits. After navigating her way through the precarious ups and downs of the music industry in a band, where she experienced first hand the often abusive aspects of the male-dominated industry, she took a step back. When she returned to music, she was reborn from the ashes of her tragedy. Through that rebirth, she was inspired to create her solo project, Skeleton Woman (Sko), based on folklore about the circle of life. Now, she’s ready to show the world her empowering style of atmospheric, electro-pop.

Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?

SKo: I started playing bass in middle school and played in different bands throughout high school always as the bassist, never the singer. I went through my first romantic heartache right around the time that I was introduced to this world of emo music I hadn’t known about and got totally swept away by it. Lol, so started writing a lot in that space and being influenced by the velvet underground, bright eyes, cursive, etc. Their writing styles were so poetic. That’s what shifted me from a bassist, to a singer/songwriter I guess. I felt like I had more to say and music was the way to say it. It escalated from there.

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like?

SKo: It’s been different for different projects. Sometimes I dream the songs, sometimes I get “downloaded” with an entire completed song. I’ll be doing something mundane like driving or showering and the entire piece floods in. Other times, it’s me writing as ideas come to me and later on the melodies come when I’ve forgotten about the idea. I just kind of wait for it to smack me in the face. 

Review Fix: What inspires you?

SKo: Um, hearing snippets of conversations out of context, lol. Sometimes walking by someone on the phone and hearing one random line can inspire an entire song. I was running by someone on their phone the other day who said “I have to give up more control than I think is possible here.” And that really struck me. I have to give up more control than I think is possible. How can I forgive more than I think is possible, love deeper than I think is safe?

Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?

SKo: I call it Spooky Pop. It’s electro-pop that’s a little dark and sultry. 

Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?

SKo: I love live shows that recreate how the sounds and patterns of the song are made, so I try to do the same thing live. I could just play the beat, or I could construct the layers live on stage so you can be a part of the evolution. Sometimes that’s not possible but I try to find the opportunities when they exist. 

Review Fix: What was your biggest disappointment in the music industry and what do you think you’ve learned from it?

SKo: Yikes, so many. I’d say one of my biggest was my previous band trying to own my creative process. I was doing the songwriting for us, and I started getting opportunities to write for other artists, as well. They felt like I was giving away “our songs” to other artists. Such small minded thinking. I learned that you can’t brush red flags under the rug. You’ve got to move to protect yourself when all signs point to someone’s limited thinking emerging. 

Review Fix: Why music?

SKo: I have no idea. I mean, I’m glad my passion isn’t breading cats or something but I def wish I wasn’t lit up by something in such a shit industry sometimes. Lol. I have this itch of trying to express myself better or be heard better or get the point across better. There are times I think I’ve hit it, but then the itch always comes back to do it different or better. 

Review Fix: What inspired your latest single?

SKo: Um, I’ve been doing a lot of the emotional work on myself and gearing myself up for being more vulnerable in front of more eyes than I’m naturally comfortable with. The single definitely comes from that space of showing up fully and being seen when I don’t feel 100% safe doing that quite yet. 

Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of 2019?

SKo: I’m playing lots of shows. This is the first that I’m performing these songs so that’s an process of getting to know each song more intimately. Getting to know a song live is a lot of fun. 

Review Fix: What’s next?

SKo: I’ve got another single I’m wrapping up on. Hoping to have that out in the next few months. And working with a few other artists on some stuff for them that I’m really proud of.