INTERVIEW: DARK SKY
What inspired you to form the band, and how did you come up with your band name?
DARK SKY was founded by us as students when we all attended the same school in Rottweil, a small town in the South of Germany. We were big fans of Judas Priest, AC/DC and the Scorpions back then, so we got together to make music like our heroes. Our lead guitarist at the time came up with the name DARK SKY and since he was the best at playing his instrument, no one dared to contradict him, ha, ha, ha.
How would you describe your sound to someone who's never heard your music before?
I would say that we play melodic metal, with catchy melodies and also with symphonic keyboards and hard guitar riffs
Which bands or musicians have had the biggest influence on your music and style?
As I said, at the beginning it was bands like AC/DC, Judas Proest or the Scorpions. But now we are also inspired by bands like Powerwolf, Beast in Black or even Skillet.
Can you walk us through your songwriting process? How do your ideas come together?
For the last album, I met with our producer Markus Teske and collected song ideas, which we then pre-produced in his Bazement Studio. Then I wrote melodies and lyrics and the guys contributed their parts. At the end we went to the Bazement Studio and recorded the final songs there.
What has been the most memorable moment or experience during your tours or live shows?
Oh God, I remember one show on tour we came on stage and the intro was playing when we realized there was no one at FOH because our sound engineer was still on the phone with his son backstage... Or that incredible moment when we came on stage opening for the Scorpions in France and the crowd welcomed us so enthusiastically, as if they had only come for us.
How do you balance keeping your music fresh while staying true to your original sound?
Well, on the one hand we stay true to our musical roots, but on the other hand you also get inspiration from new bands and their sound when composing your own songs. In addition, new band members also bring fresh inspiration and influences to the band.
What challenges do you face as a band in the modern music industry, especially with streaming services?
The biggest challenge is keeping track of everything, ha, ha, ha. Seriously, in the past there were CDs or vinyl or even cassettes and these products were mainly sold by the label or distributor. Today there are downloads and all the online exploitation where you as an artist often no longer know who is making money from your music.
Is there a particular theme or message you aim to convey through your latest album?
What’s your favorite song to perform live, and why?
Well, there isn't a specific message, but of course we want to give viewers and listeners some food for thought with our songs. Especially with the title track "Signs Of The Time" we naturally associate a lot of feelings like frustration and anger that we have suffered during the terrible pandemic.
As far as a favorite song is concerned, it's not that easy, because everyone in the band has their own favorite ;-) Personally, I like to play every song live, ha, ha, ha.
How do you see the evolution of rock and metal music, and where do you think it's headed in the future?
Wow, that's a difficult question. I would say that in the next 20 or 30 years there will always be an audience for melodic rock. But to what extent the next generation will still love music like that made by bands like Bon Jovi in the 90s or AC/DC have been making for 50 years is difficult to say. Let's wait and see ;-) In any case, DARK SKY will try to release new songs next year that our audience likes.
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DARK SKY - Signs Of The Time (Official Music Video)
DARK SKY - Forgiveness (Official Music Video 4k) 2023
