Solo Musicians Pt 3; Realmskip

Updated: Aug 19, 2020

When I first started looking into the subject of Solo Musicians, I wanted to know why the solo industry has skyrocketed in the past few years; to give myself and readers an insight into why it has become popular, as well as inspire those who want to pursue the same route. Leading on from the other two articles – this is the third and final piece for the Solo Musicians series.

"The world is a tough place, don’t let it grind you down"- Realmskip

Realmskip

Bristol-based Multi-Genre Post-Internet Apocalyptic Alt Trap Pop. Capturing his personal perspective on a chaotic world through blending everything that influences him, and seeing what happens.

What inspired you to follow a solo career in the industry? Are there any particular artists?

Producing music by myself was my gateway into music originally. I’ve always been a very introverted person and enjoyed working on creative projects alone. Over the years various collaborative projects and my work with people as a producer helped me develop the skills and confidence that eventually meant I could give a solo project a proper attempt. Some of my favourite artists growing up like Nine Inch Nails, Gary Numan, Marilyn Manson, Bowie and others who bridge the gap between more band-based music and a solo identity are still a massive influence on my work. I always liked the way these kind of acts were able to create a strong visual and musical identity, even reinventing themselves between albums.

I have a lot of love for more recent solo artists too and Yung Lean, Alice Glass, Bones, Lil Peep and Fifty Grand have had a big influence on me to name a few.

Do you have any regular themes to your music?

Firstly an apocalyptic one. Every generation thinks it’s gonna be the one to see the end of the world but it really feels now more than ever that we are on the brink of something and this is definitely a feeling that’s present in my music. It feels way too easy to imagine the end of the world and not so easy to imagine a better one, and that’s a key theme from my album too, with the title “Suspend Your Disbelief” referring in part to our inability to believe we deserve better. I love Sci-Fi as an outlet for articulating spiritual, political, and philosophical ideas which are a big theme of this project. Through music, visuals, and whatever technology I can, I hope to draw more attention to some questions around gratitude and reflection that I’ve been exploring this album cycle.

Is your music programmed or do you play any of your instrumental parts?

I think the border between these areas is so fluid these days, so for me, it’s great to have the capability to do either, depending on what suits the song and what feels right. I play some guitar and bass on the album but honestly, some of my favourite “performances” I end up using are played on my laptop keyboard in Logic in the early hours of the morning.

Choose one song you have written. Tell me why it has such prominence to you, whether it be positive or negative.

“Together” is the one that jumps to mind. Dreams have always been a big influence on my life and especially on this project but the instrumental to this song “came to me in a dream” more clearly than anything I’ve ever experienced! I dreamt I was sat up in bed working on this track. When I became aware I was dreaming I was able to 'look' at the BPM and arrangement, remember the vibe of the track and recreate it when I woke up. Turned out, as what I think is still my favourite track on the album musically too.

Do you have any words of wisdom you would like to pass on to readers who are thinking of starting their own solo career?

Don’t let fear hold you back! Even if you’re only making music for yourself at first. Enjoying that process and working on your art is more important than anything else. There are lots of different, valid ways to approach this, no matter who you are or what you’re into, and there is a lot of information out there to get you where you want to be if you’re willing to be patient and learn. The world is a tough place, don’t let it grind you down.

When is your next live performance?

No plans for live shows in the immediate future but who knows what will happen going forward. This project has been active for less than a year and I haven’t been seeking out live shows yet, but I’m open to the possibility!

Anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for taking the time to get in touch, always grateful for the chance to talk about music!

What I find particularly interesting is that the artist dreamt about a track, then woke up and wrote it down to the fine details. Imagine writing a potential bestseller in your sleep. Crazy! That's a new level of lucid dreaming! So I've decided to have a little look at the track 'Together' and share my thoughts with you all.

There isn't a music video for this track just yet, so I won't be able to share with you my video to track comparison. Straight away the track immerses you into a video game-esque dreamscape filled with gun-shot bass and trap rhythms. It's incredibly catchy, and the glitched vocals are very fitting with the style of the song. I listened to this song repeatedly from start to 3 minutes 26, and with each time I listened, I became more and more immersed. The production of the track is outstanding, and very well balanced. You can really hear every element come together.

This is definitely a different genre to what I normally listen to, however, I recommend giving the full album a listen. It's definitely a catch!