Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
SKYSCRAPERS PLAN TO RAISE THE ROOF
WITH members on the cusp of adolescence, Skyscrapers is South Africa’s youngest indie-pop band producing original music. They will open for Freshlyground at the free concert in De Waal Park tomorrow. Rudimentals and Joe Emilio are also in the line-up.
Singer/songwriter Mila
Smith, 13, keyboardist Leo Letschert, 12, and drummer Dan Buchalter, 12, met at school (where else, really?) and formed the band in 2015. Their first official radio single Just Kids has had airplay on 5FM and is playlisted on Jacaranda FM, Algoa FM, and various community radio stations. Last year they played at Open Streets Bree, Littlegig Festival, and De Waal Park, and had their first solo gig at Café Roux, which sold out in two days.
Tomorrow will be the second time Skyscrapers opens for Freshlyground. “It’s such a great free concert that attracts the best diverse crowd,” says manager Georgia Black. “They’ll be performing some of their new material, a couple of old favourites, and two of their favourite covers, which they do with a Skyscrapers spin.
“Having been together for three years, things have shifted as they’ve become tweens/ teenagers. They’re taking more control of their stage performance, experimenting and figuring out who they are.”
Skyscrapers say it’s “awesome” to be sharing the stage with tomorrow’s bands, adding that they’ve been lucky to meet artists they look up to in the industry: “The guys from the Rudimentals, who are so supportive and have the best on-stage vibe; Zolani, who is soulful and kind and amazingly talented; Dave Scott (The Kiffness), who came into the studio when we were recording; and last, but not least, Stelth Ulvang from the Lumineers, who came and hung out at one of our band practices and jammed with us – that was just incredible.”
Lyrics come naturally to her, says songwriter Mila: “Either I draw inspiration from my personal experiences or I put myself in someone else’s shoes and, by doing that, I am able to write based on their circumstances.
“Singing my own songs I am able to fully resonate with the music because I wrote it. It feels like I can do anything with the song since it is original. When singing covers, where I didn’t write the lyrics, I try to put my own spin on it to make it as ‘original’ as possible.”
The concert begins at
3pm. Take a blanket and a picnic basket and find a nice shady spot under the trees to enjoy the music. Visit www. skyscrapersband.co.za and http://concertsinthepark.co.za/.