Gayle Skidmore

Rank #2 San Diego, CA Singer Songwriter / Indie Folk / Indie Pop

50% of sales go to the charity World Vision.

About

Members: Jake Najor: drums, Matt Curreri: bass, Daniel Crawford: guitar, Gayle Skidmore: guitar, piano, banjo, dulcimer, vox, balalaika, Marta Blalock: violin

Sounds Like: Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird, Patrick Watson, Bon Iver, Brandi Carlile

Label: Raincoat Records

Manager: Gayle Skidmore

Bio: A born songwriter, Gayle Skidmore has written over 1700 songs since she began songwriting at the age of 8. Rather than choosing her calling, Skidmore’s natural ability and innate passion for music made her music career unavoidable. She continually processes her adventures, experiences, thoughts ... See Full Bio

More Info

Status

: Beet tacos and Believer! Yum! ! #Tweater @ninkasibrewing http://t.co/MRFLCtbtpk

Press

“Well written, masterfully arranged, with great musicianship and Skidmore’s commanding voice nearly every track on Make Believe is a potential single, particularly the uptempo heavy melody numbers such as opener "Set Me Free." With a chiming guitar lick, the song makes wonderful use of space in its construction. There’s atmosphere to spare within the tune, essentially a series of choruses and sing-along-hooks. At just a shade over three minutes, it’s a perfect pop single. But that’s just a start. Bucking a trend in the less is more category, Skidmore offers up 14 tracks, each cut from a different cloth.”

— Bart Mendoza, San Diego Troubador

"Gayle is the Simon to my Garfunkel."

— Vanja James, Vanja James Music

“Gayle Skidmore plays 14 instruments on her new record, including a harp that her dad handmade when Gayle and her sister were just kids. She also breaks out the kalimba which is essentially a thumb piano. This is her first full length record and it’s been two years in the making. All 14 songs on “Make Believe” were produced by Gayle and Preston Parsons while some recording was done in La Jolla at Peter King’s studio. Gayle’s voice is amazing. You can tell on her recordings as well as her live shows that the music is so very personal to her. 1,000 copies were pre sold and “Make Believe” has been available to the general public on iTunes since November 14. I’m old school though and I know you are too. That’s why you probably want to get an actual copy of the CD in your hands which will essentially be a coloring book that Gayle designed herself. Music and art are Gayle’s passions. There was an epic CD release show November 13th at the Ruby Room which was so much fun. ”

— Mookie Speaks, Radio Sophie

“It can be tough for female singer-songwriters to stand out from the pack, but luckily for Gayle Skidmore (and for her listeners), she has the pipes and musicianship to make it past the coffee-shop circuit. Her well-executed debut album, which features a who’s-who of local guest musicians, mixes folk, rock, and a little bit of country (the lady plays a mean banjo), for a surprisingly smooth result. Make believe rarely sounds so real. (★★★★)”

— Seth Combs, Pacific Magazine, Nov. 2010 Issue, p. 60

“Gayle Skidmore’s Cowley Road EP is a fantastic, concise collection of easy-on-the-ears acoustic folk songs with a European bent. The songs reminded me of a summer night in Paris, with Julie Delpy (circa “Before Sunset”) leading me on some sort of a waltzy, wayfaring journey down some ancient avenue or alleyway. Great variety of instrumentation and song styles, but totally cohesive at the same time. Perfect music for the hostel-hopping expats (or at least those who dream about living that way). ”

— Brett McCracken, Author of "Hipster Christianity", Itunes Review

“Gayle Skidmore is a singer/songwriter that can play tons of instruments. As if that wasn't enough, she's an artist, too, and if you go to her show at The Ruby Room Saturday, Nov. 13, (which Peter recommends) you'll be able to see both. Her new album comes complete with a coloring book she made herself. How cool is that?”

