Today we’d like to introduce you to Sloane Skylar.
Sloane, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m an artist, songwriter, and producer from Chicago, based in Los Angeles. I made my musical debut on YouTube in 2007 performing covers and originals. A few years and 10,000 YouTube subscribers later, my cover caught the attention of Shawn Campbell, producer for Missy Elliott and teen sensation Cody Simpson. At age 14, I released my debut single, “All The Above” produced by Campbell in 2011. Since then, I’ve performed in various venues across the United States and The UK and opened for notable artists like Shannon Curfman (guitarist for Kid Rock), John Frinzi (co-writer of Jimmy Buffet), and BMI #1 hit country songwriter Aaron Scherz. After working on various home-recorded projects such as “Eclectic Mixtape” (2014) and “Close the Door” (2016), I released my debut studio EP “Girl Like Me”, produced alongside Mike Davidson and Josh Mira in 2017. That same year, I graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Music Business/Management. As of lately, I’ve collaborated with Arabian Prince, producer and founding member of N.W.A., and released various self-produced projects including my latest EP – COME UP. My sound can be described as “a stylistic hybrid of contemporary R&B and electro-pop music”, influenced by artists such as Kehlani, JoJo, Chelsea Cutler, Alessia Cara, Pia Mia, and Justin Bieber.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My music career has been a journey of ups and downs. Along with the typical struggle of doubt and self-discovery as an artist, my nativity about the music industry was taken advantage of in my teens. In 2011, I signed a production deal that went sour and ended up in a legal battle with the producer I worked with at the time. This experience taught me a lot about the industry and shaped who I am today. It inspired me to want to help other artists and protect them from the same experiences I’ve gone through. While I’m an artist and producer, I am also a digital marketing specialist for both A-list celebrities and up-and-coming artists. While my situation was challenging at the time, it opened my eyes and made me a better advocate for both myself and the artists I work with!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve been releasing music for over 10 years and my newest single, “Keep Pushin’” is about never giving up! The story behind its creation also reflects the message of the song as its release has been ten years in the making. I originally heard Gabe Sarango’s demo of the song in Boston in 2012 – it was a song I really needed at the time and I fell in love with it. It’s all about following your dreams no matter how many obstacles are in the way. No matter who you are or where you’re from, we all go through struggles and sometimes, it’s hard to see the light. If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t push through, this one’s for you. The song is accompanied with a music video that compiles footage of people from all walks of life; people fighting mental illness, bullying, addiction, homelessness, LGBTQ+ discrimination, sexism, racism, and poverty, all people who are trying to overcome something. I’m really proud of how it came out and hope that it resonates with you as much as it does for me!
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
The greatest risk is not taking any. If I had stayed in my comfort zone, I wouldn’t be living the life I am today. The biggest risk I took was moving straight from college at Berklee College of Music in Boston across the country to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. It was tough paying the bills the first year – I worked a job as a telemarketer for a music school, taught music lessons, and picked up temp work until I landed the opportunity of a lifetime to work with some of my favorite artists. I really hustled to get where I’m at and haven’t looked back since!
Contact Info:
- Website: sloaneskylarmusic.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/sloaneskylar
- Facebook: facebook.com/sloaneskylar
- Twitter: twitter.com/sloaneskylar
- Youtube: youtube.com/sloaneskylar
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/sloaneskylar
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sloaneskylar
