Sky Ferreira

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Sky Ferreira

Ferreira performing at The Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri, September 2013.
Background information
Birth name Sky Tonia Ferreira
Born (1992-07-08) July 8, 1992
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres Indie pop, indie rock, synthpop
Occupations Singer-songwriter, model, actress
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2009–present
Labels Parlophone, Capitol, Polydor
Website skyferreira.com

Sky Tonia Ferreira (born July 8, 1992) is an American singer-songwriter, model, and actress. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Ferreira began uploading videos on Myspace of herself singing songs she had written, which led to her discovery by producers Bloodshy & Avant and recording contract with Parlophone in 2009. She released her first extended play, As If!, in 2011, which combined elements of electropop and dance music. Ferreira's second extended play Ghost (2012), however, incorporated pop with more stripped-down song structures and featured collaborations with Jon Brion and Shirley Manson, as well as the critically acclaimed track "Everything Is Embarrassing", which she composed with Dev Hynes.

After several delays and disputes with her record label, Ferreira's debut studio album Night Time, My Time was released on October 29, 2013, and was preceded by its lead single "You're Not the One". That year, she ventured into the film industry after appearing in the movie The Green Inferno and garnered media attention after being arrested for drug possession. She was exposed to a mainstream audience after having been announced as an opening act for the international Bangerz Tour, headlined by Miley Cyrus, which is scheduled to begin on February 14, 2014.

Ferreira's earlier work incorporated elements of dance-pop and synthpop, while her recent projects experiment with indie rock and indie pop musical styles. Her lyrical content originally incorporated themes of rebellion and teenage romance, and has since evolved to discuss personal insecurities and more mature romantic themes. Outside of her work in the entertainment industry, she has modeled for several brands and magazines, most recently serving as the spokeswoman for the hair care brand Redken in 2014.

Life and career

Early life and career beginnings

Sky Tonia Ferreira was born in Los Angeles, California on July 8, 1992;[1] she is of Brazilian, Native American, and Portuguese descent.[2] Ferreira was largely raised by her grandmother, who had been Michael Jackson's personal stylist for over thirty years.[3] She commented, saying: "I was raised around him, I always saw him [and] had holidays with him and stuff like that", adding that she was unaware of his fame until she was thirteen years old.[4] Ferreira expressed interest in singing as a child, and, with Jackson's encouragement, Ferreira's grandmother enrolled her in opera lessons.[5] Ferreira has openly stated that she was sexually assaulted in her adolescence on multiple occasions, firstly involving a neighbor, and secondly in an incident that involved a stranger who had broken into her home.[6] In an interview with Rookiemag, Ferreira said: "I’ve never said anything [about this publicly] because I don’t want it to define me, but I feel like it’s appropriate to say something [here]. People feel like it defines you, and it doesn’t. It’s really unfortunate and disgusting and traumatizing, but it doesn’t make you who you are."[6] Ferreira dropped out of high school after completing her sophomore year.[7]

Ferreira later began maintaining a Myspace profile where she uploaded demo versions of self-written tracks. Shortly before her fifteenth birthday, she wrote a letter to producers Bloodshy & Avant requesting that they offer a recording contract to her, which she says happened "kind of right off the bat" after they came across her profile.[8] In 2009, she was signed to Parlophone,[9] and began finalizing the debut studio album that she says was first begun when she was fourteen years old.[10] In 2010, she ventured into the film and modelling industries after starring in the independent film Putty Hill[11] and appearing in the magazines Dazed & Confused and Interview.[12][13]

2011–12: As If! and Ghost

After releasing the tracks "17" and "One", the latter having peaked at number 64 on the UK Singles Chart,[14] Ferreira announced that her debut studio album would be released on January 11, 2011. Its planned lead single "Obsession" had first appeared on the compilation album Now That's What I Call Music! 35 in 2010,[15] and peaked at number 37 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.[16] These plans never came to fruition, and were substituted for the extended play (EP) As If! and its lead single "Sex Rules" that March.[17] A writer for MuuMuse spoke favorably of her "vocal and musical versatility" and commended the project as a "rock solid 5-track collection of next-level crunchy pop cuts."[18] During this time, Ferreira was featured in the advertising campaign for the Calvin Klein "CK One" product line alongside Cassie Ventura.[19] The following year, she was photographed by Ellen von Unwerth for the cover of Vs.,[20] and appeared in the Adidas "Originals" commercial with rappers Big Sean and Snoop Dogg.[21]

