Skimmed

With the launch of their debut album Summer Lovers scheduled for this month, Alexandra Aquilina and Daniel Borg from local band Skimmed talk to Sarah Micallef about their creative process, how being an item affects their output and what we should expect come February 23rd.



Having been set up a few years ago and following developments in their previous set up and musical direction; Alexandra Aquilina and Daniel Borg describe Skimmed’s music as having “a strong pop sensibility with a more alternative feel.” Whereas it comprises ingredients that draw on poppy 60s girl groups and surf bands, they explain, their music is also tinged with darker elements prevalent in new wave bands of the 80s, “all tied together with a tinge of dream pop”.



Besides being in the same band, Alexandra and Daniel are also dating. Alexandra recalls how she and Daniel met, maintaining that it was during band practice before she even joined the band. “I was actually dating the drummer back then. How times have changed!”



When asked whether being in a relationship affects their music, the response is in the affirmative: “the fact that we go to gigs, watch films, discuss aesthetic and musical ideas, travel, write and share music together puts us very much on the same wavelength, especially when it comes to art and music – although we do not always agree on the bands we like.” Alexandra also believes that their strength lies in their ability to work as a team, “filling in for each other’s weaknesses and encouraging each other to develop our strengths.”



Despite the advantages of being in a relationship and in the same band, it is not without it’s challenges, as Alexandra and Daniel explain. “Many people think it’s the best thing in the world and that our life is easier because we see each other more often than other couples where one partner is in a band, since practice and songwriting take up a lot of your free time.” In fact, whereas being together so often makes the exchange of ideas faster and more efficient thus encouraging growth and development, Alexandra confides that what many people don’t realise is how challenging it can be. “Music is something we do outside of our work hours, and so it becomes difficult to separate our ‘free time’ from our ‘band time’. The two inevitably become intertwined.”



I go on to ask about their creative process, which often starts with Daniel writing a large part of the song at home. Alexandra jokes that he then “tries to subliminally feed them to me to convince me to like them.” Unluckily for Daniel however, Alexandra is the first to admit that she can be quite picky, so he doesn’t always receive the positive feedback he’s after. “I then start adapting his vocal line to my voice and create my own melodies, lyrics and synth lines, suggesting different paths the song could take”, she says. Having said that, they admit that this doesn’t always work out, which leads them to resolving the song in another way: “the creative process is very fluid and really doesn’t stop until the song has been recorded.”



Moving on to their upcoming album launch, how would they describe Summer Lovers? “The album features a move from the more punky riffs the band was known for to a darker and more cinematic noir feel,” they state, explaining “there is also a more significant interplay of instrumentation and a heavy dose of synths.”



The album starts with Ronnie, their first single for which a music video has been released online. The track is a 60s inspired pop song and has a ‘feel-good-vibe’ also found in other tracks on the album like Sunday Drive and God Will Take a Note. Other songs like Isobel and Devil’s Alibi however, they maintain, take you to darker and more forlorn places.



And what about the title, what does Summer Lovers allude to, I ask. Alexandra jokes that it has nothing to do with a “really crappy film” of the same title she’s recently discovered, but is a reflection of the prevalent theme of loss and nostalgia, both of the sweet and negative kind. She recalls, “It was during the photo shoot for the album artwork that I realized that Summer Lovers, which is also the name of one of our tracks, was the perfect title. What better term to embody it’s bittersweet nostalgia than the lovers who every year are left with a fading memory of falling head over heels for one another only to never see each other again?”



So, how would they define love? “Love is when you still want to be with a person even though they drive you round the bend!”



As for the launch itself, they explain that they’ll be going on stage as an eight-piece band in order to recreate the sound of the album live. For this reason, they’ve called upon on fellow musicians and singers Daniel Abdilla (Clandestines), Alex Alden, Rachel Tedesco Triccas and Mike Galea. Whereas they are currently, in their own words, “neck deep” in preparations for the album launch however, Alexandra and Daniel maintain that they plan to adapt their set to go on tour in various European countries in the future. More music videos are also on the horizon, and they add teasingly “in fact, another one is already in the making!”



Skimmed will be releasing their first full length album Summer Lovers on Saturday February 23rd at The Royal British Legion in Valletta. They will be supported by Hey Sus and DJ Tim Ellis from Stalko.



Visit www.skimmedmusic.com to watch Ronnie and to book tickets for the album launch. - Sarah Micallef on Vida Magazine

It’s a wondrous slice of fleeting pop crafted in a masterful fashion, its layers of gorgeous sounds reflecting both a retro touch and the cumulative flourish fuelling modern-day indie music.

The ‘it’ in question is a song by the name of Ronnie, partly a nod to the magical mystique that classic 1960s pop still commands (also openly displayed in the accompanying music video); the rest of it is indicative of a shift in the musical terrain that local indie act Skimmed has been exploring and becoming one with since releasing its short, sharp and shimmering debut EP Your Head is Too Big for Your Crown back in 2009.

Ronnie also happens to be the opening number of Skimmed’s debut full-length outing, Summer Lovers, which is being released later this month. Anyone expecting more of the same however, will be very mistaken but pleased none­theless, as Skimmed’s musical forays have been quite extensive in the making of this album.

We had more of a punk edge before, but that’s no reason not to explore other sounds and styles
“We’re obviously aware that the album sounds markedly different from the EP,” says Alexandra Aquilina, Skimmed’s vocalist and only female member. “We’ve been discovering a lot of music along the way, and that has inspired us to explore new areas in our own music.”

Guitarist Daniel Borg agrees. “It all came about quite naturally,” he says of the evidently more elaborate aspect engulfing the songs on Summer Lovers. “We had more of a punk edge before, but that’s no reason not to explore other sounds and styles.”

One might think that such explorative tendencies would result in a large number of songs being written before ultimately picking the final 13 that feature on Summer Lovers. This, it turns out, is not the way it works in the Skimmed camp.

