Indie 5-0 with Skylight Motion Picture
Skylight Motion Picture is the rising cinematic pop and bedroom pop band from Napa, CA. Their sound is inspired by their love for movie soundtracks and the nostalgic sounds of the pop they listened to in their youth. They have no problem exploring the bounds of genre and creating music that sounds amazing, coloring outside of the tradition lines.
They just released their new album, Music From the Film, written by front man Ezekiel Hampton. He creates an homage to the sounds of the 80′s with synthetic beats and orchestral instrumentation. Lyrically speaking, Music From the Film surrounds two themes: religious and spiritual growth and going through heartbreak unprepared.
We got the chance to speak with Ezekiel, chief songwriter and producer of Skylight Motion Picture, in this edition of Indie 5-0. So, without further ado, let’s get started:
What was the inspiration for your new album, Music From the Film?
Lyrically, the songs were reflective of two important moments in my life at the time they were being written: the shock of feeling broken-hearted from a break-up that I initially thought was mutual and an increased division between myself and the evangelical culture I grew up in amplified by the uncomfortable bedfellows of religion and politics. Musically, I was interested in a sound that was less 'synth-y' and a bit more accessible than previous releases, which were heavy on the atmospherics. I think this is the first release where the majority of the musical influences aren't from the 1980's.
What is your favorite song on the album? Why?
I tend to gravitate towards whatever the most recently written song, so in the case of Music From The Film, I probably would say “Doors in Dreams,” which was written in 2020, while the other songs were written in the years previous. It's probably the least conventional of the full-length songs and I tend to gravitate more towards that. I also love the haunting vocal harmonies on top of the lush atmosphere of the music.
What is your writing process like? Which song on Music From the Film was the easiest and which one was the hardest?
Once I get a melody in my head, I'll record it on a piano along with a generic beat before fleshing out the rest of the music. Lyrics are almost always the last component and while I'll sometimes try to match the mood to the music, I do appreciate the contrast of downbeat lyrics with upbeat music. "Cards On The Table” was probably the hardest just because it was the oldest song written and there have been so many versions of its existence. It was the hardest one for me to decide when the production was complete because I still feel that there's something missing that could make it more grandiose.
Who is your biggest musical inspiration and why?
For this project, I would say Jeremy Enigk (Sunny Day Real Estate, The Fire Theft) is a huge musical and lyrical inspiration. The Postal Service is also a top influence for this most recent album as I remember appreciating electronic pop music with indie rock sensibilities. Growing up and being apart of several rock bands before venturing into a more electronic sound makes me feel a sort of kinship with their approach.
Who would play in your dream group?
Bjork, Sting, Imogen Heap, Peter Gabriel, Jonsi, and 1980s-era Michael W. Smith with tape loops provided by Brian Eno and choral conducting by Arvo Part.
Find Skylight Motion Picture via: Website // Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // TikTok // Spotify // Soundcloud
