Skateland’s ‘Joyce Howell, How are You?’ EP examines the magnificence of human emotion by the lens of his private knowledge.
‘Joyce Howell, How are You?’ – Skateland
Tright here is an inner chaos that comes with merely being.
As people, we regularly really feel a variety of conflicting feelings. Typically it’s a combination of issues like pleasure and ache, uncertainty and self-discovery.
Skateland’s new EP Joyce Howell, How are You? explores all that comes with being human. The providing immerses the listener in a lush, dreamy sound. We get misplaced within the atmospheric bliss as he takes us by the ideas and emotions which have outlined his previous 12 months. The document, relating relatable themes of evaluating your self to others, jealousy and nostalgia, captures the true complexity of human expression and expertise.
Launched November 15, 2024, Joyce Howell, How are You? attracts inspiration from each indie rock and bed room pop. Crafting a sound that’s intimate and uncooked, his music sucks you in with heat, ethereal appeal. Dorian Williams II, AKA Skateland, is an Austin, TX-based singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Williams began writing songs and attempting out completely different devices in his bed room, resulting in the creation of Skateland in 2022. The artist brilliantly fuses melancholic vibes with new wave and pop manufacturing, for a novel model that’s pensive and infectious.
The five-track Joyce Howell, How are You? – Skateland’s second EP, following 2023’s New Wave Revival – opens with the gleaming “Sundown Cinema” that focuses on goodbyes, facilities itself with “Autobahn!,” a narration of relationship waves, and ends with the experimental sounds of title observe “Joyce Howell, How are You?”
This meditative, moody EP is the best delicate depiction of human consciousness. Atwood Journal just lately spoke with Skateland about his title, adverse comparisons, and a lot extra; learn our interview beneath and take heed to his newest document, out now!
— —
:: stream/buy Joyce Howell, How are You? right here ::
:: join with Skateland right here ::
— —
A CONVERSATION WITH SKATELAND
Atwood Journal: To start with, I like your artist title Skateland! How was that title conceived?
Skateland: I’ve at all times preferred the concept of ambiguity and that was the purpose when selecting the title. I needed one thing that was one phrase, and would look good on a t-shirt or pageant poster. I’m additionally actually into trend and movie, so I needed a reputation that might virtually serve all three functions…like at first look somebody ought to learn it and have a tough time deciphering whether or not it was a band, a model, or an artwork home. I had a operating record of names in my notes app for like a 12 months, and I’d write them out in several fonts and stuff like that, simply messing round. Skateland stored protruding to me so I picked it and by no means regarded again.
Your dreamy indie pop meets rock sound is wholly mesmerizing. How did you concoct your model?
Skateland: Just about all the things I do begins with a soundscape! Often I sit down and fiddle with numerous pads and synths till I really feel like I’ve constructed a stable base that just about resembles a rating or an indie model of an orchestral association, after which as soon as I lock into what the vibe of the soundscape I’ll begin writing and enjoying devices over it. On uncommon events I’ll do the other and begin with acoustic guitar or bass, after which type of coloration all the things else in round that! I did that rather a lot on this EP and it was actually enjoyable.
Your reflective EP Joyce Howell, How Are You? particulars the human expertise relating themes akin to jealousy, longing and nostalgia. What was it like creating this distinctive 5-track assortment?
Skateland: Truthfully it was an actual problem. Once you’re beginning out in music, all the things you do can really feel so life or loss of life typically. There’s this unstated consciousness that you just’re constructing a type of sonic resume that persons are going to lean on once they’re attempting to determine the place to position you. It’s like, “Man I actually love softer people stuff but when I launch a number of of these songs then persons are going to pigeonhole me in that class” and many others., and also you begin to run your self in circles.
Similar factor with actual life! Relationships, profession decisions, even what you determine to put on… it’s all type of the identical. Getting over that was the important thing, and as soon as I ended caring about it all the things got here collectively fairly rapidly. In its easiest kind the EP is me publicly looking for my method and work out who I’m, each in music and in life. It was a really rewarding and fulfilling expertise and I really feel like I grew rather a lot from it.
“Sundown Cinema” is a wistful, shimmery piece all about grappling with goodbyes. What impressed the observe?
Skateland: Mockingly I wrote “Sundown Cinema” a very long time in the past, it was one of many first Skateland demos. It’s about saying goodbye to somebody I beloved very a lot which made it very sentimental to me, however I’d had some bother with determining tips on how to package deal it so it sat on the shelf for some time. I’d experimented with typical breakup ballads, quiet piano songs, and massive arching M83 type of issues, however I felt like the ultimate kind was nonetheless eluding me. Then one night time this previous summer season I used to be listening to a bunch of outdated ’70s data out on the again porch with some mates (Al Inexperienced, Fleetwood Mac, King Harvest, and many others.), and it hit me like a ton of bricks that this was the course I ought to take Sundown Cinema. Clearly I put my very own type of shimmery spin on it, however I knew I needed a rhythmic low finish groove that had good pacing and a ton of acoustic guitar. The following morning I began engaged on it and the tune was mainly completed in like 8 hours. A uncommon victory.
