Hometown: Lancaster, PA
Label: Rhythm and Culture Music
Website: www.rhythmandculture.com
Sounds Like: Thievery Corporation, Zero 7, Bombay Dub Orchestra, Washed Out, Massive Attack
Genre: Electronica
Second Sky is the trio of Billy Medina, Wes DiIorio and Bill Speakman. The sound they create blends past with future, and organic with electronic.
Based in Dub and Trip-Hop, Second Sky mixes elements of Soul, Pop, Middle-Eastern, Afrobeat, and Indian music styles (among others) into something that always manages to come out sounding distinctly Second Sky.
Though only three members comprise the core of the group, Second Sky regularly employs the talents of friends from home and abroad to contribute to both their studio productions and live performances, including sitarist John Protopapas and Second Sky's regular horn section of Todd Fulginiti and Darnell Scott.
Second Sky is known for their attention to both quality songwriting, as well as creating lush, psychedelic soundscapes. Regular collaborations with a variety of artists including label-mates Thomas Blondet and Farid, continually broaden their ever evolving sound.
The band has also remixed work by artists including Thievery Corporation, Cornershop, and Balkan Beat Box, and Tosca; producing dynamic recreations for the dancefloor, and the living room alike.
The band's drummer/producer Bill Speakman explains; "Remixing gives us a chance to more fully explore some of our favorite genres like Bhangra, Samba, or Soundtrack Music to name a few, while working with some of our favorite artists".
This fusion comes naturally to Billy, Wes, and Bill, who revel in the sounds of classic Bollywood soundtracks and early electronic music. The subsequent effect is a sonic world of sultry beaches, thrilling car chases, exotic scenery, and lost scenes from imaginary films.
Ultimately, the band looks to share it's love of all forms of music with their friends and audiences worldwide; creating more than a sound, but a complete experience through rhythm and culture.
“Second Sky continues to please listeners on their sophomore effort, Touching the Surface. Touching the Surface is a wonderful downbeat electronic album not unlike some other bands such as Tycho, Bonobo, Aphex Twin, or Washed Out. The album is characterized by lush instrumentation, airy vocals, and driving percussion.”
Austin Frank - WLUR 91.5 FM
"Billy Medina, bassist Wes Dilorio and drummer/producer Bill Lascek-Speakman have synergy together, no doubt about it. Medina’s milky vocals are h-o-t. Dilorio’s bass is low and Speakman’s beats are speaking a universal language."
Ms. Amandi - Bombshell-ter Radio
“Second Sky & Thomas Blondet Remixes - Rating of 5/5”
DJ Pathaan - Globetronica.org
“Second Sky is a trio on the Rhythm & Culture label who continue to create amazing original work”
EROK - Downbeatscape
"An impressive showcase of the infinite possibilities inherent in modern world music"
Urban Development
“Second Sky, brings chilled electronic soundscapes to their set, The Art of Influence. The entire project flows well by blending Indian, dub, and R&B seamlessly”
JW Richard - Groove Loves Melody
“Their sound is a dreamy, male vocal led dub that shares living space in most cases with an abstract, relaxed notion of the 60s mod sound
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Properly Chilled
“Download issue #12 of FLL for full interview w/ Second Sky”
Fine Living Lancaster