Check out our interview with Alt-Pop singer/songwriter Skofee.
Skofee’s “Post Pop Spiderman Remix!” Spiderman is off her debut EP Polished praised by Ones to Watch, LA Weekly, Earmilk, and many others. The LA based artist returns with a remix of the song fans fell in love with, courtesy of Stefan Skarbek AKA “Post Pop,” who has written and produced for a plethora of rule-breaking artists such as Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Jamiroquai, The Verve, and many others.
Skofee (pronounced “Skoh-fee”) engages her listeners through emotional, candid lyrics of self-reflection and a contemporary mix of distinct and dreamy indie pop sounds, wild electronic soundscapes and vibrant layered vocals.
Follow Skofee @skofeemusic
Hi Skofee, please tell us a little about you?
Hi! I’m Skofee. I grew up in Wichita, Kansas and went to high school in Boulder, Colorado.
I love making music. I am really clumsy! I love going to garage sales. Sometimes I laugh at my own jokes before I finish saying them. My family and friends are really important to me.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Crafty, business, casual
We’re sure you have been asked this million times but how did you get in the industry?
I started writing songs in high school and then I went to USC, which brought me to LA and got me started in the industry here.
Describe your sound in 3 words?
Husky, sad, bop?
Who influenced you and why did you choose to make music?
I definitely draw inspiration from different styles of music and artists. Growing up I loved Elton John, The Beatles, and ABBA and I have learned a lot from their different songwriting styles. Listening to artists like Frank Ocean, Alicia Keys, Lorde, St. Vincent and Lana Del Rey in high school made me want to veer into writing for myself and from there tons of up-and-coming artists have inspired me to explore my songwriting style and my persona.
I chose to make my own music because I found it more exciting to frame my voice and message myself rather than perform someone else’s. That being said, I love a good cover.
Do you play any instrument?
I mostly write on piano but am learning guitar very slowly.
Do you ever get nervous?
Allllll the time!
Tell us about the success of your remix “Spiderman?”
I’m really glad I got the opportunity to work with Stefan Skarbek, who remixed the track under the name Post Pop. He had such a cool vision for the song and made me actually want to dance to one of my own songs, which is pretty rare as I tend to write on the sadder side of things. He totally breathed new life into the song and made me love it all over again.
What’s the story behind the song?
“Spiderman” was always meant to be a song about creeping yourself out by being jealous. It’s not a nice feeling to be consumed with thinking about someone else, only to realize they don’t think about you anymore. It’s gross! Like realizing there’s a spider crawling on you. I wrote the song with Via Savage and Jamison Baken, who also produced the original track. We wanted to communicate the feeling of jealousy in a tongue and cheek way, and I think the spider imagery got the job done.
And about your EP “Polished?”
My EP ‘Polished’ was a labor of love, and a collection of songs that I felt really strongly about after a few years of writing, editing, scratching, re-writing, recording and re-recording. It’s very personal and deals with the lack of varnish that we so badly want in different moments in life. “Polished” is written by the little voice in your head that keeps stock of your personal shortcomings. “Fantomlimb” is about a relationship that lacked a proper conclusion and comes back to haunt you. “Bleach” touches on the struggle to find yourself again after being wiped clean by a toxic relationship. “Crabapple” is an ode to the bittersweet reality which accompanies the end of youth. The through line of the EP is the longing for resolve, where resolve doesn’t necessarily exist.
Did you had plans/concerts planned and cancelled because of COVID? If so have you done any online concerts or interaction with your fans?
I was wrapping up the recording of my EP when the pandemic set in. Since the ‘Polished’ EP was my first solo release, I was preparing to play shows and getting my set together and all that and I suddenly needed to put everything on hold. I’ve been able to do a few different live streamed shows, but my focus now is more on writing and recording/getting my live set together so that when we can play shows live again I’ve got it all down.
Which project is still on your bucket list?
I think it’d be fun to renovate a house someday!
What is fun and rewarding about what you do? And what’s not?
I love the recording process—I never get tired of recording vocals. I also love working with other artists and writers. Keeping up with social media isn’t always rewarding but the relationships it makes possible definitely are.
What’s next for Skofee in 2021?
Singles! And possibly a music video or two 🙂
What is your favorite song? And why?
Probably “Here Comes the Sun” because I used to always sing that with my dad.
Any loves other than music?
Food, horror movies, travel, writing, people.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Honestly, I would love to sit down with Lady Gaga and just pick her brain about the industry and her life.
Best advice ever given?
My grandpa used to say “you’ll never work a day in your life if you love what you do,” I always loved that advice.
How’s a typical day in your life?
Wake up, drink a gallon of coffee, have a good think, work on some music, watch something.
Name one your strengths?
I think I’m usually pretty good at formatting emails, sounds weird but it’s an art form.
Idea of a perfect Sunday?
Waking up to the smell of orange rolls (like cinnamon rolls but way better), eating said orange rolls that someone else has prepared, walking down to the farmer’s market by my house, grabbing some flowers, coming home to take a nap, watching a movie with my roommates, working on some tunes and cooking something for dinner. And also finding $100 on the ground.
What is your favorite song to belt out in the car/for karaoke?
I still haven’t moved past Adele’s “Hello” and I don’t plan to.
What is your own definition of happiness?
There’s so many ways you could frame this, but feeling comfortable enough in yourself to take risks is a big one for me. Also, the people I’m around contribute greatly to my happiness so I would add community to the list as well.
Do you support any charities?
This past summer I raised some money for the Black Trans Travel Fund. In their words, “a Black Trans led Collective providing Black transgender women with financial and material resources needed to remove barriers to self-determining and accessing safer travel options.”
What is your favorite healthy food?
Cheese
And your favorite cheat food?
Cheese
What would be a deal breaker on a first date?
If someone isn’t funny it’s a no from me
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully busy touring and working on new music!
How would you describe your fashion style?
Grandma chic
What do you think of Social Media?
I think it can be a great channel for communication but should be taken with a grain of salt.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram— @skofeemusic
Twitter— @skofeemusic
Facebook—Skofee
Website—skofee.com
Quote: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” —Kurt Vonnegut
Movie: “Her” gets me every time
Travel Destination: Paris, France
Sports Team: I literally can’t even think of one, I have a friend from Chicago so I’ll say the Cubs.
Photo Credit: Austin Dalgleish
