Featured musicians

Dave Moffat
Bass

Emilio Lacayo
Drums

BUY CD

THE SKIES BIO

With Melissa Rapp (vocals, guitar, keys) and Betsy Adams (guitar), The Skies' blend of emotional rock with songwriter roots, is the kind of sound that keeps us optimistic about music in 2006. Melissa and Betsy teamed up with Bay Area producer/bassist Jon Evans (Tori Amos, Paula Cole) to record "The Other Side," to be released this fall. One listen to the title track and you are hooked--part velvet, part grit, Melissa's voice has a quality to it that penetrates. Paired with Betsy's highly addictive guitar style, The Skies have been captivating audiences across the country.

The upcoming album showcases Melissa's voice and Betsy's ingenious guitar matched with an engrossing production vibe. Evans took a minimal approach to highlight The Skies' strong songwriting. Featured musicians include keyboardist Julie Wolf (Ani DiFranco, Indigo Girls, Dar Williams) and drummer Allison Miller (Natalie Merchant).

On stage, Betsy and Melissa make a spellbinding duo. Their musical chemistry has led them to showcase at Austin's South-by-Southwest festival for the past two years, as well as headline such events as San Francisco's Union Street Festival and the Solano County Fair (this year, opening side stage for Gladys Knight). In 2005, the two musicians shared the stage with national acts such as ALO, Chuck Prophet, and Tea Leaf Green, and their latest recordings have caught the attention of San Franciscos trendsetter radio stations, including KFOG 104.5 and KUSF 90.3. High Sierra Music's Grizzly Radio featured The Skies live daily on their morning program during the 2005 festival, and played Nothing, Nothing off the upcoming album.

Originally from the South, Betsy describes her intro to guitar as sort of an accident: "I wanted to play drums but my parents wouldnt let me get a kit...so I settled." Today, Betsy's rhythmic skills are obvious in her unique strumming style, and her solid, creative drum beat (she's completely self-taught).

Born and raised in Hawaii, Melissa picked up guitar in high school, when the lively Mr. Troutner (her choir director) offered a free after-school lesson for anyone interested. He told the group to pick up some Fender thins and get going with a few basic chords. Melissa went straight home afterwards. With her borrowed pick in hand, she snuck into her stepdad's closet to borrow his dusty classical guitar. Sitting in the grass in the front yard, she wrote her first song.

A brilliant combination of manic and depressed, of pure lack of inhibition paired with an adorable shyness, The Skies look forward to sharing their live show and debut album with the world. Their songs and vibe will ring true for many, as they are inspired by universal wonders and experience--ocean and rivers, fire and wind new love, broken love, simple love...lies, loss, death, pain, and forgiveness.

COMING SOON: WWW.THESKIESMUSIC.COM

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