“Hang on / We’re not on this earth too long,” Rob Mentejo and Monika Bullette of The Sky Drops sing on a track off their debut record Bourgeois Beat. It’s a carpe diem sentiment packed in a free-floating melody. With a haze of reverbed distortion set to a patient kick, “Hang On” may just exemplify the “gaze-grunge” aesthetic that defines The Sky Drops.
Hailing from Wilmington, Deleware, Rob and Monika as The Sky Drops create tunes that run the gamut from lackadaisical landscapes to ambitious webs of sounds. But where other shoegaze-wannabes flood the speakers or where other grunge-knock-abouts clamor for attentioon, these two acknowledge the power of simplicity. Their knack for merging voices and effects to cautious, yet emphatic ends, keeps the music interesting and feels like anything but a cerebral bore. And you can catch The Sky Drops this Friday, August 20th, at the Nightlight where they’ll be joined by Free Electric State and White Cascade.
And now just five hard hitting questions for those Sky Drops:
1. If your band were a quote from Rain Man, which would it be?
R and M: “You complete me” (sic!)
2. What was your first instrument? What was that experience like?
R: I started playing the trumpet in 3rd grade. I chose the trumpet because I wanted to play the instrument that performed the solo on “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets. Although I soon learned afterward that the instrument on the solo was actually a saxophone, I stuck with the trumpet for 10 years.
M: I recall playing the recorder – to this day the only wind instrument I play. I can still pull off a mean Christmas carol.
3. Describe the first time you decided there was something to this musical partnership that needed to be shared.
R: I had worked on a song for Monika’s solo record, and her vocals and songwriting abilities really made an impression on me. But it was after seeing her play drums for Licorice Roots that I thought, wow, vocals and drums? At the time, I had an idea for a stripped down big guitar band, heavy on male/female harmonies. Asking Monika to join was a no brainer.
M: I had followed Rob’s bands for years and was always impressed with his verve. I asked Rob to work on a song for my solo record because I knew what wonders he would contribute. That collaboration blossomed into The Sky Drops (and many miles traveled in the Volvo).
4. What are a few inspirations or influences that might really surprise people?
R: gardening at night and dark chocolate
M: the films of Michael Haneke and pomegranates
5. What did you want to be when you grew up? (How did that turn out?)
R: I used to sing along to records and tapes in high school. It was fun, and there was something powerful about it, but not fulfilling. I eventually borrowed a cheap Cort bass guitar and experimented with writing my own songs. My songwriting is much better now.
M: I have always been impressed with people who could heal others but never made it to becoming “Dr. Monika.” Maybe through music, instead of through the medical arts, I’ve have reached some sense of that.
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The Sky Drops play The Nightlight this Friday day, August 20. And please, do give them a high five when you see them!