“We don’t really write that many songs,” Borg says. Aquilina concurs, but puts it differently. “It’s not that we don’t write a lot of songs, but if an idea isn’t working, we don’t dwell on it too long. We dump it and move on to the next one.”

This, they explain, is a process brought on out of necessity.

“If one of us isn’t feeling the song, there’s little chance of it ever working,” she adds. “The other thing is that finding time to get the whole band together to rehearse is difficult enough, so we try to make sure that our time is used productively and efficiently.”

In contrast to Ronnie’s flowing soul-pop, the other tracks, among them the darker Isobel or the slow-burning Fingernails, reflect different mindsets, but even so, there is a certain factor running through the album that links the songs together.

“I suppose it’s linked to a subliminal 1960s inspiration,” Aquilina explains. “It’s reflected in the various percussions and the use of vocal harmonies, and we’ve also allowed more space for organ and string sounds, bringing in pop orchestration rather than relying on just guitar, drums and bass to propel the songs.”

The use of synths is all the more remarkable given that Skimmed first embraced them during the actual recording of the 2009 EP. “The first time we ever touched a synth was in the recording studio,” Borg recalls.

“Naturally, I then needed to learn to play the synth for live gigs,” Aquilina continues. “Since then, it’s become an essential tool in our songwriting process. It’s also enabled us to discover lots of new sounds and how they work together, which in turn sparks off other ideas.”

These ideas weren’t only applied to the band’s newer material either. “Some of the songs on the new album were originally written a while back but we’ve tweaked them in places. Actually, some of them were given a complete makeover,” Aquilina laughs.

Borg says that sometimes it takes time to suss out if a song is working. “The need to rework a song isn’t always immediately apparent,” he explains. “Sometimes it takes many listens before you realise that a song isn’t as it should or could be; that it’s missing that special factor… I can’t really explain it; it’s a matter of instinct, I suppose.”

That said, they say their second recording experience was still quite enlightening. “We were still green the first time round – we had no clue just how much the studio can offer by way of developing a song,” Aquilina admits.

“This time, we embraced every possibility available during the production process, and that played a big part on how the songs and the album turned out.”

Another prominent factor that draws a line between early Skimmed and where the band is at today lies in the lyrics and the vocal style Aquilina employs, which I have to say is emphatically more versatile.

“As far as lyrics go, I was very inspired by Nick Cave, particularly the way he manages to express anger in his songs so quietly,” she explains. “As for singing, I guess the fact that the songs aren’t as ‘shouty’ has given me the space and the drive to explore new ways to sing.”

So has the band considered how this new direction will be received by those used to Skimmed’s energetic live performances?

“I have to admit some weren’t too pleased we’d softened our sound when they heard Ronnie, but that could also be because they’ve only heard it in a live setting without the trimmings,” Aquilina suggests.

“On the other hand, we’ve had lots of positive feedback too,” Borg adds. “I guess there’s always a risk when a band explores new ground, but we’re pretty pleased with the way the album has turned out, so that’s that really.”

Too right it is, but having heard the entire record – its darker and lighter moments, its impulsive drive and distinct melodies and its striking arrangements, all flavoured with the band’s intrinsic indie sensibilities, my guess is that few will come away disappointed.

Skimmed will be launching Summer Lovers with a special live performance, featuring an exten­ded line-up for the occasion at the British Legion in Valletta on Saturday, February 23. Hey Sus will also be performing on the night while Tim Ellis will be spinning tunes in between bands and after the gig.

Skimmed is Alexandra Aquilina, Daniel Borg, Federico Cilia and Christopher Mercieca. Summer Lovers was produced by David Vella and was partly financed by the Malta Arts Fund and the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund.

www.skimmedmusic.com - Michael Bugeja on The Sunday Times of Malta

It is no secret that Skimmed are one of my favourite Maltese outfits. When they first appeared on the scene, their sound was extremely promising, if raw. Six years down the line, with every live performance, the band – in particular vocalist Alexandra Aquilina’s voice and presence – has grown from strength to strength, presenting an altogether tighter, more forceful product.

The launch of their first full-length album,Summer Lovers, is 2013’s first big launch on the local indie scene and, if the rest of year continues along these lines, it’s going to be a good year indeed. The CD kicks off withRonnie, the teaser single that was pre-released online some weeks ago, together with accompanying video. Ronnie presents a rather different feel to the Skimmed that we have been used to so far – with more mainstream appeal than the band’s usual tracks, this is a vibe that continues for the first five tracks.

Ronnie is an eminently likeable, hummable, upbeat love song of sorts that is totally in keeping with the title of this album. The intro is strong; Aquilina’s vocals take on a mellower sound than she is known for, say, in tracks like the old favourite Napoleon; the bass-line is consistently strong… these are all elements that make Ronnie a winner and that hopefully, will guarantee it plenty of radio air-time. The latter is not necessarily high on the band’s agenda, but fact remains that products like this deserve more exposure across a diverse audience.

The CD moves on to an altogether more mature note with Fire in the Disco, a dark, intense track that gives Aquilina ample opportunities to play around with her vocal range. From the lyrics themselves – “the flames they grew to reach up to the skies” is one of my favourite lines – to the brooding riffs to the vocals that rise from a husky quasi-whisper to a determined strength, falling in love with this one is easy.

The eponymous Summer Lovers follows, not quite as innocent as the title suggests with cutting lyrics that carry all the poignancy of a love that turns to disappointment. The trend continues withTiger Tiger. It’s almost as though with every track, Summer Lovers gets better and better; the vocals become more unrestrained, the arrangements tighter, the lyrics more cynical (or realistic?) and the music more punctuated.

Sunday Drive follows, with its constant “True love, I wonder what it is to you” refrain that deliciously contradicts the upbeat crescendo of the music. This one really makes you want to tap your feet, no matter how cheesy that sounds.

