Interview: It’s Gemini Season With Skyler Rossa
Skyler Rossa is a Contemporary R&B singer-songwriter from Philly newly living in Los Angeles. She has performed at venues such as SOB's, Underground Arts, Silk City, and The Fire. Skyler’s earliest musical inspirations include pop divas and R&B princesses such as Christina Aguilera, Aaliyah, and Beyoncé. More recent influences include Kehlani, Rihanna, Summer Walker, and The Weeknd, along with a handful of hip-hop artists like Travis Scott and Ty Dolla $ign. Her latest singles "ALYK" and "Fire" are available on all major streaming platforms.
What led to you becoming an artist?
I’ve loved singing and performing since I was little. My older sisters introduced me to artists like Lauryn Hill, Toni Braxton, Christina Aguilera, Destiny’s Child, etc. So many 90s inspirations in my roster! Also, lots of 80s classics since my siblings showed me the way: Madonna, Michael Jackson, Ace of Base. We used to sing and dance in the house, in the yard, in the car, at the dinner table - we literally had a “no singing at the dinner table” rule at our house. I also played the violin and the piano for many years as a kid; I played the violin starting at age 8 until high school. Though, my real interest was always in singing and dancing, which I finally got to explore once I hit high school. There was an expectation that I would pursue classical music via the orchestra or something and that was just NEVER me. I wanted to be a diva lol. I was a theater kid in high school, though I never got any real roles. I couldn’t act at ALL. I just got the solo singing parts. I also finally got to take dance classes and I danced 5 days out of the week at a local studio where I also taught hip-hop classes. Eventually, I started performing cover songs locally in my hometown with a friend who played acoustic guitar. Everyone’s feedback was always that I had a great voice, but I needed my own songs - and that scared the sh*t out of me! Scared me to the point that I gave up completely. Flash forward to years later without music in my life, I was super depressed and back in Philly feeling lost so I decided to get back out there and try some open mics and karaoke nights singing covers. Those led me to participate in a singing competition in the ‘Gayborhood’ where I truly opened up as a performer and got my confidence back with my singing. The contestants were all so talented and creative and I grew tremendously as a singer during those months of competing. I had a close friend at the time who came to every single show and was always telling me I should write my own songs. They offered to record me so I said why not. Turns out we fell in love in the studio (how cliché I know) and I wrote my first songs about him. I’ve been writing, recording, and performing ever since.
What inspires your music?
My music usually starts as a note on my phone or a journal entry. I’m a Gemini - some say we have “multiple personalities” and those personalities are talking in my head all day long, so I write things down to feel at peace. I am inspired by so many things. Relationships of all kinds: love, friendship, betrayal, family, the different ways certain people have affected my life, and how I view things. Romance is a huge inspiration of mine; My partner is also an artist and seeing his hustle individually and his support of my dreams is the best fuel to keep me inspired. I’m also constantly evolving and growing and my music - I hope - reflects the ever-changing landscape that is my mind. I’m an extrovert with a big heart and a big mouth once I open up.
Who are some of your influences?
I’d probably break my influences into categories. I have my early 90s/2000s influences from childhood, which was heavily Pop and R&B oriented: Christina Aguilera (huge inspiration of mine growing up), Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, Ciara, Usher, Aaliyah, and Ashanti. I used to want to be in Danity Kane so badly that was my dream lol. Then I have my hip-hop/rap influences, which shaped me as both a dancer back in the day and an artist today: Drake, Travis Scott, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj to name a few. And my modern-day favs and current influences, whom I always have their music on repeat: Kehlani, Rihanna, Tinashe, 6lack, Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Summer Walker, SZA, Ty Dolla $ign, and The Weeknd.
What are some of your favorite memories from your career?
My first single release was the scariest most wonderful memory. I had never written a full song let alone let anybody hear it. I wrote that song during a really difficult point in my relationship at the time and to be able to channel my heartbreak into a piece of art that I am still so proud of today. Performing that song for the first time back in Philly and simultaneously releasing it on streaming, and then seeing people - both who I knew and those I had never met in my life - positively responding to and sharing the song was an incredible memory. People sent me videos singing my lyrics and it made me feel like a real artist whose words and vision meant something to somebody.
What have been some of the greatest challenges of your career?
When I say to someone “I’m a singer” I can usually see the “So is everyone else” in their faces. As a female in the music industry, especially in the social media age, you’ve got to set yourself apart and I find that very challenging. I may not have the most followers or the most money but I’ve got real passion and sometimes it’s tough competing with the giant pool of “singers” out there, many of whom are just doing it for attention or because someone offered to make them a star because of how they look. I don’t ever want to be a social media “influencer” - I of course have to keep up with the times, and it’s also a blessing to be able to put content out on socials and get discovered by new fans that way - but I want to be known as an artist and creator at the end of the day. This goes hand-in-hand with the other biggest challenge to me: confidence. Pursuing an art form in any capacity is both thrilling and terrifying because it’s risky to go against the “norm” and do something different. I have to put myself out there to be judged and no matter the response I’ve got to keep my head up and keep going. Some days are harder than others.
Which of your songs/eps or albums is your favorite? Why is it your favorite?
My debut EP, ‘Sensitive Savage’ is my first and only full project at this time (stay tuned!) and it’s special to me for so many reasons. ‘Sensitive Savage’ tells a full story from start to finish, something I’m really proud of and genuinely enjoy listening to. I poured my heart into that project and I made it with my partner, who really understands me as an artist and as a person, so it was a super special and rare experience to be able to share that vision and make that piece of art together. If I had to name my favorite song of mine overall, that changes all the time, to be honest! I’m still finding my sound with my newer music, so there are different vibes for different moods. I really love my song “Full Moon Freestyle” which’s actually only on my SoundCloud. I wrote it during a period of intense writer’s block last year while in quarantine. It’s short and I usually replay it a few times when I listen because I wish it were longer! It’s moody and dark with trap influences on the beat and soft and raspy on the vocals. That little freestyle is where I think my sweet spot as an artist is going to be as far as my sound goes.
What are you most excited to bring to your fans in the next year?
VISUALS. And of course new music. I’m constantly working right now trying to make magic for y’all. Right now I’m focused on single releases, though if I find the inspiration, they could turn into a full project. I’m open to whatever happens and I say “happens” because that’s really how it is with me, I just try to stay open as a creator. I just put out a dope live session of my single “ALYK” that we shot in the mountains out in Topanga. That’s the first of many new songs with visuals coming your way. Plus I’m dedicating some time to an “older” song that I think deserves some more shine so stay tuned...
What are your goals for this upcoming year?
Well, one of my biggest goals was just completed: relocating here to Los Angeles! So now that I’m finally settled in LA, I want to continue to fully go for music. That means writing as much as I can and finding my sound. I want to network and record at different studios with new engineers and producers - though we’re also in the process of building a home studio so I definitely want to resume recording my own demos because I find that extremely helpful when writing music. Getting to sit solo and test out ideas with no judgment or outside influence is the best. I definitely want to put out my first music video, since I don’t have any yet! I also want to branch out and perform locally in my new city so I have my eye out for showcases and venues opening back up where I could grab a slot. I’d also love to collaborate with more artists outside of Voyager, the collective I’m part of from Philly. My biggest goal is to stay consistent so that no matter what goes on in my daily life, I am still moving forward, making connections, and growing as an artist.
How can your fans best support you right now?
Follow my journey on Instagram - I’m very candid on there! And follow my Twitter if you really wanna get in my head lol. I just released my live session for “ALYK” so if you haven’t already please go check that out on IGTV! And in general stream my music library y’all!.
Skyler’s Links:
PC: Caliber