In November 2011, Ferreira announced that her debut studio album would be released in 2012, with a lead single planned to precede its release that February.[22] She was later revealed to have been working with Jon Brion, Greg Kurstin, and Shirley Manson on the project.[23] In early 2012, Ferreira revealed Wild at Heart as the title of her record,[24] and confirmed "24 Hours" and "Swamp Girls" for its track listing.[25] "Lost in My Bedroom", described by Ferreira as "the most electro pop [song] on the album", surfaced online that March.[26] After releasing the music video for the track "Red Lips" in June, she stated that she renamed the record I'm Not Alright.[27]

With her debut studio album still unreleased, Ferreira announced that her second extended play Ghost would be released in October. It respectively peaked at numbers 8 and 71 on the U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers and Alternative Albums component charts to the flagship Billboard 200.[16] Its lead single "Everything is Embarrassing" was described by Katherine St. Asaph of Pitchfork Media as the track where Ferreira "could well have her breakout moment", complimenting it for beginning with "snappy, crisply sung dance-pop about long-awaited moments" and eventually transitioning into "what should be a buoyant chorus".[28] In her debut television performance, Ferreira performed the track on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in January 2013.[29] The previously leaked track "Lost in My Bedroom" was included on Ghost, and was featured on an episode of Grey's Anatomy in December.[30]

2013–present: Night Time, My Time

Sky Ferreira (pictured) in 2013 performing at The Pageant in St. Louis.

In June 2013, Ferreira starred in the short film IRL playing Angel, which has been described as "an eye-opening look into the reality of young life in New York".[31] That month, she again renamed her debut studio album I Will, and stated that it would be released "later this summer".[32] She noted that it would be composed of "ten up-tempo songs, all still pretty electronic, although for some reason it comes across more pop-rocky live."[33] It was again renamed Night Time, My Time, and announced to be released on October 29, 2013 by Capitol Records.[34] Upon its release, it received favorable reviews from music critics; at Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 77, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 18 reviews.[35] Rolling Stone listed it as the fifth-best debut album of 2013,[36] noting its potent blending of synthpop elements with a more grunge-inspired indie rock sound. The album was also listed as the twenty-fifth best overall album of the year by Complex.[37] The record debuted at number 45 on the U.S. Billboard 200.[16] "You're Not the One" was released as the lead single from Night Time, My Time on September 24, 2013.[38]

In September, Ferreira starred as Kaycee in the independent film The Green Inferno.[39] In the early morning of September 14, she and her boyfriend, DIIV frontman Zachary Cole Smith, were arrested at a traffic stop in Saugerties, New York for drug possession.[40] Ferreira, who was in possession of ecstasy tablets, was arrested on drug possession and resisting arrest; Smith was in possession of heroin.[41] She bailed herself out of $1,500 with her American Express credit card.[42] In October, Ferreira cancelled the final week of her tour with Vampire Weekend after sustaining a hemorrhage to her vocal chords,[43] which she later added was caused by a vocal node that was repeatedly misdiagnosed as laryngitis.[44] In November, Ferreira and Icona Pop were announced as the opening acts for Miley Cyrus' upcoming Bangerz Tour, which is scheduled to begin in February 2014.[45] Later that month, she released her third extended play, Night Time, My Time: B-Sides Part 1.[46] In December, Ferreira was announced as the spokeswoman for hair care brand Redken.[47]

Musical style and influences

Ferreira's earlier work incorporated elements of dance-pop and synthpop, most notably seen in tracks from As If! and Ghost.[48] Her lyrical content originally incorporated themes of rebellion and teenage romance; Andrew Unterberger from Popdust opined that "17" "plays the girl-gone-wild tale as a near-horror story, clearly meant to shock and upset", while noting that "One" "instead features a robo’d out Sky bemoaning the breakdown of connection in a relationship, and her own inability to feel anything as a result."[48] As her career progressed, Ferreira more frequently experimented with elements of indie rock and indie pop, which were commonly heard in Night Time, My Time.[49] Ferreira has cited Madonna,[50] Prince,[50] Gwen Stefani,[50] Alice Cooper,[50] Nancy Sinatra,[50] Cat Power,[51] Britney Spears,[18] and The Runaways as musical influences.[27]

