Skysia Reflects on Playing Red Rocks and His Journey So Far

Skysia stopped by to talk about his Red Rocks experience, the Overture remix album, how artists can prevent burnout, and more!

When one thinks of the artist Skysia, colorful, diverse worlds of sound come to mind. His passion for blending bass-driven beats and ethereal melodies has created a unique space within the downtempo and chillwave genres, captivating listeners with tracks that evoke a sense of serenity and introspection. Whether it’s his production or his ability to create a relatable mood with every release, Skysia’s music has struck a chord with fans seeking something soothing and powerful.

In recent years, Skysia has been on an unstoppable rise, consistently reaching new heights with each milestone. Reflecting on our conversation with him over two years ago, during the early stages of his music career, it’s incredible to witness how far he’s come. From the release of his debut album to opening for LSZEE at the iconic Red Rocks, Skysia has not only honed his craft but has also found the key to unlocking his full potential.

With the recent remixes of his album, Overture, dropping, we thought it would be the perfect time to touch base with Skysia since the last time we talked. Sit back and take a moment to dive deeper into his world as he shares how to avoid burnout, which artist surprised him the most with their remix, how his Red Rocks experience was, and more!

Stream Skysia – Overture (Remixes) on Spotify:

Hey Skysia! Thanks for talking with us today.

You recently came out with an Overture remix album, which is filled with so many notable names. How did you narrow in on the artists meant for each track?

I’ve been a big fan of all those artists for a long time! It was such an honor to have them be part of this project. I let each artist pick what track they wanted to remix. I find this usually leads to better results, and in this case, I couldn’t be happier with how all these tracks turned out :)

Out of the remixes, which artist caught you by surprise the most with their rendition and why?

That’s a tough one. I love every remix so much and have loved each of these artists for so long. I knew they were all going to crush. I think one surprise that comes to mind is the Murkury remix of “Aperture.”I was not expecting a dnb tune at all, so it definitely took me by surprise, but my first moment hearing it was a very special experience. I played it over and over. I had such strong emotions about that one, and it was such a journey!

You opened for LSZEE at Red Rocks earlier this year. That’s such an amazing milestone! What emotions did you feel walking through the famous tunnel that countless greats before you also graced?

Man, that was such a beautiful experience!! It was also kinda hard to take it all in. So much was running through my mind. [Laughs] But it was funny cause I spent a bit of time in there and couldn’t find a lot of names. There’s such an overwhelming amount of names you’d have to spend hours in there to spot certain ones. But it was surreal, for sure.

CloZee and LSDREAM selecting you for such a massive night for their duo project must affirm where your project is headed. How does it feel to reflect on where you were two years ago and see yourself now?

I’m incredibly grateful to be where I am now. I am so thankful to artists like CloZee and LSDream for giving such incredible opportunities to smaller artists such as myself.

This industry can be intense at times. As an artist I’m always pushing forward and doing everything I can to improve and get better at my craft. Sometimes it’s hard to stop and smell the roses but this year, and especially after Red Rocks, I took a lot of time for gratitude. Just allowing myself to be proud of how far I’ve come. I definitely shed a lot of happy tears after playing that Red Rocks set. It was pretty emotional!

Last time we talked, you told us a bit about the feature film you created for your debut album. Have you made any new films since then?

Yea! We finally have plans to release that in early 2025. Excited to share that project with everyone and get it out there. Spent a lot of time getting that movie into many different film festivals, so we weren’t allowed to release it until now :)

No new films at the moment. I’m sure I’ll come back to it in the future cause I love storytelling, but I’d like to wait for something that needs a visual component. Maybe a future album will call for another film :)

You touched base in our last interview on how crucial balance is in this industry; I’m sure you feel that even more so two years later. What are some tips you have for artists just starting out to avoid burnout?

Take breaks. Breaks are okay. You are not a failure cause you take breaks! [Laughs]

I think it’s always shifting for me. At first, I would try to take breaks a couple of days a week, but over time, my needs have shifted. Now, I seem to work really hard for a few weeks to a month, and then I take a week or two off.

Another important tip is to remember to have life experiences. In the beginning, I was obsessed and music was all I thought about. It took over every aspect of my life. Over time, I realized that shutting down that part of your brain could be important as well. We need human experiences. Spending time with family/friends and really being present with them, going on hikes, taking little trips. All of these things give your mind a break and actually inspire more music to come through.

If you could choose one mantra to live by, what would it be and why?

Patience. Yeah, that’s it. Just patience. [Laughs]

Finally, you accomplished so much this last year. Do you have any big plans on the horizon for your project in 2025?

I’m planning a tour for early 2025, which I’m very excited about! But outside of that, I think I’d like to play a little less shows this year and really take some time to focus on writing. I have so many musical ideas I’d like to pursue, but it can be a challenge to juggle them when you are constantly prepping for sets and touring. I absolutely love playing shows, but I’m still figuring out how to balance that aspect of all this. So, definitely keep an ear out for new music in 2025!