Skizzy Mars ~ More than Meets the Eye
By Jane Croft
Skizzy Mars is breaking down genre walls with his New York City-fresh alternative rap ~ and because we’ve all been so good this year, the artist is sharing his latest piece of genius with us for free. Download Phases HERE and get ready to lower your head with respect. You might also recognize some of the talents of G-Eazy, Mikey Fresh, Sterling Fox and Conner Youngblood as you play on through.
Skizzy Mars is young, determined, brutally honest and grew up loving an interesting mix of musicians ~ The Killers, Simple Plan, Good Charlotte and A Tribe Called Quest. These days, he’s also really digging Vampire Weekend. And yes, as you listen to Phases, you’ll hear some of the talents of G-Eazy, Mikey Fresh, Sterling Fox and Conner Youngblood.
He attended the Browning School on NY’s Upper East Side and created his own blend of hip-hop, alternative rock, and indie pop. Skizzy released his musical debut, “Douchebag,” in 2011 (while he was still in high school!) and although the title might be a bit off-putting at first, the eloquent musician explained it and the song.
“It’s not a song about me being a douchebag, which is what a lot of people think,” Skizzy shared with a touch of humor. “It’s really about being yourself and not caring about what people think of you ~ even if they’re hating on you.”
That’s a tall order, clearly, but when you speak with Skizzy, you’re blown away by how grounded and stable he is ~ two qualities that undoubtedly help him keep his head up in the middle of a crazy industry.
Photo courtesy of facebook.com/SkizzyMars
“With Phases, I just tried to stay focused on making a strong collection of songs. I approached Phases in a different way than I have approached my other projects. Creatively, I just tried to make songs that represented where I was in life.”
Constantly inspired by his surroundings in New York City and his life experiences, Skizzy spends most days in the studio, working his butt off. He attended college for a bit, but then realized that his music career was quickly blowing up. Since then, he has dedicated his life to his art.
“We just started gaining momentum and momentum is something you can’t mess with,” he says.
Take a listen to his song “Sideways” and you’ll hear a great new take on rap. You’ll have to keep asking yourself where this guy came from; his talent and his vision are usually found in people who have lived in music for a decade of more ~ and Skizzy is fresh out of the package.
If you push aside some of the more hardcore lyrics of his songs, you’ll see that this artist is grateful for all he has and wants to give back to the world. Skizzy credits his parents with giving him excellent opportunities that really opened doors for him and one day, he’d like to give other kids in NYC the same great educational experiences he had. In addition to this philanthropic calling, Skizzy Mars also intends to do what he can to help fight cancer ~ another cause that is close to his heart.
Skizzy will be touring all around the US starting in May and he couldn’t be happier. He’s got an exciting musical project on the horizon that he’s keeping top secret right now, but knowing this guy, it’s going to be great. Check out one of his shows if you can!
Skizzy Mars Tour Dates
May 16 @House of Blues Dallas, Dallas, TX
May 19 @House of Blues Houston, Houston, TX
May 30 @House of Blues San Diego, San Diego, CA
May 31 @House of Blues Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, CA
Jun 1 @The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA
Jun 11 @Summit Music Hall, Denver, CO
Jun 14 @Varsity Theater, Minneapolis, MN
Jun 16 @Shelter, Detroit, MI
Jun 18 @House of Blues Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
Jun 21 @Paradise Rock Club, Boston, MA