“Postcards” is a fragile, fuzzy synth-driven observe that wraps us up in heat. What was the method like when developing this launch’s sonic?
Skateland: Equally to “Sundown Cinema,” I’d had an earlier model of “Postcards” for some time underneath a distinct title, but it surely sounded fully completely different. Then I really met up with a producer pal of mine named 10pmtoclose simply to type of fiddle within the studio with no actual agenda, and we began making this type of Wes Anderson-esque association that I actually preferred. After some time I began singing the outdated “Postcards” melody over it and it simply type of labored. Every little thing fell into place and it was very serendipitous.
Typically on-line we see the spotlight reels of individuals’s lives and it’s straightforward to be plagued with poisonous comparability. This idea makes “Postcards” extremely relatable. What recommendation would you give to somebody who is continually evaluating themselves to others?
Skateland: Sign off! It’s not actual, and in the event you deal with it prefer it’s actual you’ll spoil your self. Today in age I really feel like we’re all dwelling two lives, our actual one after which our Web one, and it’s affecting how we understand ourselves. The quickest strategy to turn into discontent is to scroll by another person’s Instagram feed…in order onerous as it’s I really feel like we must always make a aware effort to floor ourselves in actuality and restrict how a lot we’re trying into what different persons are doing. It’s simpler mentioned than completed however it may possibly’t damage to attempt… and that’s the message of “Postcards.”
“Autobahn!” expresses the highs and lows of relationships, identical to the Autobahn freeway has speedy twists and turns. Are you able to clarify the providing in additional element?
Skateland: “Autobahn!” is such a goofy tune and that’s why I adore it a lot. In relationships I really feel like we’re in every single place, but it surely’s inevitable as a result of that’s what makes us human. I needed to jot down one thing that mirrored that, however did it in a method that was lighthearted and enjoyable as a substitute of attempting to be critical and moody. The tune was so enjoyable to make as a result of it’s virtually solely programmed, so it felt like I used to be again in school once more slicing digital music and ranting about some foolish relationship.
I perceive you’re a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. How have you ever managed to residence in on so many inventive abilities?
Skateland: Skateland is comparatively new, however I’ve been doing music in some kind for my whole life. As a child I grew up enjoying gospel in church, which is the place I discovered tips on how to play devices like bass, drums, guitar and many others., and I’ve at all times been grateful that I used to be capable of minimize my enamel in that atmosphere. I’ve at all times written poetry, however once I was an adolescent is once I began writing songs. I performed in a ton of bands in center college and highschool that gave me the house to apply that craft. That’s once I actually discovered how cathartic writing your ideas down in tune kind may very well be, and on prime of that seeing different individuals resonate with these ideas gave me a pure excessive that impressed me to maintain at it.
Lastly, in school is once I received into the extra technical/digital facet of issues and began studying manufacturing. I began out constructing extra EDM-centric preparations on Storage Band after which Logic, and mainly by trial and error began determining tips on how to lay whole songs down from begin to end.
Now I’m in my 20s, and it seems like all of these phases of my life and abilities I discovered have culminated into me now having the ability to perform the imaginative and prescient for Skateland.
You carried out a Stay Nation set alongside indie greats like Two Door Cinema Membership and Day Wave; any tales you may share from that present?
Skateland: Greater than something, I believe it simply felt good to be seen in that second, and know that individuals have been beginning to take discover of what I’ve been engaged on in these two quick years. These are two acts I’ve at all times beloved, and to be in the identical constructing was positively very affirming. I received to observe Two Door up shut from sidestage, and it was a masterclass in performing. You would inform they’d been doing it for thus lengthy and have been so locked into their craft, and it confirmed me what being a real skilled appears like. I opened for Foster the Individuals this previous 12 months and it was the identical deal, simply seeing the cream of the crop do their factor and taking numerous notes.
Lastly, who’re some artists in your present playlist you may suggest to our readers?
Skateland: Some acts that I’m actually vibing with proper now are Lightning Bug, Sea Lemon, Portraits of Tracy, Dayglow, and binki! They’re making actually inventive artwork and I’d like to work with any of them… web residents, do your factor and make it occur!
— —
:: stream/buy Joyce Howell, How are You? right here ::
:: join with Skateland right here ::
— —
“Joyce Howell, How are You?” – Skateland
— — — —
Connect with Skateland on
TikTok, Instagram
Uncover new music on Atwood Journal
© Lindsey Chambley
:: Stream Skateland ::
