TIGER IN THE RIVER (Album) (2024)
FANTASY LIFE (EP) (2019)
Skilaa are a band based in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), whose sound is equal parts neo soul, hip-hop, alternative folk and improvisation.
Formed in 2017 after meeting at the affectionately named ‘Jazz School’ aka the university of Auckland Jazz Programme; Skilaa consists of Chelsea Prastiti (lead vox, writing), Michael Howell (guitar, writing), Adam Tobeck (Drums), Tom Dennison (bass, writing), Crystal Choi and Lea Anae (backing vocals).
The band's close harmonies and lush vocal arrangements are the hallmark to Skilaa’s music, with Chelsea Prastiti shapeshifting voice at the forefront. Influenced by Prastiti’s Greek-Cypriot heritage and shaped by traditional Bulgarian harmonies, West African pop, Gospel, and RnB, this diverse range of musical traditions contribute to the rich, melismatic singing style that defines the band's undefinable sound.
Having quickly gained recognition with their debut singles, Bluffin' (2018) and Way of the World (2019), their debut EP Fantasy Life was released in 2019, which secured them as one of K’Rd’s favourites and allowed them to emerge with promise into touring around Aotearoa.
Their debut album, Tiger In The River followed in 2024, and enlisted the production and mixing expertise of Tāmaki Makaurau’s own Jeremy Toy (Open Souls, She’s so rad) and was mastered by New York based Grammy nominated Nate Wood (Kneebody, Tigran Hamasyan).
The album features the APRA Silver Scroll Award nominated song ‘Jenny Greenteeth’, the single ‘I Never Knew’ which was #1 on bFM's Top 10, and ‘Money’ that includes a verse by Detroit Hip-Hop royalty - rapper Guilty Simpson. The album quickly climbed to #5 on the NZ Album Charts and was listed among the 50 Best New Zealand Albums of 2024 by Rolling Stone Australia.