Skylar Gray Creates Completely DIY Concept Album

Not to be confused with pop figure Holly Brook whose stage name is Skylar Grey (notice the spelling difference?), multi-instrumentalist Skylar Gray, as named at birth in 1982, recently released his debut album An Inch Equals 200 Miles. This concept album featuring themes of alien abduction, imperial conquest, genocide, and other familiar sci-fi topics was created from start to finish with DIY (do-it-yourself) techniques and equipment.

For nearly six years, Gray has taken the writing, recording, and now distribution/promotion of his first solo album into his own hands. Having spent years behind the scenes producing and mixing other bands as well as designing professional and consumer audio goods, Gray was well prepared to undertake the task of playing the majority of the instruments on his album while also performing the role of producer. A recording engineer and designer, he has taken the process a step further by hand-building the microphones, cables, amplifiers, and most other equipment used in the making of his An Inch Equals 200 Miles. Furthermore, he was even intimately involved in developing the software used to record the album on his computer. As Gray explains it, “I think in order for an artist to see their vision truly come to fruition, they need to have very explicit control over the tools used to create the work at each stage.” Read the rest of this entry →