The next track, The Stripper, shows Aquilina in full mettle. This is the dance-floor filler, the track that’s guaranteed to get everyone moshing like there’s no tomorrow, the one that will bring any performance to a roaring climax. Fingernails gives us a break from the aggro, while Ghost in the Mirror delivers the kind of angry, aggressive sensuality that is now synonymous with the band. The same applies to Freak Show, with its frenetic beat and an urgent refrain.

While the whole album is an extremely strong product, Skimmed really reach their full potential from the eighth track onwards, with the possible exception of God Will Take a Note, which is easily my least favourite entry. Devil’s Alibi packs vocals and bass with a punch, but it is Isobelthat wins my heart. I’ve been waiting for this track to be recorded since I heard the band perform it live, so forceful was their rendition. Alternately haunting and rousing, this is one that gets under your skin.

Summer Lovers comes full circle with the last track, Dream Girl, a light-hearted, mellow (by Skimmed standards, that is) piece that brings the listener gently back to earth after the fire and brimstone of the previous tracks.

To conclude, definitely one to add to your collection for all seasons and not just for the summer.

Summer Lovers will be launched on Saturday at the British Legion Theatre, Valletta. The album was supported by the Malta Arts Fund and the Good Causes Fund.
- Ramona Depares

Eric Montfort reviews Skimmed’s debut album, which will be launched tomorrow.

Skimmed’s debut album, entitled Summer Lovers, is finally being released, some six years ever since they got together. It’s worth the wait, though, as this band, which has time and again made various impressive appearances, has moulded its individual members’ enthusiasm, creativity and sense of adventure into something organic, appealing and at times enticing. They have grown stronger and most of the songs featured on this album reflect this sense of maturity and creativity.

Summer Lovers revolves around two factors, namely vocalist Alexandra Aquilina’s strident vocals, and the band’s musical approach, which has opened up, though Skimmed essentially remain tied to their sense of urgency, and post-punk influences and ideals. It is incredible how 35 years since punk took off, it still influences so many talents, not least Maltese acts like Skimmed. However, there is something more articulate in present-day Skimmed. The Stripper is a case in point – barbed and tight, it is an observant yet angry song, in contrast to what one may expect from the title. Ronnie, which opens procedures is a good, song, ear-friendly but nonetheless raw.

The raucous sound of Skimmed is still there. It has only been rendered grand by a good production from veteran David Vella. Sunday Drive is probably the best example here. The song’s crescendo lines based on strident guitars, percussion and keyboards are a throwback of what producer John Leckie did with Magazine’s second album, Real Life, 35 years ago. Here is a melodic, and well-paced, upbeat but hard-hitting sound that talks about the doubts of true love. I am pretty sure that Howard Devoto would love this song. And Summer Lovers would have easily fitted in the burgeoning late 1970s, post-punk Manchester scene that spawned Magazine, Joy Division and The Buzzcocks among other bands.

The title tune, Summer Lovers, talks about disappointments in love and starts with a slow, almost funereal keyboard arrangement which gains momentum as the guitars mesh in, allowing enough space for Alexandra’s vocals which are at their most expressive on this release. The arrangements are almost orchestral and again are another case of sounding grandiose without pretense. Freak Show and Tiger Tiger are essentially Skimmed in their early days, but there is once more of David Vella’s fine production touches. It is significant that Skimmed’s debut has retained such an urgent, uncompromising sound coupled with a very good, balanced production. The sound is brooding, at times dark and intense as on Fire In the Disco, yet retaining catchy choruses as can indeed be heard on the song. Isobel, likewise moves along a melodramatic musical path. Composing and producing songs like these is not such an easy task, and in this day and age where catchy, memorable songs are quite rare, Skimmed offers a breath of fresh air, and by all means, Summer Lovers is quite an encouraging feat. Alongside Lone Lab Rat’s new single and No Bling Show’s new album, Skimmed’s Summer Lovers is a very good release to start off 2013.

Interview with Alexandra Aquilina

It has taken a while for your debut album to be released? What went on during this time?

We started recording only two years since we closed off our first release – a punkier and edgier song called “Your Head is too big for your Crown”. In those two years, we worked on our new material, exploring new sounds and genres till be entered the studio in February last year. The last year was spent recording the album, finalising songs and preparing for the album launch. We are going to be an 8 member band so we needed more time and coordination than usual to meet up.

Ronnie is the opening song and immediately shows the post-punk influences. It is also accompanied by a stark, good video? How did you go around the composition and the eventual video presentation?

Ronnie, our first single, is a very 60s inspired track and is overtly dedicated to Ronnie Spector from the Ronettes. It is one of the more poppy and happier tracks on the album, however like all the tracks, it takes you to deeper and darker places before pulling you back to normality. The idea of the video was mine and Daniel’s and we teamed up with director Florian Micallef and cameraman Sean Aquilina, to make our ideas come to life. The whole thing took several weeks of planning and storyboarding and the final shooting took 22 hours straight.

You and your band seemed to have collaborated quite well in the songwriting. Was it quite difficult or easy to get your ideas through?
Most of the songwriting is done between Daniel and myself. We then take half done tracks to the band to build bass lines and drum beats and iron out any kinks. Sometimes songs work immediately, other times, the just don’t work no matter what. I personally find it difficult to get my ideas through, because although I play the keyboards, I am not a trained musician. I play and write everything by ear, so explaining changes and technicalities in songs can get confusing.

As the front-woman of Skimmed, you are also a reflection of the female emancipation in our local rock scene, especially the indie scene. What are your viewpoints here?

I’ve never really looked at it this way. I don’t even think that in this day and age such things should be an issue in society anymore. I’m also more focused on giving the people who are paying to watch us, the good performance they deserve.
David Vella created quite a flow on this debut release. How do you evaluate his input here?
David Vella’s input is always valuable for us. We are fortunate that he is very much into the music we create and so his creative input is more flowing and natural. He has also taught me a great deal about sounds and synths, having first put a keyboard in front of me during the recording of the EP.

