Head in the Clouds, Eyes on SKY [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]

Introducing you to one of Denver’s rising stars in the bass scene: SKY. As she continues her rise through Denver’s music scene, her journey is rooted in far more than ambition alone. From the early days of learning the craft as a DJ to now stepping fully into her artist project, SKY speaks with the kind of passion that makes it clear she’s only getting started. With her head in the clouds and her sights set even higher, she’s steadily carving out her own lane and taking Denver along for the ride!

In this exclusive Electric Hawk interview, SKY reflects on finding her voice during her time at Fort Collins, building confidence both behind the decks and within herself, and creating genuine connections that continue to shape her path today, plus what to expect from the upcoming star!

In Conversation with SKY

seradopa: You started DJing in 2023 and dropped your first mix in 2024. Take us back to the beginning. What initially pulled you toward DJing, and what kept you going when it was still just an idea or a hobby?

SKY: I initially started getting really heavily into the EDM scene when I moved to Colorado, which was around the end of 2022. And I just noticed myself at every single show I went to: all I cared about was what the DJ was doing on the decks. I thought it was the most interesting thing to watch. I had no idea what they were doing, and that really piqued my interest initially, just that being the only thing I was ever paying attention to.

Also, I had a lot of friends who were DJs. Naturally started making friends with a lot of people who were making music and DJing. So anytime I’d see them mix, or, you know, go to a party, and they were just like casually mixing, all I would do is stand and watch them. That is what initially sparked my interest. Naturally, I was drawn to it every time I was around it.

Then my brother actually used to be a wedding DJ, like 10 years ago, but he stopped, and so his deck was just sitting in the basement for years. I hit him up, and I was like, “Hey, can I please have it?” And he literally did! It’s this tiny, little DDJ SB2. From then on, I started practicing every day for fun! And I’d say there was never a point where I had to do anything to keep going. It was just like, “This is awesome, and this is my hobby now!”

seradopa: You’ve gone from DJing for friends to playing major shows and festivals. What was the turning point when you decided to really take this seriously?

SKY: In a way, there wasn’t ever a specific moment where I was like, “I’m taking this seriously now.” It was just a culmination of “I’m getting a lot of really cool opportunities now,” and I am recognizing that I’m good at this over the past year. It just fell into place where this is something I want to do forever, and something I really enjoy putting my time into. So why wouldn’t I, you know, put the effort towards it!

Yeah, I can’t think of a specific moment. Every show that I played, one after another, I’d just be like, “Wow. I’m in love with this!”

seradopa: Your artist project began toward the end of your time at CSU. How did that environment shape your sound, your confidence, or your creative direction?

SKY: To be completely honest, I hated college. [Laughs]

Before I had found DJing, I already really hated college, but I had nothing else to really focus on. So then when I started DJing, I was like, “Oh, wait, there is something that I enjoy,” and I didn’t have to force myself and focus on school all the time. I don’t think CSU in itself ever did anything for me. I think being at Fort Collins was more of what shaped me as an artist today.

Because the scene there is so tight-knit and so close. In Denver, there are so many subgroups of people and things going on. When you go to Fort Collins, there is a core group of people really running everything, and it’s very community-driven. That’s more so what has shaped me: making these connections and some of my closest friends, who have helped me in my career and pushed me forward. Long story short, college did nothing for me, Fort Collins, and being in Colorado, definitely what drove me, honestly.

College did give me really good networking skills, and I’m grateful for that. And I would have never moved to Colorado if I hadn’t gone to college here. You know, that’s the whole reason I came out here, is because I transferred to CSU. So I’m very grateful that it brought me here, but definitely looking back, I’m like, I could have saved myself so much money

seradopa: I wanted to know what the meaning was behind your artist name?

SKY: Sky is just my name. That’s just my actual name that I was given at birth! And I never really resonated with making a separate project.

From the beginning of DJing, I just was like, “This is my this is just part of who I am and what I do,” and I don’t necessarily feel the need to create something different. I just wanted it to be what I do. When I was trying to think of an artist name, nothing sat with me, and I was just like, “I’m just Sky. And I DJ.” [Laughs] That’s just who I am!

