SKY KNIVES
- MOVEMENT MAG
- May 26
- 7 min read
1. Give us an introduction to yourself / the band members and the instruments each person plays.
My name is Jonny Sculls. I’m the lead singer and one of four songwriters in Sky Knives, along with songwriter James Skrtich, who plays guitar and is based in Jacksonville. Our bass player, Ilyn, not only writes music for other artists, but also produces bands. Finally, our drummer, Marc, is also a fantastic director, so we’ve got a lot going for us right now.
2. How did you/the band get started? When did you begin, what influenced you, who helped you along the way, and were you trained or self-taught?
The band started when James and I started chatting online for a few months. At one point I asked him if he knew of anybody that was looking for a singer. He told me he was. He sent me over a song that he’d been playing with for a few years but never really was able to find someone who could sing over it and bring it to life. That was our first song, Talking To Myself.
As far as influences go, I could sit here and name names until I’m blue in the face but one thing that all of our influences have in common is their authenticity. It doesn’t matter what style or what era it is, as long as it’s authentic and coming from an honest place, I’m a fan.
3. What was your first live performance like? Also, what has been your favorite and least favorite show so far, and why?
Sky Knives hasn’t performed yet, but each of us have insane first show stories. Everything from small fires on stage, to performing at graveyards, to stage diving into a crowd of 2000 packed fans, the stories are wild. I can’t speak for the other guys but I don’t think I really have a least favorite show. The stage is my happy place. Like pizza, even when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good.
4. What has been your biggest challenge to date?
I think for any artist, the biggest challenge is communication. The question, “How do I properly communicate what I’m trying to say through this art form?” gets asked a lot. Sometimes I think I’m being too obvious with my art. Then I step back and look at it again and realize, “oh, I can go further.” For me, that’s always the balance. How close can I get to saying what I’m saying without laying it all out in an obvious way?
5. What sets your music apart from everything else out there?
That’s not really up for me to define. I like to think of art like a cake. Everybody has access to the same ingredients. Everybody has access to an oven, but not every cake tastes the same and not everybody’s taste buds are the same. The most exciting thing about being an artist is putting your art into the world and seeing where it goes with no expectations.
6. How do you personally define success for yourself or the band? Do you feel being based in Jacksonville has benefited your career more or less—and why?
[Jonny Sculls] I would personally define success as waking up every morning with a smile on your face, excited about what the day has in store for you. From that perspective, I have achieved success.
[James Skrtich] Having moved to Jacksonville a few years ago I got to meet musicians who I looked up to back when I was in Cleaveland in the 2000’s. It has been awesome having the chats with them and showing them what we are working on and taking every note they’ve given!
7. What projects are you currently working on or promoting?
Right now, Sky Knives is finishing up our 5 song EP and recently I made my directorial debut with our music video for Spin The Blade which should be out later this month. Our plan is to film a music video for every song we record and once that’s completed, move on to the second EP.
8. Have you toured yet? If so, how far outside of Jacksonville have you made it, and where would you love to play most that you haven’t yet?
Each of us have toured with our other bands but Sky Knives has not played a show yet. I think what I’m most excited is to just bring this band to audiences everywhere. I have favorite venues, of course, as does everyone in the band and we’re all excited see how audiences react to this new music that we’ve created.
9. What are your craziest “on the road” or wild adventure stories? (Music-related or otherwise.)
I once ended up in Mexico without realizing it. After playing in a tiny club in El Paso, Texas, some of the people who saw my band perform, offered to take us to a very cool and “exclusive” nightclub. That seemed intriguing and they seemed nice so I took a few shots of tequila and said, “Lets roll!”
The one thing my tour manager said to me before I left was, “ whatever you do, don’t go to Mexico.” I laughed at him and sarcastically replied, “yeah, right. Like THAT can happen by accident.”
After some fancy driving by our new friend, we ended up at a bar that was basically just a giant cement cube in the middle of nowhere. No windows and only one door. Turns out it was not a bar, it was a brothel that served alcohol but we didn’t know that until we were all inside. What waited for us behind a velvet curtain was a room filled with smoke and bathed in red light. As we made our way through the bizarre building, we could only make out people’s silhouettes. You’d see someone walking towards you and then they just sort of disappear into fog. The band members ended up tightly pressed up against each other as we were walking through this place because we didn’t want to get separated. As we were ushered into a make shift booth, the song “After Dark” by the band Tito & Tarantulas boomed through the stereo system. This had bad news written all over it. No one in the band was happy that they were there and we immediately plotted our escape. Our driver said that they were gonna go back to the club in ten minutes to pick up more friends and we immediately say that as an opportunity to escape. This was our ticket home. We casually said that we wanted to bring more friends too and could we catch a ride with them? Before they even answered, all six of us jumped back into that car and began praying to a god that we only just then started believing in. We made it home just before dawn and never ventured outside of a venue with fans again.
So accidentally ending up in Mexico, only to turn back around and immediately come home to America seems like is a pretty good adventure story to me.
10. If you could collaborate or perform with anyone—living or dead—who would it be and why? (Feel free to shout out any living local artists you’d like to work with, too.)
My dream is to collaborate with Danny Elfman on music and do a full record with Rick Rubin producing. So far, I’ve turned all of my dreams into my reality.
11. What do you/the band members do with your time outside of the band?
[James Skrtich] I started Salt and Sweet Popcorn Co here in Jax and try to stay as busy as I can with that. Marc is the drummer and singer from The Crowned out of Austin Tx. Ilyn is the current touring bass player for The Union Underground. Jonny I’m going to be honest has his hands in so many things in Las Vegas I could not pin point everything he does. I know he helps his wife a lot with her Podcast Talk of Love. Lacey is wife was on Rock of Love on Vh1.
12. Name one thing you love most about the Jacksonville music scene that sets it apart from other cities.
[James Skrtich] From what I have seen it is a tight community who takes care of each other, its refreshing to see that!
13. What are your top three favorite local venues to play and your favorite local record store to get music from?
[James Skrtich] Venues: The Albatross, Jack Rabbits, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall.
Record store: Soul Waves Vinyl Records
14. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received that you’d pass on to other local bands—and who gave it to you?
Keep playing, but watch your money. One of my favorite pieces of advice was from Greg Alman. I was very lucky to get to know him in the later years of his life. He was a true inspiration and very kind to me. I remember I was just starting out with music and touring when he said to me that he saw himself in a lot of the stuff I was doing. I remember he sat me down and took a long deep breath and said, “ you’ve got something here, Jonny. Make sure you get paid for it.” I think I was saying something like how music is all I need in life that I wasn’t really concerned. about money. He smirked at me, slowly leaned forward in his chair and said in this low voice that only Greg Alman could achive, “Jonny.... If you’re good at something, never do it for free.” I never forgot those words. He was a good man and I miss him.
15. Where’s the best place for fans to connect with you?
We’re currently developing our own app. Not only will it have all of our music, all of our videos, and all of our merch, but there will also be lots of little goodies in there for fans.