How will you be adapting this new album to your live concerts?

For the launch we are planning to recreate the sound of the album by having backing vocalists, a percussionist and a second keyboardist on stage with us. However, we believe that a good song must work well even stripped to the bare minimum, so we will not be using this set up for other concerts. In fact, after the album launch we plan to recreate our tracks using a drum machine, for touring purposes.

Summer Lovers will be launched tomorrow, Saturday at 9.00 pm, at the British Legion Theatre, Valletta. The album was supported by the Malta Arts Fund and the Good Causes Funds.
- Eric Montfort

As promised when I wrote about Skimmed in November 2012 here is he review of the thirteen track LPSummer Lovers – which was released on the 23rd February 2013.

Skimmed – Summer Lovers

Opening with the familiar and signature sound is Ronnie an invitation in to the darkened sultry tease that isSkimmed. An evocative underlay and vocal has the listener reaching for a glass of wine and some candles to relax in comfort for what is set to be a flirtatious ride of emotional context.

Retaining the mood with Fire In The Disco which has a retro-feel with a meltingly engaging bass plays as the focal point around which the smoke filled four minutes.

Flowing on with the title track which is an achingly mournful register which reflects of the shallow nature of holiday romance. The production values of the release are exemplified between the live recording below and the release version which floats at a far more atmospheric lower register.

Tiger Tiger lifts the tempo with a skipping beat that rattles around the head, with a highly effective melody that keeps the song in tune with the sentiments of Summer Lovers.

Sunday Drive follows with the synth leading the way once again and as one of the shorter tracks at just over three minutes the ears are drawn to references of Blondie influences.

The Stripper is as sleazy as the title suggests a stunning composition that for me is the value added to the whole LP. Flayed open guitars are accompanied by sliding electronics with a panic riven vocal anxiety that encapsulates the whole discordance of the themes of the release.

Marking the half-way point the ears are intoxicated by Fingernails – instruments are detuned to create that sense of nails tearing inside the mind exposing vulnerable nerve endings. A subtle and intoxicating piece of work.

Ghost In The Mirror for all its title may lead you to believe has a whistling lilt to it that raises tapping feet to accompany the weaving strings. A clever track as whilst up-tempo it has an ethereal atmospheric running throughout the 3:50.

God Will Take A Note is another rocking number with dampened guitars that plays nicely against the preceding track as the mind suddenly shifts to the stark from the atmospheric.

Freak Show is another track that barely breaks the three minute mark yet it contains enough textures and paints to have held on for another three minutes. A track I particularly enjoy for its energy and as a prime example of how not to become self indulgent as although Skimmed have packed up their bags, gone home and had a shower the brain is just wanting this to carry on for longer.

Summer Lovers is an LP that gets the stronger the longer it progresses and you just can’t wait to play it all again – Devil’s Alibi contains a stomping guitar note that is more normally associated with a rock-a-billy double bass, whilst Skimmed wrap it in textures of ectoplasm.

Isobel is a haunting sombre switch back to the opening tracks which are focussed on lyrical concepts and even if you didn’t know this was the penultimate track of the release you would get the sense that this is winding up to the finale….

Which we find with Dream Girl a sense of hope and fortune to follow is the concluding recollection – a clever place to end as this already sets an arrow towards Skimmed having much more to deliver to audiences across the world.

With that – I am hitting play once again…. - Indie Bands Blog

Indie talk: SkiMMeD

Brash and in your face, meet the post-punk band that brings a touch of surreal to the local scene.

The energetic quartet made up of Alexandra Aquilina, Daniel Borg, Federico Cilia and Christoffer Mercieca were the brains behind the highly infectious single Napoleon, which has become something of an indie anthem in Malta (if such an oxymoron is possible). The band traces its origins back to “dark bars with weak drinks and odd smells”. The four recently launched their debut EP Your Head Is Too Big For your Crown (recorded and produced by David Vella at Temple Studios).

How do you describe your music?
Our music is ultimately guitar based. The live element is very important for us and so our songs are often very energetic and upbeat and influenced by the roots and developments of guitar based music, from rock and roll to post punk with touches of funk (especially in the bass lines). It’s a mix of many different genres and elements.

Which bands/musicians influence you?
There are always those bands which we listen to and never seem to get tired of. In our case it'd have to be bands like Pixies, B52s, the Fall and Beangrowers. Then there are those bands which we are continuously discovering. This week we've been listening to Clinic, Eels, The Black Angels.

What was the first CD/cassette tape you ever bought?
Alexandra: Tough one. My first EVER cassettes were Fivelandia, followed by Michael Jackson and the Titanic soundtrack - bought between the ages of eight and ten.
Daniel: In my case it was probably Californication by Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Your top three albums ever and why?
Three is way too little, there are so many! These are not necessarily the best albums ever but they land somewhere in our top forty: Sea change by Beck, Different Class by Pulp and Thirteen by Blur.

A song you hate and why?
At the moment we both have a huge aversion to Time Of My Life by Black Eyed Peas, an irritating song made into an even worse cover full of mindless droning beats.

Butterflies before performing?
Alex: Not butterflies, but I can get into a bad mood if I've had a rushed sound check. By the time I get to the venue though, the nerves go away and I'm really excited to perform!
Daniel: Not really.

A singer you’d like to duet with and why?
Alison Mosshart or Jarvis Cocker. Their appeal is not only in their voices and songwriting, but also in their attitude and charisma.

Your go-to music when you’re happy?
Alexandra: Anything I can sing along to while driving!
Daniel: Beat Happening and Comet Gain.

And sad?
Alexandra: High Violet by The National. It makes you want to cry while listening to it when you're sad, but it’s also very cathartic at the same time.
Daniel: Anything by Leonard Cohen.

3 words to describe the Maltese music scene
Talented and growing.

Last good concert/gig you attended was...
The launch of the Areola Treat's album Pleasure Machines.