Julianne Escobedo Shepberd from Rolling Stone wrote that Ferreira's "songs are catchy, but they’re also thickly glazed with fuzz and synths, evoking influences like Suicide, Siouxsie Sioux and the krautrock group Harmonia".[52] Karolina Ramos from The GW Hatchet compared Ferreira to New Zealand recording artist Lorde, both of whom she felt "tackle contemporary love, desire and insecurity with depth, composure and frankness." She compared her musical style to 1980s pop music, and noted that "her throaty, sultry vocals call to mind Lana del Rey, abandoning brightness and vivacity for a colder tone. Still, Ferreira can drop the edge, with gentler tracks like "Sad Dream" showcasing her vocal range and seldom-observed softness."[53] Andrew Unterberger stated that "through a variety of singles, EPs, guest features and live appearances, Sky has proven herself one of the most talented singers, creative songwriters and savvy collaborators currently working in the genre", but blamed "bad marketing, label disputes and her own perfectionism" for the extended delay of Night Time, My Time; he also stated that the repeated renaming of the record itself "should give you some idea of the musical identity issues she’s suffered over the years."[48]

After establishing a friendship with recording artist Miley Cyrus in 2013, Gregory E. Miller from New York Post noted that the media and general public would continue "following her every move". Ferreira commented that "[Miley’s] obviously way bigger and all eyes [are] on her, but I feel like we’re kind of going through a similar thing where everyone’s trying to say that we’re trying to make ourselves objects, but really, everyone else is making it more like that — sensationalizing sex and reading into things. It’s nice to have someone that gets it." Ferreira had also generated a minor controversy after appearing topless on the cover for Night Time, My Time, to which she responded "there’s nothing about that photo that’s pornographic; we came on this earth nude."[54]

Discography

Studio albums
Extended plays
  • As If! (2011)
  • Ghost (2012)
  • Night Time, My Time: B-Sides Part 1 (2013)
Singles

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2008 A Cross the Universe Herself Cameo appearance[55]
2010 Putty Hill Jenny [11]
2011 The Wrong Ferarri Herself Cameo appearance[56]
2013 IRL Angel [31]
The Green Inferno Kaycee [39]