There’s definitely been times, even to this day, when I try to sit down and come up with maybe a different name or an idea for a different project I could start. But none of it really resonates with me! I also just think my name in itself is already cool, short, sweet, and easy to remember. So it’s worked for me, and it seems like a lot of people have good feedback on it too!

seradopa: If you compare your very first set to your most recent one, what’s changed the most, technically, creatively, or emotionally?

SKY: That’s a really good question. My first set, I was so terrified, and I literally played for maybe 10 people. I spent a lot of time practicing that set, even though I knew I was only going to play for like 10 people, and I was just a lot more in my head about it, wanting to make sure it sounded really good for people.

Now, I make my sets like for myself. That’s a really big like argument in the DJ scene: Are you playing for the crowd and what they want to hear? Are you playing for yourself? Obviously, I cater my sets to who I’m opening for and to the vibe. But at the end of the day, I’m still doing this to have fun for myself and because it is something I love, so I’m going to play the music I want to hear.

I’ve become a lot more comfortable in my track selection and knowing when something’s gonna sound good. Also, my mixing skills in general have gotten so much better [Laughs]. I used to be terrified to do back-to-backs, literally, that was like my worst fear. And there are still times where I doubt myself a little bit, but I have gotten so much better and so much more comfortable in my skills that I’m way more open to doing back-to-backs.

I will say, though, the anxiety never goes away, the pre-show anxiety literally almost gets worse because shows are getting bigger, and so there’s more pressure every time, and I’m getting more scared there.

This is so funny. I opened for Space Wizard, which was arguably one of the coolest opportunities I’ve ever had this far, and I was in the green room gagging for like 30 minutes because I was so nervous. I have terrible stage fright, and I’m also a perfectionist, so wanting to make sure everything goes perfectly is a huge thing for me. So emotionally, it has not gotten easier, but it’s more rewarding every time!

seradopa: From the outside, it looks like things have moved quickly for you. What are some challenges behind the scenes that people don’t see or don’t talk about enough?

SKY: I’d say imposter syndrome is my biggest struggle, and has been from the beginning.

Just because I don’t have original music out quite yet. Which is a really big thing for me, is feeling that I don’t necessarily deserve these opportunities. And really struggling with like, “Am I a good DJ? Are people enjoying these sets? Why am I being given these opportunities when there are people who have been doing this for 15 years?”

So internally, I struggle with that a lot, and I definitely do try not to think about that too much and just be grateful for where I’m at. And also, there’s a lot to say about luck and being in the right place at the right time and having the right connections. Which, thankfully, I’ve had a lot of that in this journey. So I do have to keep in mind that this isn’t just for nothing, and there’s a reason I’ve been given so many amazing opportunities!

seradopa: The music industry can be isolating. How have you built a support system for yourself, both within the scene and outside of it?

SKY: That’s a really good question. It’s about building true friendships, knowing who to surround yourself with, and following your intuition about the types of groups you’re in and the people you’re around. There are a lot of bad people in the scene. There are a lot of people who want to take advantage of you, and that can be very isolating for people who get into those types of situations where it’s like they’re just getting fucked over left and right.

That’s something that I’ve really kept in mind. Remembering who my true day ones are from the beginning, and also reaching out when I am feeling lonely. I’m very lucky to have the people in my life. I don’t think there’s ever really, truly been a time where I’ve felt just completely alone. I’m so grateful to say that my friends are the best fucking people I’ve ever met, and that I know I’ll have these friendships forever. So that’s very meaningful to me, and it’s also a big reason why things have gone so well: I have these people who will show up for me no matter what and help me no matter what.

Even my friends from my hometown, who I’ve been friends with before I was even doing any of this, are so supportive too! Even though they hate EDM, and they only listen to country, they love it. They’ll go to my shows if they can. They repost my stuff on their stories. Even if they have no clue what’s going on, they’re still gonna be there. Gratefully, I can say, I’ve just had the best support system from the start, which not a lot of people have, and it takes a while to build up.

I love my friends!

seradopa: Was there a specific moment, maybe a show, a crowd, or a backstage experience, where it hit you like, “wow, this is real”?

SKY: Yeah, I briefly mentioned, but Space Wizard. I basically blacked out, not from alcohol; I literally was just in such a state of shock that I was there and doing that. Don’t even remember half of my set because I was just like, holy shit, the amount of people that were there. And just like the energy in that room literally just had my jaw on the floor the whole time.