Which particular band would you like to see live and why?
Arcade Fire. We're both fascinated by large bands and the whole orchestration created in the context of a band performance. Also, everyone seems to agree they're the best live band at the moment.

What inspires you?
Everyday life, films, music, books.

What do we find on your MP3 player?
About 100GB of tunes. Thank God for Apple!

The music industry destroyed real music. True or false and why?
The majority of the population does not want real music and the music industry is just making money off that. If you want to hear real music, it’s out there, it’s just a matter of looking for it.

A life without music would be...
Very quiet.

What do your family think about your music?
They all find it a bit too loud and noisy!

Did you ever get the “music is not a real career” talk when younger?
I think it goes without saying because it’s so difficult to make music a career in Malta, especially when you're writing your own music which is not targeted for the masses or for wedding receptions, however I think they'd all give us a pat on the back if we tried to go for it abroad.

Which of your own compositions is your favourite and why?
I enjoy our new material much more than those on our EP but when performing our favourite is probably Dance don't Worry.
- Ramona Depares for The Times Tv Guide

La furia di questa band di Malta è sorprendentemente contagiosa: gli 8 brani dell’EP di debutto “Your Head Is Too Big For Your Crown” sono dei piccoli, meravigliosi e fulminanti mondi. Immediati, devastanti, caleidoscopici.


Genere: Rock/Garage/Punk
Voto: 8/10
Ascolta anche: -

La furia di questa band di Malta è sorprendentemente contagiosa: gli 8 brani del loro EP di debutto “Your Head Is Too Big For Your Crown” sono dei piccoli meravigliosi e fulminanti mondi. Immediati, devastanti, caleidoscopici. Otto brani della durata media di due minuti e mezzo che ti si incollano alle sinapsi.
Gli Skimmed mescolano amabilmente New Wave, Ska, Surf e Rock restando freneticamente in equilibrio tra gli anni ’60 e gli anni ’90: una musica che ha le influenze del mondo. Un crogiuolo di idee che faticano ad essere contenute tutte in un disco, come una corona che fatica ad entrare su una testa troppo grande!
La voce femminile di Alex è la punta di diamante di tutti i brani: dalla fulminante “Can’t Stop” (e davvero non puoi fermarti nell’ascoltare tutto d’un fiato l’Ep!) alla scanzonata “Bored Games” a “Victory Kitchen”, dove le chitarre son sempre lì a graffiare e a far sentire la loro presenza.
Gli Skimmed sono davvero bravi nel toccare e fondere più generi musicali, riuscendoci in maniera del tutto naturale, senza artifizi né forzature.
Se questo è il preludio a qualcosa di più corposo, ne sentiremo delle belle!




TRACKLIST
1. Can't Stop
2. Napoleon
3. Shitty Jobs
4. Bored Games
5. Rip Off
6. Johnny
7. Whorehouse
8. Victory Kitchen

SKIMMED sono:
Alex, Daniel, Fede and Toffer

Articolo di: Ilario Pisanu
Grazie a: Skimmed
Sul web: www.myspace.com/skimmedtheband - Ilario Pisanu

Skimmed can be traced back in some dark bar when teenagers Alex, Daniel, Fede and Chris Toffer were faithfully following local bands such as Totema, Lumiere, BNI, Beangrowers and Dripht. These sparked a yearning to one day be on such a stage. The dream came true in 2007 and on 9 July of this year they also launched their debut video for upcoming single 'Napoleon' followed by a live performance at Rookies, Bugibba.

REDWHITEmt met Alexandra Aquilina, the brains behind the video. Through her enthusiasm, Alexandra provided us with some interesting facts, ideal for the most curious.

"I had clear ideas for all scenes, costumes and all other accessories and compiled them through sketches into a storyboard."

Moira Zahra and Eleonora Rose Abela assisted with suggestions for a few shots that could portray the band in a performing environment so as to capture their energy. The band members were initially skeptical about the idea, much worried that yet another "performing band" video was in the pipeline, but the results confirm otherwise.

The video was set up in the properties of both Moira and Eleonora's families; an abandoned townhouse in Mosta and a typical maltese farmhouse in the limits of Luqa. The end scene was shot at Ta' Qali and shooting was done while the nation was busy dealing with Pope Benedict's visit.

"It was indeed funny but difficult dealing with the busy roads and to chase the running members with a camera while so many cars were passing by on an otherwise quiet road."

"We aimed for a low budget video that would still look good and a bit more polished than our actual garage sound. The farmhouse in Luqa had no electricity. Our friend Emerson Vella ended up targeting a mini spotlight onto us as we performed in a dark space. We used the spotlight for other scenes but otherwise sunlight came to our rescue. In order to maximise that free facility, we made plans to wake up early in the morning and pack only as the sun set by around 18:00hrs."

Alexandra's took care of her make up and the boys' eyeliner while Justine Tonna took time to work on Aquilina's hair and fitting in the teacup provided by Moira's grandma.

Trivia for the curious ones: the man behind the pig mask was Chris Cassar, vocalist of upcoming band Saving Alexis. Video edited by Moira and Eleonora through Final Cut.

Listen to Skimmed here. Watch 'Napoleon'. - Pawlu Vella at REDWHITE mt

It's already mind-boggling enough to try and suss out what prompts a band to call itself Skimmed, let alone try to section the curious canine visual that presents itself on the front cover of this upcoming band's debut CD. As it turns out there's no deep meaning behind the choice of name, although all the band members seem to agree that it's a much better name than Fade, the moniker that an early formation of the band went by. The visual on the afore-mentioned CD cover, on the other hand, speaks volumes. "The dog in the picture is my pet Cocker Spaniel", guitarist Daniel Borg says when I ask about the obvious collage. "Well, actually the front half is; the back end is a totally different dog", he laughs. The oversized crown on the dog's head however, is where the real message lies; a visual extension of the CD's ego-bashing title - Your head is too big for your crown.

