Skye Edwards (born Shirley Klaris Yonavieve Edwards; 27 May 1974), sometimes simply Skye, is a British singer-songwriter. Her career began in 1994 when she and the Godfrey brothers (Paul Godfrey, a DJ, and Ross Godfrey, a multi-instrumentalist) formed the band

Morcheeba Morcheeba is an English electronic band formed in the mid-1990s with founding members vocalist Skye Edwards and the brothers Paul and Ross Godfrey. They mix influences from trip hop, rock, folk rock and downtempo, and have produced ten regula ...

, which released five albums with Skye as lead vocalist. In 2003, the band split, after which Skye released two solo albums: '' Mind How You Go'' in 2006, and ''Keeping Secrets'' in 2009. In 2010, Edwards returned to Morcheeba, again as lead vocalist. In 2012, she released her third solo album, ''Back to Now'', while in 2015 she released her fourth one, ''In A Low Light''. Edwards decided to shorten her name to Skye by taking the first letter of each of her names and putting them together. She is married to bass player Steve Gordon and they have four children. Edwards has sung on two charity collaborations: " Perfect Day" (1997, in aid of Children in Need) and Band Aid 20 (2004, in aid of famine relief in Sudan, Africa).

Early life

Edwards was born in London and grew up in the East End. Of Jamaican heritage, she was fostered by ethnic

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

parents from an early age. She described her growing up as 'I always say it was fish and chips, not

rice and peas Rice and peas (or peas and rice) is a traditional food within the West Indian Caribbean islands. The 'peas' are traditionally pigeon peas, but more often substituted with kidney beans, and the dish is frequently served with curry goat. In 19 ...

in our house'. Her first musical influences were the country and western records of her mother.Teddy Jamieso
"Skye Edwards interview"
heraldscotland.com, 15 November 2013.

Solo music career

''Mind How You Go'' album

Produced by

Patrick Leonard Patrick Ray Leonard (born March 14, 1956) is an American songwriter, keyboardist, film composer, and music producer, best known for his longtime collaboration with Madonna. His work with Madonna includes her albums '' True Blue'' (1986), ''Who's ...

, Edwards' first solo album, '' Mind How You Go'', was released on 27 February 2006 in Europe. The first single, "Love Show", was a radio hit throughout Europe. The next single was "What's Wrong With Me". Music videos were released with both songs. She has said: "People ask what this record means to me, but that's an alien question because I've been living and breathing it. It's not a question of what it means to me. This record is me."

''Keeping Secrets'' album

In October 2009, Edwards released her second album, ''Keeping Secrets'' independently via her own label, Skyewards Recordings. Produced by Alexis Smith and Emmy nominated Grace Jones collaborator Ivor Guest. A single, "I Believe", was released along with a music video and she completed a tour of several weeks around Europe.

''Back To Now'' album

This album was released on 29 October 2012 and produced by Steve Fitzmaurice, Irish record producer of, among others, Depeche Mode and U2.

Cover songs

In 2007 Edwards has performed the Gorillaz song " Feel Good Inc." live on

KCRW KCRW (89.9 MHz FM) is a National Public Radio member station broadcasting from the campus of Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California, where the station is licensed. KCRW airs original news and music programming in addition to program ...

radio station, along with other tracks from her album, and also at some live shows. In 2008, Edwards collaborated with

Marc Collin Marc Collin is a French musician, film music composer and record producer. He is best known as the founder, with Olivier Libaux, of the project Nouvelle Vague, a cover band that covers new wave songs in a bossa nova style. Collin also released ...

of the French group

Nouvelle Vague French New Wave (french: La Nouvelle Vague) is a French art film movement that emerged in the late 1950s. The movement was characterized by its rejection of traditional filmmaking conventions in favor of experimentation and a spirit of iconocla ...

who put together ''Hollywood, Mon Amour'', an album of popular songs from movies from the 1980s. Skye sang several songs on this album, including Blondie's " Call Me" and Duran Duran's "A View to a Kill" from the

James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...

film of the same name. As a Christmas gift to her fans, Edwards recorded a version of "River" by Joni Mitchell, that was uploaded on YouTube in November 2011. On the

John Martyn Iain David McGeachy (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009), known professionally as John Martyn, was a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a 40-year career, he released 23 studio albums, and received frequent critical acclaim. ...

tribute album ''Johnny Boy Would Love This....A Tribute to John Martyn'', released also in 2011, Skye sang the track "Solid Air" from Martyn's 1973 album ''

Solid Air ''Solid Air'' is the fourth studio album by Scottish folk singer-songwriter John Martyn, released in February 1973 by Island Records. Background The album was recorded over eight days and features instrumental contributions by bassist Danny Th ...

''. In February 2013, Skye performed "As Long As You Love Me" by

Justin Bieber Justin Drew Bieber ( ; born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer. Bieber is recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and has played an influential role in modern-day popular music. He was discovered by American record executive Scooter ...

, ''

Morning Becomes Eclectic ''Morning Becomes Eclectic'' (MBE) is a three-hour adult album alternative radio program first aired in 1977 and broadcast live every weekday from KCRW in Santa Monica, California. The show's name is a play on the Eugene O'Neill trilogy of plays, ...

''. She also sang on ''Uncovered: QOTSA'', by Olivier Libaux of the French band Nouvelle Vague: it is an album of

Queens of the Stone Age Queens of the Stone Age (commonly abbreviated QOTSA) is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 1996 in Palm Desert, California. The band was founded by vocalist and guitarist Josh Homme, who has been the only constant member throughout mul ...

songs covered by female singers, which was released on June 10, 2013 digitally and on vinyl in limited edition. In 2020, Edwards performed the

Yazz Yazz (born Yasmin Evans; 19 May 1960) is an English pop singer, who remains perhaps best known for her 1988 UK number one single "The Only Way Is Up". Some of her records are credited to Yazz and the Plastic Population. Career Yazz was born i ...

song " The Only Way Is Up" for the compilation ''Goodnight Songs for Rebel Girls'' produced by Rebel Girls, which involved a lineup of 19 female singers including Ani DiFranco,

Macy Gray Natalie Renée McIntyre (born September 6, 1967), known by her stage name Macy Gray, is an American R&B and soul singer and actress. She is known for her distinctive raspy voice and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday. Gray ha ...

Alicia Keys Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Col ...

, Carole King and Anastacia.

Discography

*'' Mind How You Go'' (2006) *''Keeping Secrets'' (2009) *''Back To Now'' (2012) *''In A Low Light'' (2015)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Skye 1974 births Living people English women singer-songwriters Singers from London 21st-century Black British women singers British trip hop musicians Atlantic Records artists English people of Jamaican descent