Sky (Canadian band)

Sky are an R&B-spiced pop music outfit from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The duo originally consisted of James Renald and Antoine Sicotte. Both were songwriters, producers and multi-instrumentalists, who met in 1992 at a music engineering school Montreal. Anastasia (2000–2003) was the lead singer, and Karl Wolf (2003–2005) was the last lead singer of the group.

History

Their first EP was released their own Phat Royale label in 1997. Both members co-wrote, co-produced and co-played every instrument on that record. Quebec radio stations began playing their music and eventually 43 stations in that province had added their songs to their playlists. Canada’s MusiquePlus, the French equivalent to English-language MuchMusic, began playing the video for their song "America".

In February 1998, Sky signed a major-label record deal with EMI Music Canada. With the recording sessions for their upcoming major-label debut, two world-famous producers, Peter Mokran (Maxwell, R. Kelly, Michael Jackson) and Euro-Syndicate Productions, were brought in for two recording sessions at Gallery Studios in New York and Metalworks in Toronto. Legendary guitar player Wah-Wah Watson was featured as a guest performer as well.

"Piece of Paradise", the duo’s major-label debut, was launched in 1999. The album debuted at #6 on the Canadian album charts. The group’s debut single, "Some Kind of Wonderful", released in 1998, gained international success, hitting the top ten in Canada, and #1 in Thailand.

The group’s follow-up single "Love Song" was also a major hit in Canada, but achieved mediocre success in the U.S. This was followed by the next single "Push".

Sky then signed a major deal with Arista Records in the U.S., United Kingdom and Japan. The label released a reworked version of "Piece of Paradise" on June 29, 1999, with two additional tracks, "Strange" and "Dreamin'". Those tracks were also added to the Canadian version of the album, and was re-released on June 1, 1999.

Renald announced in 2000 that he was leaving the duo due to camera-shyness. He wasn't present at the Juno Awards in which Sky won "Best New Group", which created an awkward moment as Antoine was the sole acceptor of the award. Renald was replaced later that year by Anastasia (not to be confused with the American singer) from Montreal. Anastasia was a singer that Sicotte was originally going to use for a new duo named Nice, but the name Sky was retained. The new pair would release their first single, "Superhero", in August 2000, and a full album, "Travelling Infinity", in November. The single "You" was also released and reached #1 in Canada. A remix for that video was made due to the high popularity and demand for it.

2003 saw the third incarnation of Sky with Anastasia being replaced by Montreal native Karl Wolf. The group released a third album, "Picture Perfect", that spawned the single "Dedication." Shortly thereafter, Sky saw its demise and the group split up. Karl Wolf continues to record and released a single, "Butterflies" in late 2005, with an album supposed to be appearing on store shelves sometime in 2006.

Awards and recognition

* 2000: winner, Juno Award for New Group of the Year