Lucy Brown, Features Writer
Skinny Living Take Their Place In The Charts
And they may well have surprised themselves, their fans and those who undoubtedly are soon to be, by hitting the top forty on Friday. No mean feat for an unsigned band.
After releasing their twin singles 'My Blood' and 'No Messiah' they débuted at #36 with 'My Blood'.
For an unsigned band there's an unusually well developed skill to Skinny Living. The band has quoted "timeless indie" as an influence. But they've created their own. The haunting, skeletal lyric of 'I could be a killer' from My Blood is so brutally honest and has such resonance that you know it speaks for you too.
Lead singer Ryan Johnston brings depth of feeling to every lyric, and without the over-worn sound of traditional performers, his voice has a classic tone, full and captivating.
The group's youth and rawness is compelling and something they should not lose. Their song content is apt, heartfelt, at times heart-wrenching; the videos have a professionalism rare in a young band. In the case of early track 'Let Me In', the dance performance, the use of sign language and the quality of production result in a truly beautiful piece.
The backdrop of tower blocks in the acoustic version of 'Strawberry Jam', the candid lyrics, the hand-held camera all serve to remind how relevant and current they are, while the quality of musicianship confirms they'll be here to stay.
The trio from Belfast and Wakefield head out on tour in October promoting their début album. They took time to speak to us.
What initially brought you together as a band, and why particularly you as individuals?
We all met on the open mic circuit in Wakefield, none of us knew each other and we were all trying a solo artist thing but it made sense quite quickly to form a band.
How is the writing process? How do you work together as a band?
Ryan leads with the lyrics and melody while Danny and Will lead with the music. We all chip in on everything but that’s the main structure to things.
You have mentioned influences including 'timeless indie'. What and who would you describe as
timeless indie?
The Kooks, Bon Iver, The Smiths… That’s just an element of our inspiration though. We are inspired by most melodic and soulful genres in some way.
How would you describe your sound?
Alternative, eclectic and soulful.
How would you describe the début album?
Raw, rootsy and honest. It’s a story about life’s ups and downs and the emotions that come with it for the majority of us.
How do you feel about the tour?
We are really excited about this tour! It’s a big moment for us as a band and for our fans. It’s taken us a decade to release an album and we’ve made sure it’s full of the songs people know us for with a few extras thrown in so it’s going to be a huge celebration.
Is there a song you are most proud of?
This changes from time to time but at the moment it would be No Messiah, Won’t Be Long or I Still Love You.
If you were to direct a new listener to a song that most sums up Skinny Living which would it be?
'No Messiah' but the album version that we are releasing this month - 13th of September 2024.
Please talk me through ‘Let Me In’. The dancing, the singing, the professionalism of the production, the influence
‘Let Me In’ was one of the first songs we wrote. Will and I wrote it in his parents' back room within the first few months of knowing each other. It’s heavily influenced by RnB, particularly when it comes to the vocal melody. The song is about loving someone who has been let down when trusting another person with their heart in the past, and knowing why they are so closed off because you too have been there before.
Finally, what's next?
We’ve got a few more things planned for this album but after that album two and with any luck a bigger tour to follow.
Day by Day, on October 11th.
https://skinnyliving.co.uk/