SKOTO promo photo by Andrew Caulfield. Live photo by Ruben Alejandro.
With the announcement of this year’s Substance Festival at the Great American Music Hall, we here at SF Sonic wanted to highlight some of the bands and artists playing over the three nights, whether they’ve been around for years or are early in their musical journey. For the last few years, Marina Andräde has been crafting and perfecting her own brand of synth-based darkwave music under the name SKOTO. In her first published interview, I talked to her about the importance of visual identity, her upcoming album Murder Music, and more.
Tyler King: Where does the name SKOTO come from? What were the circumstances that caused SKOTO to be formed?
SKOTO: A couple of years ago I was studying botany and biology to get an online certification, and I came across Skotomorphogenisis, which leads into Photomorphogenisis. Photo meaning “light” in greek, and the ability for a plant to chase light in order to perform photosynthetic activity; but what happens before that? Skoto means “dark” in greek, and this explains the ability for a seedling to electrify itself in complete darkness in order to pursue growth. I’ve worked as a photographer most of my life, so with Skoto it’s definitely the hidden parts of my experiences which manifested themselves. I came up with the name while camping in Grand Teton National Park looking at some wildflowers.
TK: Listening to your music, especially newer songs like “Red” and “Body,” I can hear elements from Songs Of Faith And Devotion-era Depeche Mode, The Prodigy, PJ Harvey, and other alternative 90s music. Is that an era of music that particularly influences you, or am I way off?
SKOTO: You are actually spot on – most bands formed late 80s and early 90s like, and even some 80s bands that had a specific 90s phase are favorites under my belt, something about the zeitgeist of 1989-1999 are very nostalgic to my childhood and personal sound preferences, a lot of the imagery as well, bleeding out into the early 2000s. Probably because it was the last time our society had any hope for the future. Trip Hop, jungle, grunge, electronica and industrial from this specific era are still my favorites.
TK: As someone with their own solo project named after a Depeche Mode album, what inspired you to cover their song “Rush?” Can we expect a studio recording of it on your latest album?
SKOTO: Songs Of Faith And Devotion is my favorite Depeche Mode album, especially if you know the personal stuff the band was experiencing at the time with one of the members, and it really speaks to me in it’s most visceral form. Rush is a very sexually driven song and sonically one of my favorites of theirs, but I won’t be performing any covers in the foreseeable future, all the recordings being made are original work.
TK: Where did the name of your upcoming album, Murder Music, come from? What can people expect from it when it releases in June?
SKOTO: “Murder Music” is the title of a song from one of my favorite bands, Renegade Soundwave, from their 1989 album Soundclash, which was very ahead of their time as far as sampling, context, and content delivery. One of the opening lines says, “Love is the only weapon of which I have to fight” and I believe the current state of the world there are a lot of murderous feelings we are having towards societal collapses, injustices, and in a sense it also symbolizes rebirth. It’s also a play on words to invite whomever to “murder” music, step out of the bubble of genres and norms and assume a more unique approach.
TK: As SKOTO as a project has progressed, has your approach to performing live changed at all?
SKOTO: If anything it feels more natural, I definitely would like to get a better lighting design to further extend the vision of the performance, but I’m no expert at that yet. Skoto is half sonic and half visual, so only fully experienced when seen live.
TK: All of your releases have had a coherent visual identity and iconography to them. Was that something that you planned from the very beginning? Is having your own visual identity something that’s important to you?
SKOTO: Absolutely. Most people have a better understanding of musical identities through image, so I try to keep it simple but coherent, for now a very specific color palette applies along with some edge in the fashion and visual identity, appropriating some acidic elements to it as well.
TK: One of the elements of your music that was very apparent on your EP Skotomorphogenesis was the bass guitar. I’m wondering if that was your first instrument and what your relationship is to that instrument vs electronic instruments?
SKOTO: My first instrument was actually acoustic guitar, my parents had me in classical guitar lessons from ages 10-15, from which I stepped away since then and was certain I’d leave music completely after that. I had a friend however, when I was in high school senior year, show me his brand new Steve Harris signature Fender Precision bass, and this was my introduction to bass guitar, to where I taught myself how to play and moved forward with that until today. I always wanted a project I could combine organic and electronic elements together. I only got more familiar with sequencing and working with a DAW in the past 4 years and I love all the possibilities for that so far. The 303 will be way more apparent in this upcoming album however, giving it the right acid feel, but there’s still plenty of bass guitar to go around.
TK: Are there any specific artists you’re looking forward to seeing at Substance Fest this year?
SKOTO: I have seen most of these performances multiple times, but I’m looking forward to TR/ST performing their first album, as it’s one of my favorites. Can’t wait to also check out Pink Stiletto, we’ve played in a bill together in SF before and I can’t wait to see her evolution as well as another female Bay Area artist!
TK: What can people expect from your set at Substance Fest?
SKOTO: Interdimentional speeding tickets.
Follow SKOTO on Instagram here
SKOTO’s upcoming album Murder Music will be available through her Bandcamp
Tickets for Substance Fest can be purchased here
