Sky Ferreira Leads the Second British Invasion of American Pop

The British are coming! The British are coming!  But this time they’re bringing music, not oppressive monarch rule.

It’s a rare occurrence when a British music artist or group makes it big in the States. Yes, every now and then a Brit will make their way onto our airwaves, but after that one they seem to fall off the face of the planet. Sure, Coldplay are pretty successful and the Spice Girls make an impact, but they’re the exception, not the rule. Regardless, every year the Queen’s subjects try to make it big in America. 2011 was the year of Cheryl Cole and Jessie J. If you vaguely recognize those names, just know they’re singers. If you have no idea who they are, don’t feel bad. Not many Americans do.

And 2012 is no different.  A handful of British musicians will try their hand at American audiences. Odds are none of them will fully take. But among them is a pretty blonde with “take no crap” attitude and she’s determined to be successful. Her name is Sky Ferreira and she’s the next big thing in music.

At 19 years old, Sky isn’t exactly new to the music industry. Michael Jackson was a close family friend and at 13 she started opera training to perfect her singing voice.  By the time she was 15, she had caught the eye of Swedish producers Bloodshy & Avant and has since become their protégé of sorts. For those of you unfamiliar with B&A, they are the duo responsible for producing Britney Spears’ megahits “Toxic” and “Piece of Me.”

In 2009 she signed with Parlophone Records and began work on her debut album.  After releasing two singles, the album was set to be released in January 2011. However, complications arouse and the album release date was pushed back indefinitely. By March of 2011, her label decided to release an EP (a collection of songs, but not a complete album, like Lady Gaga’s The Fame Monster) entitled As If!.

While her label was in the process of approving her album for release, Ferreira decided to scrap it and start from the beginning.  Instead of the electropop sound she originally intended, she’s decided to work on more Blondie inspired tracks.

“I’m trying to make music that people my age can relate to & that I enjoy writing/singing/listening to, “ Ferreira said on her personal Tumblr. “This isn’t some set up for a marketing scheme or whatever. I moved on because I wanted to & I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing. I’m not searching for “credibility” or to be “indie” because the “electropop FLOPPED.” Her debut album is finally slated for release during Summer 2012 with the first single hitting American radio stations in February.

In an interview with Elle magazine, Ferreira states that she’s “made at least five debut albums at this point” and since she’s not exactly an international superstar yet, the majority of those tracks have leaked their way online, sometime by way of the singer herself via her Soundcloud account.

Sky Ferreira isn’t a powerhouse vocalist, but she can hold a tune and her voice is rather pleasant to listen to. Her brand of pop isn’t bubblegum à la Katy Perry nor is it the dance/techno pop currently dominating the airwaves. It’s a delightful comprehensive and delightful mix of the last three decades of pop music. Aside from the eight officially released from Sky, you can search her name on YouTube and find dozens of unreleased tracks.

Evan Birsic can be reached at evanbirsic@gmail.com.