Tours

Opening act

References

  1. ↑ "Sky Tonia Ferreira, Born 07/08/1992 in California". California Birth Index. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  2. ↑ Dita Quiñones (January 8, 2012). "GNSF! Move over pop princesses, make room for just-legal: Sky Ferreira!". Ghetto News Flash. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  3. ↑ Darrell Hartman (March 2013). "Q&A: Sky Ferreira". Details. Advance Publications. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  4. ↑ Oli Wilson; Kirstie Andrews (August 18, 2010). "Sky Ferreira on being friends with Michael Jackson". Newsbeat. BBC Radio 1. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  5. ↑ James Lachno (March 25, 2013). "Sky Ferreira – New Faces". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tavi (February 29, 2012). "American Dream: An Interview With Sky Ferreira". Rookie. Tavi Gevinson. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  7. ↑ Lizzy Goodman (August 20, 2013). "Sky Ferreira: Everything Is Embarrassing". The Fader. Andy Cohn. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  8. ↑ Adam Mrlik (June 29, 2010). "Almost Famous Person Sky Ferreira Calls Famous People a Drag". BlackBook. McCarthy LLC. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  9. ↑ Jeffrey Butler III (November 14, 2013). "Sky Ferreira’s Night Time, My Time". The Lynx. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  10. ↑ Nick Levine (August 14, 2010). "Sky Ferreira". Digital Spy. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Jon O'Brien. "Sky Ferreira". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  12. ↑ "Dazed & Confused: February Issue". Dazed & Confused. Waddell Limited. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  13. ↑ T. Cole Rachel (January 2010). "Sky Ferreira". Interview. Brant Publications. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  14. ↑ "Sky Ferreira: Artist". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  15. ↑ "Sky Ferreira: Debut Album due 1/11/11". MVRemix. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Sky Ferreira: Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  17. ↑ Robbie Daw (March 1, 2011). "Sky Ferreira ‘As If!’ EP Cover Revealed". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Sky Ferreira: As If! EP (Album Review)". MuuMuse. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  19. ↑ Becky Bain (March 7, 2011). "Sky Ferreira Complains About Complainers In New Track "Haters Anonymous"". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  20. ↑ "CS Magazine S/S/ 11 Four Covers (Vs. Magazine)". Models.com. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  21. ↑ "Adidas Originals Commercial Features Snoop Dogg, Big Sean, Unknown Mortal Orchestra And More". The Huffington Post. AOL. August 10, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  22. ↑ "Sky Ferreira - I recorded this almost 3 years ago & was...". Facebook. November 10, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  23. ↑ Alex Catarinella (December 22, 2011). "Sky Ferreira Would Love to See Fiona Apple In A Tarantino Movie". Elle. Hachette Filipacchi Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  24. ↑ Mikey (January 23, 2012). "Sky Ferreira’s got a name for her album". Popjustice. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  25. ↑ Brad O'Mance (February 7, 2012). "Sky Ferreira’s new single is "fucking AWESOME"". Popjustice. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  26. ↑ Becky Bain (March 2, 2012). "Sky Ferreira’s "Lost In My Bedroom": Listen". Idolator. Spin Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Tara Aquino (June 15, 2012). "Interview: Sky Ferreira Talks "Red Lips," Terry Richardson and Being Seen As A Socialite". Complex. Complex Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  28. ↑ Katherine St. Asaph (August 31, 2012). "Sky Ferreira: "Everything is Embarrassing"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  29. ↑ "Sky Ferreira Makes TV Debut on 'Fallon'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media, LLC. January 8, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  30. ↑ Rebecca Martin (December 13, 2012). "Grey's Anatomy Songs: Music From Season 9, Episode 9: "Run, Baby, Run"". Wetpaint. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Sky Ferreira: In Real Life". NOWNESS. June 20, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  32. ↑ Fiona Raisbeck (June 5, 2013). "Sky Ferreira: This Summer's Girl". Marie Claire. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  33. ↑ Georgie Okell (June 12, 2013). "Sky Ferreira on Turning 21, Weird Internet Rumors, and Amanda Bynes' Brain". Vice. Vice Media. 
  34. ↑ Jenn Pelly; Evan Minsker (September 12, 2013). "Sky Ferreira Announces Debut Album Night Time, My Time". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  35. ↑ "Night Time, My Time Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  36. ↑ "Sky Ferreira, 'Night Time My Time'". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media, LLC. December 10, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  37. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2013". Complex. Complex Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  38. ↑ "iTunes - Music - You're Not the One – Single by Sky Ferreira". iTunes Store (US). Apple Inc. September 24, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2013. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Deborah Young (September 9, 2013). "The Green Inferno: Toronto Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  40. ↑ Victoria Taylor (September 17, 2013). "Marc Jacobs model Sky Ferreira, boyfriend arrested for drug possession". Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  41. ↑ "Sky Ferreira on drugs arrest: 'I know I'm not a drug addict'". NME. IPC Media. October 1, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  42. ↑ Annie Reuter (September 16, 2013). "Sky Ferreira Arrested In Possession Of Ecstasy; Heroin Also Found". Radio.com. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  43. ↑ Claire Lobenfeld (October 2, 2013). "Sky Ferreira Cancels Shows With Vampire Weekend". Stereogum. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  44. ↑ T. Cole Rachel (October 16, 2013). "Q&A: Sky Ferreira Opens Up About Her Tumultuous Year And Long-Delayed Debut Album". Stereogum. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  45. ↑ Jon Blistein (November 12, 2013). "Miley Cyrus Enlists Icona Pop and Sky Ferreira to Open Tour". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media, LLC. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  46. ↑ Carrie Battan (November 26, 2013). "Sky Ferreira Releases B-Sides Collection". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  47. ↑ Parry Ernsberger (December 12, 2013). "Sky Ferreira Is The New Face Of Redken, Dyed Her Hair For The Job". MTV Style. Viacom. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Andrew Unterberger (September 12, 2013). "Lost in Her Bedroom: A Primer for Sky Ferreira’s Pre-LP Back Catalog". Popdust. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  49. ↑ Heather Phares. "Night Time, My Time - Sky Ferreira". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 50.4 "Sky Ferreira does Italian Vogue and develops an Obsession for the CW". The Prophet Blog. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  51. ↑ Fitzaurice, Larry (23 October 2013). "Interview Sky Ferreira". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 1-2-2014. 
  52. ↑ Escobedo Shepberd, Julianne (19 December 19, 2013). "Encounter: Sky Ferreira". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 1 February 2013. 
  53. ↑ Karolina Ramos (November 11, 2013). "District Sound: Not your average month for indie pop". The GW Hatchet. Hatchet Publications. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  54. ↑ Gregory E. Miller (October 19, 2013). "Sky Ferreira: Sex, drugs and Miley Cyrus". New York Post. News Corp. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  55. ↑ "Sky Ferreira Height Weight Body Statistics - Healthy Celeb". Healthy Celeb. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 
  56. ↑ "Pete Doherty and Macaulay Culkin star in 'ketamine'-fuelled Adam Green film". NME. IPC Media. April 7, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2014. 

External links

Sky Ferreira
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
Tours
Related topics
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