#MusicExchange: Royston Skippers

The platform gives unsigned artists a platform to showcase their craft to a much wider audience. One such act is Royston Skippers and Lucrecia Rae - known as Tusmart.

They recorded their first CD project called Made up My Mind, which was released in February 2016. The title track won an Akademia award for best jazz song for an unsigned artist in Los Angeles in April 2016.

I caught up with Royston, last week, following the news that they will be performing at the Jazzathon 2018 on Friday, 19 January 2018 at 3pm.

What does music mean to you?

It is a vehicle to express my inner feelings.

Any funny moments on stage?

Being so in the moment I forget the lyrics to the song. Getting so excited and into a song, I knocked my partner off her chair. Tripping over my own equipment on stage.

Your heroes?

My heroes are many but the late Robbie Jansen, Allou April locally and Luther Vandross, Will Downing, Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble internationally.

It’s your round, what are you drinking?

Caramel vodka or a red wine.

What makes you stand out?

My natural ability to engage my audiences. The diversity of my vocal range to do various genres. My ability to catch the cords to a song almost immediately and play along.

Nicknames?

Roy, Skippy.

If you were not a musician what would you do?

I am a qualified medical orthotist and prosthetist.

Give us some real proper slang and what it means?

I use Spanglish a lot to make fun of people who speak grammatically incorrect.

Your greatest achievement?

Winning an international award for my title track off my CD.

What do you complain about most often?

People being disorganised.

On stage, I tend to?

Close my eyes when I am in the moment.

The best life lesson you have been taught?

No-one is going to do it for you so get up and make it happen.

Wishes and dreams for 2018?

Compose more music. Establish my business. Perform on big stages worldwide; Jazzathon 2018 is a start.

www.roystonskippers.co.za