SKYVIEW

1. Give us an introduction to yourself and the band members and the instruments each person plays.

Skyview is a Jacksonville based space rock band built around immersive storytelling and atmospheric soundscapes. The band consists of Evan Smith on lead vocals and guitar, Ryan Kirk on piano and synthesizers, Stone Schaefer on bass, and Ethan Thurber on drums. Together, we blend rock, ambient, and cinematic elements to create music that feels expansive and intentional, closely tied to the themes we explore.

2. How did the band get started?

Skyview began in 2007 in Bonifay, Florida as a creative outlet for writing music inspired by aviation, love, trials, and human curiosity. The band evolved organically, shaped by post punk, indie rock, alternative and ambient music. We are largely self taught, learning through years of writing, recording, and performing. In 2016, we moved to Jacksonville, where the local music community played a huge role in encouraging us to keep going and think bigger.

3. What was your first live performance like? Favorite and least favorite show?

Our first live show was at a Battle of the Bands in Bonifay. It was raw, nerve wracking, and exciting. Our favorite shows have been our planetarium performances, including two sold out shows at the Frost Museum of Science in downtown Miami, two at Challenger Learning Center in Tallahassee and at MOSH in Jacksonville, where we said goodbye to our home base after nine shows. Those nights were special.

Our least favorite show was at a venue in Brooklyn NY while on tour in 2012. We were scheduled after the headliner, and unfortunately most of the audience left before we played. It came down to poor scheduling and our own limited reach at the time. It was disappointing, but it taught us important lessons about promotion and planning.

4. What’s been your biggest challenge?

Balancing ambition with resources. Creating immersive, high production shows, especially in planetariums, requires extensive planning and coordination. Maintaining strong collaboration within the band is also important. Everyone needs to feel heard and respected. Writing, recording, producing visuals, and bringing everything together into a live immersive experience is challenging, but extremely rewarding.

5. What sets your music apart from everything else out there?

Skyview is built around inspiration and storytelling. Our music is meant to be felt as much as heard. We now focus primarily on concept driven material tied to the history of human spaceflight, pairing original music with large scale visuals in planetariums. It becomes part concert and part shared moment of wonder. We also weave in our own personal experiences, because the emotional journey of space exploration reflects many aspects of life. There are risks, setbacks, and lessons, but also perseverance and progress. That balance of humanity and exploration is at the core of what we create.

6. How do you personally define success? Do you feel being based in Jacksonville has benefited your career more or less?

Success for us means creating meaningful work, connecting with people, and continuing to grow without losing sight of why we started. Every part of the process matters, from writing and recording to visuals, production, and live performance. Jacksonville has absolutely helped. In 2019, through Max Michaels, we were given the opportunity to perform inside the planetarium at MOSH during a space themed event. The museum staff and engineers welcomed us and taught us how to create fulldome visuals and shape a show in a science environment. That led to our Rock the Moon series, where we performed nine planetarium shows covering the story of human spaceflight from Sputnik through the Shuttle era. Those shows opened doors to science centers and planetariums across the Southeast. We are incredibly grateful to Max and to Pat Shoemaker of Shoemaker Sound Company, whose expertise in mixing sound inside planetariums has been essential to our success.

7. What projects are you currently working on or promoting?

We are continuing our multi era spaceflight music series, now focused on the modern era, while expanding our planetarium shows across the Southeast. We are also developing new visuals, refining our production, and writing new material tied to current and future space missions.

8. Have you toured yet? Where would you love to play?

We have performed throughout the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast, and more recently in science centers, museums, and planetariums. We still perform at traditional venues as well. We would love to expand nationally and internationally, especially in locations connected to space history like Houston, Huntsville, and Cape Canaveral. Performing at Kennedy Space Center would be a dream.

9. What are your craziest “on the road” or wild adventure stories?

One memorable experience was performing on a rooftop venue called The Space Bar in Titusville for a space themed event. It was windy, and we faced several technical challenges projecting visuals, but we made it work. Being able to see the Vehicle Assembly Building and nearby launch pads while performing songs about space was unforgettable.

10. If you could collaborate or perform with anyone—living or dead—who would it be?

We recently collaborated with astronaut and artist Dr Sian Proctor. She shared her poetry, and together we created a song called The Vast Reaches. Our dream performance would be at Sphere in Las Vegas, given its immersive capabilities.

11. What do you do with your time outside of the band?

Outside of Skyview, we enjoy photography, boating, aviation, camping, and spending time with family.

12. Name one thing you love most about the Jacksonville music scene that sets it apart from other cities.

The sense of community. Jacksonville artists support one another, which makes it a great place to grow creatively. I also started a singer songwriter series called Sounds of the City at The Circuit Arcade Bar, where local artists perform and share their work. It has been rewarding to see new musicians gain confidence and connect with others.

13. What are your top three favorite local venues and local record stores?

MOSH and Jack Rabbits have both been meaningful venues to us. The Albatross, The Walrus, Blue Jay Listening Room, and the Florida Theatre are all great! We also recently had a great experience performing at Hard Love in Murray Hill. RIP 1904 Music Hall & Rain Dogs

14. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received that you’d pass on to other local bands?

Keep writing music that matters to you. Play the long game. Focus on relationships, stay authentic, and build something sustainable.

15. Where is the best place for fans to connect with you?

Website: skyviewband.com

Instagram: instagram.com/skyview_music

Facebook: facebook.com/skyviewmusic

Streaming platforms search: Skyview

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