The metal act’s frontman talks to us about how he took songwriting more seriously and finding a fanbase in India
Anurag Tagat
Oct 07, 2020
Philadelphia metal band Zeke Sky Band. Photo: AllView Cinema and Photography
It takes some courage to admit that the creation of your band was originally “a little directionless,” as guitarist, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Zeke Sky puts it. The Philadelphia-bred frontman of the Zeke Sky Band started out in 2017 with an eye on creating guitar heavy versions of The Beatles’ seminal album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The guitarist had stints in other bands as well and steadily began loving “progressive and technically driven music.”
It’s what has led up to the release of their latest single “Light the Sky,” which is an all-out incendiary, hyper-melodic offering of metal and rock, complete with catchy choruses and wild guitar solos. It follows their 2018 album Animals of God & War and the 2019 single “The Dark Beyond.” The song features the Zeke Sky Band’s bassist Kenny Scheffel (who also adds backing vocals) and drummer Adam Pierson, who are shaping the frontman’s penchant for a no-holds-barred blend of power metal, hard rock, prog and more. Sky adds about the process right now, “Writing the music is demanding and requires a bit of discipline and a sense of humor. If you find yourself taking the music itself too seriously, stagnation and decline can quickly reach out and grab you.”
Sky says the latest release is the first part of a story that will be covered in their second full-length album, slated to release in Spring or Summer of 2021. It will be produced by guitarist Kevin Antreassian, from erstwhile mathcore torchbearers The Dillinger Escape Plan. The band is keen on doing a tour of the U.S. first, as soon as it’s safe and want to take off from there. “It’s touch and go at the moment,” Sky says about album and touring plans.
In the meantime, Sky says they’ve accrued fans from all around the globe so far, including India. The frontman rightly estimates that India has a following for instrumental music and rock music. He adds, “I also do get the sense that it’s a very active country on social media and my content performs very well. Touring in India is certainly a possibility in the future, I would be anxious to experience the country and its people.”
Watch the video for “Light The Sky” below. Stream on Apple Music, Spotify and JioSaavn.
