Sky of Fire releases Dawn Brings a New Day album fusing contemporary indie-rock with ’80s synth sounds
By MATTHEW STEPHENS
What does the word “nostalgia” mean to you? For some, it’s a fond reflection of pivotal memories from a bygone era. For others, a sentimental longing for something that no longer exists.
However, for local band Sky of Fire, nostalgia isn’t just a feeling; it’s an introspective tool used to blend memories of the past with sounds from the present.
And with their latest June 19 album, titled Dawn Brings a New Day, the East Toronto indie-rock band ushers in a new era of music while staying tapped into their youthful 1980s upbringing.
“The essence and tone of the album represents several things. Firstly, it’s about a reflection – but it’s also about family, passion, and just really chasing after the things that you want to do in life,” said band member and local resident Phil Davies.
Fusing classic 80s synth with a contemporary indie-rock feel, Dawn Brings a New Day puts the memories of 1980s music under a refreshing new lens, with the standout track Nineteen Eighty Three serving as a strong testament to the album’s duality in the modern era.
“The whole album is very influenced by some of the ’80s music from our time,” said Davies. “It’s got the ’80s synth sounds, and it really fits into that time with the lyrics as well. The music overall is heavily influenced by a lot of indie and ’80s music.”
As a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) educator, Davies said inspiration for the band’s latest album came to him through observing the excitement of students during a school event, where he jokingly mentioned that he “wished to be that excited about anything.”
“It really got me thinking about what I was excited about, and music is that thing for me,” explained Davies.
He said working as educator has allowed him more free time to pursue his passion for music – a factor he believes helped him see the album through to the end.
“I’m lucky I’m an educator and I have those two months in the summer, so that’s a blessing,” said Davies. “But it’s hard to flip that switch in your brain when you go home at night from teaching to now being creative.”
Now in his 50s, he stressed the importance of keeping your dreams alive despite your age, after finding that many others often give up on exploring their passions in later years.
“I think it’s important for anyone. As you get older, you become so focused on your kids and your career – and rightfully so. But you lose that time and focus on yourself,” said Davies.
“I think the first three songs in this album are very heavily slanted towards that feeling of encouragement to pursue your passions no matter what your age. And I would encourage anyone to just find time for yourself; even if it’s just a half-hour or an hour per day. I think it leads to better mental health and happiness overall.”
More information on Sky of Fire can be found on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/7HN3rxctIJiMawJYKL16t1 and on Bandcamp at https://skyoffire.bandcamp.com/album/sky-of-fire
