Why singer-songwriter Skye Wallace loves two books from Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon
Skye Wallace is no stranger to visceral performances. In fact, her fiery mixture of folk music and punk rock, has afforded her critical acclaim from publications like Noisey, as well as CBC Music.
Moreover, her last album, Something Wicked, was named one of Vancouver Weekly's Best Albums of 2016.
The songwriter, who is based in Toronto, Ont., has chosen two books by Kim Gordon of noise-rock legends Sonic Youth. In Girl in a Band and Is It My Body?, Gordon takes a critical lens to the very notion of performance.
Wallace explains why she connects with the rock legend's books.
Visceral spaces
"I've just finished Girl in a Band and I'm also reading her selected texts Is It My Body?, which is specifically interested in art criticism.
"One of [the essays is called] I'm scared when I kill in my dreams. She gets into the concept of space within the performance of rock music and the club and how it's not only a very visceral experience for the audience, but also for the people who are performing."
Self-belief in performances
"There's this quote in both books that says, 'People pay a lot of money to see others believe in themselves.' I think that's a really interesting concept, especially given the way that she performs, which I look up to so much. She's a visceral performer and she's very much about the fearlessness, and the thrill, of being onstage. That's something that I try to chase as well, as far as what I enjoy in performing."
Skye Wallace's comments have been edited for length and clarity.