Before I have time to even ask if they had anyone in my mind when they thought up this rather provoking title, Alexandra Aquilina, the band's singer and - as I am soon to find out, their primary mouthpiece - quickly explains that “Yes, there are certain persons in mind; no, I’m not telling who” before adding that the statement could practically be applied to quite a large number of people on this tiny island of ours. Aquilina, in case you haven't sussed out yet, doesn't mince words. "That is who I am", she continues, “I know being direct can make some enemies, but I don't see myself changing". Borg and bassist Fede Cilia, though not as openly vocal as Aquilina, nod in agreement, and then burst out laughing as if to confirm that being outspoken is sort of a requisite in the Skimmed camp.

I meet Skimmed, well, three of its members - drummer Iommi Underwood is still at work and will be joining us later - in their humble but cosy rehearsal space in Birkirkara. The day of the CD launch, during which Skimmed will perform live after an opening performance by Brikkuni, is drawing near and the band is understandably excited about the whole thing. Surely it must be a bit daunting to take the stage after Brikkuni on your big day? “Not really”, Aquilina begs to differ, “we chose to perform alongside Brikkuni because it is a band we all admire. We want this occasion to be as much fun as possible for everyone who turns up and having Brikkuni there will help us reach our aim”. Her fellow band members concur. “We’ve wanted to do something with Brikkuni for some time now” says Borg. “We are aware of the clashing musical styles, but we’re confident the mix will work well and make the event a success”.

?This level of confidence certainly marks a remarkable advancement from the inexperienced line-up that took to the tiny stage at (the now-defunct) Naasha just over two years ago. "Oh, we definitely remember that gig" Aquilina remarks, "Our first thoughts were that it was great, but in hindsight, we all agree it wasn't our best moment. We probably put a lot of people off our music as we were still a bit green then". Determined as they were (and are), Skimmed took the feedback they got from that gig - both good and bad - and used it to strengthen their confidence and their musical aspirations. As Aquilina puts it, "We hope that the people who saw that gig will still turn up to see us now and appreciate the difference". Skimmed may not care about making enemies on a personal level, but when it comes to music, they want to strike a chord with their audience just like everyone else.

By their own admission (if their online biography is to be believed), Skimmed's origins can be traced back to dark bars, weak drinks and odd smells. They laugh when I mention this, obviously not expecting anyone would ask for an explanation. I don't really, but I am interested in what prompted these young people to form a band. "I think we were about 16 years old. I knew Fede from school and he used to hang out with the punks, so I kept pestering him to form a band", Borg recalls. Cilia was reluctant at first but eventually gave in and Fade was born.
Several member changes later Borg and Cilia recognised a like-minded alternative soul in Aquilina. In truth, she had relatively only just started to dig indie music at the time, but she embraced it wholeheartedly and the first real roots of Skimmed started to take shape. After several drummer changes - they are hard enough to come by and even harder to click with musically - the band recruited Iommi Underwood, formerly of The Dominoes. A passionate fan of the nouveau-indie scene and a huge Arctic Monkeys fan, Underwood was a perfect fit for the cohesive factor that Skimmed were looking to complete.

Apart from playing in their own band, all of them are also keen gig-goers, and it was after watching key bands of Malta's later-day alternative scene, among them Lumiere, Totema and Dripht that the spark to form a band had grown stronger. "In the early days our music was very Nirvana-influenced, but over time, we developed our own sound", Borg says when I ask about their influences. "I discovered Nirvana in my father's collection and I was hooked". The band's sound today though has branched out and grown. As the band's current single Can't Stop, which is floating around the top end of most local radio charts, clearly shows, Skimmed have managed to find a balance between punk, indie pop and..."Lena Lovich"?

This suggestion is tendered by none other than drummer Iommi Underwood, who has barely been in the studio five minutes but is evidently keen to get involved. He wasn't yet born when Lovich released her 1979 hit single Lucky Number ("My parents' record collection is quite extensive", he tells me). Actually, the Lovich reference makes sense as it does, to some extent, reflect Aquilina's particular vocal style, which incidentally, I also find subtly evocative of Alison from Beangrowers in its quieter moments and of Lisa from The Areola Treat when she's belting out the hard stuff. As more comparisons are bandied about, Aquilina points out that the particular vocal punctuations I am referring to were actually thought up by Borg, not her, which kind of turns the whole discussion on its head.

Aquilina also mentions that live, the music actually has a stronger grunge presence that isn't as obvious on the recordings. A case of "old habits die hard" perhaps, but a listen to the eight tracks on the upcoming CD does suggest that quite some attention to detail has been applied in the studio. Recorded with David Vella at Temple Studios, the CD bounces various musical elements that stretch all the way from the gritty drive of Bored Games to the shifting skank of Victory Kitchen and the retro rock 'n roll backbeat on Johnny. The binding factor tying the songs together is an underlying drive that lies at the core of each song featured here. “Just wait till you hear the new songs” Borg tells me “They’re even better”. And to prove it to me, right after we finish the interview, they plug in and treat me to a preview of three brand new tunes which I’m positive will be in the setlist for Skimmed’s gig this Friday.
www.myspace.com/michaelbugeja
- Michael Bugeja for The Sunday Times

Always trying too keep a ear out for what the rest of the music world is up to sometimes you get lucky by surfing myspace or Itunes...But in this case the music found us first. Usually not getting the chance to explore more than just ENGLISH speaking countries it becomes difficult to get heard (as a band), or you end up with a very small fanbase and a band can get locked into very little, or no distribution of their music other than the Internet...But those who put in the effort can definitely make a impact. Continuing...

SKIMMED is a band from the small European island MALTA somewhere near ITALY if you look hard enough on a world map...And I know you wont, but the band has come across to me as something that should be checked out if your into the following. There is a definite 80’s NEW WAVE vibe mixed with a little SKA to 60’s Surf Rock that points me in the direction of comparison (The B-52’s) without all that corny crap like (Love Shack) getting in the way and making it totally useless to the average music lover...

