Skypark - ChristianMusic.com

Skypark is Tyrone Wells (lead singer), Joey Aszterbaum (guitar),
Tony Deerfield (bass guitar), and Keith Gove (drums).

After being together for five years, having built a devoted regional following, released a debut album on a major label and played shows in almost every state in the union, Skypark decided it was time to learn how to write music.

They determined that they could keep spinning their wheels on the road (they added 18,0000 miles to the speedometer on their fall tour), or they could spend some time at home creating an album that would sell itself. Feeding upon rock and pop's greatest offerings, (the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, U2, Johnny Cash), and inspired by the ambition and scope of modern rock acts like Radiohead and Flick, that's exactly what they did.

Am I pretty? (Word/Epic), their major label debut released in 1998, received some raves in critics' columns, was nominated for a Dove award ("Best Modern Rock Recording"), and sold spectacularly for a band in their genre without much radio play or an opening spot on a major tour. But skypark's sights were much higher.

With the record company's support, skypark pushed back their sophomore release to May, 2000. They began a Monday through Friday writing regiment, converting Tyrone's bedroom into a rehearsal and recording studio. Winter turned to spring, with the band inviting all sorts of people in to critique the music. Thom Roy, who produced their debut, dropped in, as did Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford.

By summertime, skypark had written over forty songs. They recorded their ten best, affectionately (and appropriately) naming the project Bedroom Demos. They then hit the road for seven weeks, playing festivals and small venues in California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Iowa, Illinois, Colorado and Alaska. Meanwhile, the demos caught the ear of producer Ed Stasium (Living Colour, The Ramones), who signed up to do the record. skypark's focus on songwriting has paid off. The new songs balance killer grooves and super-hooky choruses with edgy musical experimentation and thoughtful lyrics, showcasing the band's strengths like none of their previous material has. The powerful force, emotional depth and soulful agility of Tyrone's voice, the punch and finesse of Keith's drumming, the creativity and story-telling of Tony's bass lines, the aggressive and playful guitar attack and killer vocal harmonies from Joey all fit seamlessly together. And they should, with no personnel changes, three indie records and six years of gigging behind them.

With the leap in artistry between these two recordings, the long-haul dedication of all four band members, and the same work ethic applied to their live show as they have to the new record, skypark will transcend the modern rock scene and make rock and roll history.

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