And also another moment was playing Meow Wolf 100%! Getting off the stage, walking out, and having so many people there to support me! My whole friend group was there. People really showed up. I was the first opener, and that room was packed. Not to say that that wasn’t, because Twopercent is fucking awesome, and he’s literally, like the goat, but also part of me wants to say that, it’s because I have built something really cool, and people wanted to be there that early! Walking out onto the stage and seeing that many people there already, I was like, “Holy shit. This is awesome.”

Those were two shows that really, really did it for me.

seradopa: You’re entering your Jordan year. What does that symbolize for you in terms of growth, confidence, or stepping into your prime?

SKY: Growth-wise, I am very focused on music production now. These past three years, where I’ve just been DJing have been amazing and so fun, and, you know, a really awesome, like, hobby and kind of like, you know, something to do, like, while I was just in school and stuff,

but now I’m like, this is, this is the time to lock in. I know that 23 is very young, but I feel very old. I’m ready to start putting all my extra time into DJing and making it a top priority to release my own music by the end of the year. That’s a really big goal I have for myself: To release at least one original track by the end of 2026!

I’m really focusing on the good stuff and the wins and just being grateful for all these opportunities. I have a lot of really cool shows coming up this summer that I haven’t announced yet, that I’m feeling really grateful for.

So yeah, 23, I’m a little scared, but it’s gonna be great [laughs].

seradopa: What is the type of sound you are trying to make? What is a SKY original going to sound like?

SKY: I have found myself gravitating towards some Deep, Dark, and Dangerous kind of vibes. Very classic dubstep, very wubby and deep. I love that shit! It’s my roots and I love Deep, Dark and Dangerous. My goal is to be on DDD!

But also I’m also trying not to necessarily group myself into something yet. Your sound can develop into anything over time. I believe the best artists make everything! Even if they’re not releasing it, they are sitting down, and they’re forcing themselves to write heavy dubstep, they’re forcing themselves to write house music, because in learning how to make all kinds of genres, you can bring that back to your own sound and make it even cooler.

I’m such a nerd about that shit! Long story short, definitely some Deep Wubby Shit

[Laughs]

seradopa: If you could go back and talk to your 20-year-old self just starting out, what would you tell her about this journey?

SKY: That’s a really good question. I mean, so much obviously. If I could sit down with her for hours, we’d be, we’d be chatting it up [laughs].

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Just remember why you got into it in the first place. Remember just all those times that you’re sitting in your room, literally mixing for five hours just for yourself and having the absolute time of your life? Just remember that that’s why you got into it.

You don’t have to take yourself so seriously sometimes. As long as you’re enjoying yourself, having fun, and proud of yourself, that’s all that matters. Stop worrying about how the public eye is thinking about you and perceiving you all the time, because at the end of the day, you started doing this because it was just a fun thing for you!

seradopa: What advice would you give to other emerging artists who are still trying to find their voice or place in the scene?

SKY: Go out and talk to people! Make connections, network. I would say that networking and seriously taking the time to get to know people and have good, genuine conversations are the reasons why I’ve gotten so many amazing opportunities!

Advocate for yourself, reach out to that promoter. Be annoying. That’s a big thing. Be annoying! Maybe you’ll piss someone off, but also maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll get an amazing fucking booking that you never thought that you would get.

I don’t have a manager. And when you don’t have a manager, you have to do everything yourself, and it sucks sometimes, but the more work that you put in now, the more your future self is going to thank you.

So, yeah: Advocate for yourself, put in the work, and be annoying!

[Laughs]

seradopa: Lastly, what could you share it coming up for you?

SKY: I’ve already talked a little bit about the original SKY music. We have been in the studio, which is literally my laptop and my headphones, lying in bed making music. That’s my studio! [Laughs]

I’m really setting a hard goal to release an original track by the end of the year. But other than that, I can’t say too much about some of the shows I’m playing quite yet. I have two shows in the Denver area that I haven’t announced yet!

But then also the Larimer Lounge on May 14th! I’m opening for OVEREAZY, and then playing along with Wookappruvd and Harvest. Harvest is one of my really good friends, so I’m super excited to play that show with him. It’ll be my first time playing the Larimer main stage, so I’m super fucking excited, and that lineup is going to be insane! That’s what I have in the books for me right now!

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Keep up with SKY:
Soundcloud | Instagram

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