Says Nestor, ”Playing music together for so long, you know how everybody thinks. It’s sounds corny but it’s true. Everybody can really play without having to concentrate too hard on the others. A lot times we can second guess what the other is going to do. You can take that for granted when you play with someone else. It’s like going back to square one.”
It’s a shame that paperwork has slowed down this rock band. Sky Larkin intended to pass through Seattle, the city they recorded The Golden Spike and Kaleide, and also Vancouver to meet with friends You Say Party! “We were going to stay with You Say Party!, but unfortunately they’re on tour so maybe next time it will work out,” says Katie.
Sky Larkin will miss visiting the Bay Area, however they’ve performed in San Francisco a few times in the past. Amoeba Records store was a popular stop.
Katie remembers, “We went on one of the last shows on tour. I spent all my dollars and made a vow not to take any more money out because we only had one day left. That idea went out the window once we got there. It’s so different than stores in the UK, because apart from Rough Trade East in London, we don’t have anything on this scale that’s independent. All the independent stores are small. Amoeba was exhaustive and vast which was a rare treat. I found stuff there that I hadn’t been able to find anywhere in the U.K. So it was definitely a win.”
Their new album, Kaleide, is filled with charged-up music like their debut. Sky Larkin weren’t eager to force changes to their sound. Listening to the record, they haven’t run low on good song ideas.
Katie explains, “We do have plans. But I don’t think it’s anything as far as being calculated ‘cause we rely so heavily on instinct. So there’s no business plan. It’s an instinct plan I guess.”
However, they found the follow-up’s recording more productive this time. Nestor feels the confidence shows on the final product.
“We used our time in the studio better. On the first album, we were a little intimidated by the whole process. So we went in and recorded the songs as we knew them and put the record out straight away. The second time we knew more of what we were doing. There were a couple more asking ‘what ifs?’ about what a musical part would sound like. While spending a year on the road promoting The Golden Spike, we watched the songs evolve and change shape. When it came time to record the next album, we knew what the new songs should look like. We also got better and confident on our abilities as a band.”
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