But with well seasoned female fronted vocals throughout, it gives a nice touch to a band that has a new approach to this genre. Don’t get me wrong, but a lead singer can make or break what’s going on. The music itself is creative and original that has me leaning in a direction that this first attempt is not the best that this band can produce...And it can only get better from here. With that being said the first track (Can’t Stop) is the anthem from this CD....Short and sweet, get in and get out before it’s too late, but make it work.. And work it does. Following tracks (Napoleon) & (Shitty Jobs) gives off a kinda BLOOD RED SHOES feel that I totally dig so there is some straight up Rock’n Roll included on this disc, but mostly staying with what was said before.

I have some mixed emotions about this band, but I like them as well and can’t find anything wrong with what’s going on and I’m looking forward to what they do next. A 20 minute 8 track CD that can do no harm. Well done - Dave Fischwick at the Neus Subjex

After about two years of gigging and being on the live circuit for quite a bit, Skimmed have finally launched their debut recording upon us and it’s a good one.

The first thing you’ll notice about Your Head... is the amount of swagger that this band has, each of these eight tracks walk the walk and talk the talk. The second thing you’ll notice that there’s a ton of energy flowing and sparking through this EP’s brief twenty minutes. It literally leaves you breathless. It’s eight spunky punky pop nuggets that flash by at blink or you’ll miss it pace. You’ll fist punch the air during Rip Off, shake your head to Can’t Stop and Johnny was designed to make crowds shout along to it..

Now since Skimmed are good at making you want to jump around, they could have taken the easy route out and recording eight versions of Can’t Stop but thankfully they no such thing and splash a variety
of styles along the way. ‘Napoleon’ has a belching keyboard motif, ‘Shitty Jobs’ ( I also know you’ll be repeating the ‘you pay peanuts you get monkeys’ line after a bit) and ‘Victory Kitchen’ has a ska vibe but even when the group follow the traditional loud/quiet/loud formula they (the aforementioned Rip Off , Whorehouse) score just as triumphantly. Also worth noting is how David Vella’s clean production actually brings out the best in the band rather than hinder them.

‘Your Head is too Big for Your Crown’ is big on tunes and ones that stick in your head upon first listen. It’s also very direct and punchy and also – something that I think a good number of our bands tend to lack – a sense of fun. The band are clearly enjoying every minute of this and they want you join in the rush. Sure maybe the semi English accent of the lead singer sounds a teensy bit out of place on first listening but you get used it on further spins.

As a debut offering ‘Your Head....’ does it’s job nicely and is a very good introduction to the Skimmed sound and what they intend to do – conquer your ear drums with catchy tunes. Hopefully they won’t follow the title of their EP and think that this release will suffice cause I want more! - Robert Pisani

Wayne Flask meets Skimmed: mother’s milk is a distant memory.

“This girl who worked with the sound crew came up to me saying, your album is really cool, we’ve been playing it over and over again. I’m going to make copies it for my friends. I went bonkers. Do you know how much money a twenty two year old invests in making a record, I asked her angrily. These people really don’t care about you, they even say it to your face they’re going to copy your work...”

The half smile that had almost appeared on Skimmed’s Alexandra Aquilina’s face gives way to a disdainful grimace, like someone who’s just walked unscathed out of a drunken Montecarlo Tennis Club fete. Of course, you’d wonder whether at their age (Alex is 23, guitarist Daniel Borg a year older) they should still be channelling fury via their music or whether they should be looking at the benefits of a quiet life sat on a couch. No, not for them: they carry an unequivocal enthusiasm on their sleeve, and if they’re mean onstage they can be equally piercing off it. But, mind you, what would our over friendly, dour coffee table music scene be without someone spilling the pint? More so when a couple of young ‘uns like these two turn up with a determined glimmer in their eye, making it clear they’re not the types you’ll want to bully.

Skimmed’s rapid emergence from the blissful nowhereness of garage days has caught the eye of many, if not the imagination. Their sound is a juvenile strand of the traditional blend of indie and punk that sweeps through you shamelessly fuelled by a block solid rhythm section and Alex’s vocals, which sound impeccably foreign. They don’t depart too much from the confines of their genre yet their songs are blessed, in most cases, with h word – the Hook. There again it’s what indie/punk/garage/ callitwhatyouwish music is about – don’t go overboard, avoid people wearing linen, don’t get too friendly with those in flannel shirts, and get it done properly. In a scene where people who write three minute songs often let go of quality control, Skimmed are on the right track.

The band knows its humble beginnings in the school scene, back when Daniel was involved with other musicians in a project named Fade. “I still shudder when I hear that name,” he says half-blushing. “It was a grungier type of music,” says Alex, who joined through the revolving doors of the band at the age of seventeen. “It was very different. There was no form of songwriting maturity, I was singing songs which Daniel had written for himself to sing, but weren’t really suitable to my voice. Eventually the keyboardist we had at the time quit the band and we started writing in a new way. At the time many people told us we were crap live.” Bassist Federico Cilia is the other mainstay of the band, while drummer auditions must have been frequent with the band claiming a total of 6 drummers in their rosters. “Fede, Daniel and I have very high standards, we are quite demanding of ourselves and of others,” says Alex, whom by now I can identify as the One Who Doesn’t Mince Words. “At one point we had a German drummer who recorded the EP [Your Head is too Big for Your Crown] with us, he was much older than we are. We were relaxed and everything with him but he had a few issues. Recording with a forty year old who’d end up in tears isn’t really... you know. David [Vella] nursed him quite a bit in the studio and he knew he wouldn’t be around for long.”