— Kinsee Morlan, San Diego City Beat

“In a show of serious ingenuity, singer-songwriter Gayle Skidmore played 10 instruments on Make Believe, self-released it on her own label and drew a coloring book to go with it. But it’s Skidmore’s heartfelt songwriting and agonizingly vulnerable lyricism that makes her first full-length truly special. Top track: “Hollow” Defining verse: “Don’t breathe a word, you’ll break me””

— Peter Holslin, San Diego City Beat

“I want to tell you about a girl I know. Her name's Gayle Skidmore. I met her awhile back and I didn't even know she was a musician until one day I wandered into the Tin Cal Ale House and there she was onstage. She had a voice that reminded me of Emmylou in her prime and had the musical chops to back it up including some mad banjo skills. She was so impressive that I immediately inquired as to when her next album was coming out. ”

— Seth Combs, San Diego City Beat

“Gayle Skidmore is a modern day Mary Poppins; she sings, sews, crafts her own E.P. cases, and her music makes everything just lovely. ”

— Tiffany Fulgoni, PiratePods.com

“The fifth song [on the Cowley Road E.P.], "Crazy," could well be Skidmore's ticket to the big time. Great hook, old-timey charm, spare arrangement. Hypnotic is what it is....With "Crazy," Gayle Skidmore is one bit of good luck away from hitting the big time.”

— Jim Trageser, North County Times

“[In the Cowley Road E.P.] Skidmore pairs quirky (toy piano and banjo) and classical (cello and violin) with satisfying results. “Cowley Road” is my favorite of the album. When she sings of “unbearable pain,” her ferocious voice quavers with emotion.”

— Ollie, San Diego Reader

All Press

Recent Blogs

Gayle Skidmore Bandcamp

Songs

Play All | Queue All | Share All

Zombie Heart

Share Buy Lyrics

Download
Bad For Me

Share Download Buy Lyrics
Zion

Share Buy Lyrics

Download
Remember

Share Buy Lyrics

Download
Firecrackers

Share Buy Lyrics

Download

All Songs

Videos

All Videos

Shows

Full-Screen View »

Sun
May 26

Westfield Mall - UTC
La Jolla, CA, US | 12:00pm
Westfield Mall - UTC
La Jolla, CA, US
Sun May 26 12:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Sat
Jun 1

Westfield Mall - UTC
La Jolla, CA, US | 12:00pm
Westfield Mall - UTC
La Jolla, CA, US
Sat Jun 01 12:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Sun
Jun 2

The Casbah
San Diego, CA, US | 8:00pm
The Casbah
San Diego, CA, US
Sun Jun 02 8:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets
Details

Gayle Skidmore will be opening for Lisa Loeb at the Casbah on June 2nd! They'll both be playing solo. Get your tickets now before it sells out! Gayle will be baking cookies! http://casbah.frontgatetickets.com/choose.php?a=1&lid=81801&eid=92157 See you there! Join the Facebook event! https://www.facebook.com/events/588017614562951
Wed
Jun 5

Westfield Mall - UTC
La Jolla, CA, US | 12:00pm
Westfield Mall - UTC
La Jolla, CA, US
Wed Jun 05 12:00pm
- Show Details
- Tickets

All Shows

Store

All Store Items

Comments

Add Comment

Executive Order
Nice music Gayle, if you get a chance please check out our music and tell us what you think. We can use all the help and support we can get as we are trying to get ourselves...
DIVE BOMBER
luv frum PAINTED MAN
Official Outcome
Wow! so glad we found you. Enjoying many of your tracks today...so much so that we hit that share button! Sending you our love and support.
Tessie
Really wonderful music! Can't wait to hear more...you have a very lovely voice and beautiful storytelling lyrics:-) _Tessie <3
Sanctioned To Life
Great Songs!!! awesome voice!!
Helder Rock a.k.a. T...
Stopping by to Show some Love and Support. And Listen to Some of Your Awesome Music! Wishing You Success.

All Comments

Share Become A Fan

Quick Actions

Subscribe
Send Direct Message
Book This Band

Get Free Downloads
Get Widgets
Get Banners

Support Your Favorite Artist

Help Gayle Skidmore
make 2013 a break out year!

Questions

Ask Gayle Skidmore anything...

Q: 1700 songs!?! Wow! Do you find that your "Best" songs are the ones that come to you quickly?

A: Hey Chris! Most often that's the case, but every now and then I spend months or years on a song and find I've accomplished something great. "Make Believe" took three months to write and it's one of my favorites. Thanks for asking! <3 Gayle Skidmore

Asked by Chris Austin Martinez. Answered on Wed Mar 27 2013

All Questions