Indie Rock Princess Sky Ferreira to Bring Her Dulcet Tones to L.A.

Fred Hernandez

Sky Ferreira has worked with handlers since her early teenage years when music executives would try to pigeonhole her into being America’s next edgy pop star. From a young age she felt a passion for singing when as she hummed tunes and eventually sang in her gospel choir. Possibly, her close personal relationship with Michael Jackson might have had something to do with her love of singing. Ferreira was mostly raised by her grandmother who worked for 25 years as Michael Jackson’s stylist/hair dresser. When Jackson first learned about Ferreira’s interest in singing he suggested that she enroll in opera singing classes.

She dropped out of high school after her sophomore year to pursue music full-time. She used MySpace as a vessel for her musical success. After uploading raw demos to her MySpace artist page, she contacted Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant, which led to a collaboration. After ghostwriting Britney Spears hit song “Toxic,” Ferreira was signed to Parlophone Records in 2009 and began working on her full-length debut, which wouldn’t be released until 2013. If you don’t recognize Sky Ferreira’s indie pop tunes, you might recognize her from her modeling ventures for the likes of Heidi Slimane and Terry Richardson along with being featured in Interview magazine and being the face for hair care brand Redken. Her modeling pursuits have garnered her unwanted criticism for being a socialite with good connections. That wouldn’t be the only critique throughout her career.

Her earlier singles “One,” “17” and “Obsession” were primarily dance/electronic pop songs with bubblegum melodies. Her first EP, “As If!,” was released in March 2010 and her second EP, “Ghost,” featured collaborations with Jon Brion and Shirley Manson (Garbage). “Everything is Embarrassing” would become prominently featured on many indie blogs and touted as being one of the best songs of the year. Her time in the sun finally came in October 2013 with the release of her first full-length, “Night Time, My Time” through Capitol Records. The album was a shift from her earlier dance pop inclinations in favor of a more indie rock and garage pop appeal.

Controversy would continue to follow her after releasing what some people thought was a “pornographic” album cover. Ferreira was also arrested for drug possession, which only fueled the fire of unwanted criticism. Amidst the chaos, she joined Miley Cyrus as an opener for her 2014 Bangerz Tour. Among the critique and her assumed public persona, Ferreira’s music remains honest and vulnerable. She may never silence the critics but her music transcends critique through her innocence in purity as an artist and quite possibly the next pop princess.

Sky Ferreira plays at the Belasco on Thursday, November 20 and at the Observatory on Saturday, November 22. Tickets are on sale now.