Well known among the local gig circuit, they received an unusual if very welcome endorsement from Brikkuni’s singer/lyricist/ mouthpiece Mario Vella. A few years back, Skimmed themselves would be seen at gigs of Vella’s previous band, the legendary Lumiere, together with other left of centre favourites such as Totema, BNI, Beangrowers and Dripht.
And while it’s easier to succumb to the temptation of pigeonholing their music, their influences are slightly different to what I first thought. “Well, the first remotely ‘rock’ thing I had ever listened to was Avril Lavigne,” says Alex. I ask her if she got picked on at school for that. “Yes, but that’s because I was the ‘rocker’. Let alone if I had been listening to Nirvana or the Smiths...” “Fede on the other hand always loved ska and punk, he was into The Police, and then he changed very quickly. He started listening to the Pixies and just went crazy about them. I think he matured musically way before we did,” says Daniel.

There are a few parallels between their music and that of the other enfant terrible of Maltese punk, Areola Treat: the searing pace, their directness, less glitzy perhaps. “I think they’re more aggressive than us,” says Daniel, “in the sense that they have a bigger guitar sound influenced by American bands while we are mostly influenced by British bands. Lisa’s vocals are also more experimental and womanly while Alex’s are more child-like and punky. We have actually been placed in the middle-ground between Beangrowers and The Areola Treat.”
Throughout the album, you’d sense the feeling that David Vella’s Midas touch has had some bearing on the final product. “I think David Vella has given us a lot of things. We’ve introduced the synth,” says Daniel. “He had a clear idea of what he wanted us to sound like, which we hadn’t quite realised when we went into the studio. The first time he came into our rehearsal place he recommended a few bands we had never listened to before, say, the B-52’s. There were quite a few names. He encouraged us to try and sound darker, and our sound slowly began to more mature. He also taught us to be more disciplined with our instruments.”

While it is clear that Alex and Daniel share a huge portion of the songwriting duties, they are adamant that Skimmed is a collective
process. “For us, the tune is simply not complete if Fede doesn’t nail a bass line he’s completely happy with. Some bands put songwriting merit on one person and I don’t think it’s fair. We all work together.”

Here perhaps, the “darkness” encouraged by the veteran producer – a mentor for most – should hopefully find a way of seeping into the lyrics, which bear too much on how young the band sounds, confining it to younger audiences by nature of its easy, poppy rhyming. At some point in time, like some of their drummers, they will get tired of writing about drinking or boys who liked crack and see themselves growing ‘older’. Think the Arctic Monkeys’ transformation for their third album, and the future is rosy. Surely the title to their debut EP, Your Head is Too Big for Your Crown must have some origin worthy of mention. “To tell the truth I don’t remember when we decided on it. But it makes a lot of sense to us. Many people in Malta are bigheads who believe they’re gods or saviours of some sort. They’d be people who will go round making people think they’re someone important without really being the case.
“It’s not politicians I’m referring to here. There are things that are much closer to home that are not working. It happens in local music, some people think they’re doing something great for the scene but a lot of it is happening for the sake of helping friends and so on. If you say a word against that you’ll get hounded. You see a lot of crap on Facebook, as soon as someone raises his voice against something they get attacked. We’ve had our own situations, like others organising gigs on the same date as our EP launch. We’ve been accused of being envious by people who do such things who then go around bragging they’re doing something for Malta’s live scene,” says Alex adamantly.

Opening track Can’t Stop, a quirky ska track that would be comfortable on indie dancefloors around the isle did make it to the radios “by some freak accident” although other submissions weren’t so fortunate. “One particular radio station even congratulated us for our efforts even though they told us they wouldn’t be playing [followup single first song on video] Napoleon. It made us sound like we were trying out some heavy avant-garde stuff,” says Daniel, his chuckle of sarcastic disbelief surfacing once more. They rue, primarily, a local scene which lacks venues and a general lack of music culture. And... “There are lots of crappy bands who make it to the radio or to Eurovision who do a lot of harm and give the scene a bad reputation because they try to do what they are not capable of doing. There are good bands in Malta... it ticks me off because most people only have a passive interest in music. They don’t go to gigs.”

Quiet life on a couch? No, not yet. They plan to record an album where nobody, really, is expecting them to do much more within a genre that is as catchy as confining. They are, however, a band that has matured through the ages and has an immense potential to keep it going. Don’t count on them running out of steam. - Wayne Flask for Manic Magazine

Having just unleashed their debut single Can’t Stop onto the local airwaves, the post- punk quintet Skimmed are now preparing to launch their debut EP, Your Head Is Too Big For your Crown, on September 25 at Lo Squero, Floriana together with Brikkuni. TEODOR RELJIC chats to the young musicians – consisting of Alexandra Aquilina, Daniel Borg, Iommi Underwood and Federico cilia – on the new release and future plans.

Early Days
We’ve been around for approximately three to four years, most of them spent in the garage, though we’ve had a number of gigs with local bands in various bars on the island. Our current line up, however, is only about five months old. Our new drummer, Iommi, has had to learn all the songs off of the EP, and we’ve also written new material together, some of which will be previewed during the EP launch.

The skimmed style
From our first gig up until now a lot of things have changed, and a lot of things have happened. All of these elements have helped us to mature as musicians, performers and songwriters. However, we are nowhere near done with evolving.

Local Scene
The local music scene is slowly growing, though exposure and places to gig are limited, unfortunately. Musically, we think we’re filling a gap, as most local bands are, at the end of the day. Our sound is made up of quite a varied smattering of genres.

Advice for new bands
Don’t give up and don’t let your head grow too big for your crown.

The Internet
Its impact is considerable. Nowadays it’s easier to discover new bands and new music and its easier to be heard.

The EP
Our EP consists of eight straightforward, and energetic tracks whose lyrics mainly evolve around the EP’s title. Its sound is influenced by diverse genres thus appealing to a wide spectrum of individuals.
Brikkuni Brikkuni are a great band and we are very much looking forward to playing with them. It’s going to be a great show.

The future
This is our first EP launch surely we are not going to stop here. New material is already being written and obviously we have to meet new challenges now. From the tough experiences we’ve been through we don’t give up that easily!
- Teodor Rejlic for Malta Today