An Interview With The Rising Teen Pop Star SKYLAR STECKER!

Rising teen queen SKYLAR STECKER, 15, is the youngest artist to sign to Cherrytree Records (which developed Lady Gaga & Ellie Goulding), and because of that she’s already hit #1 on the Billboard Dance Chart, released 8 singles to-date, toured the country twice, and has even performed on the Today Show as Elvis Duran’s “Rising Artist of the Month.”

Now this “tiny superstar” (Teen Vogue) has new radio single out, “Only Want You,” and the main soundtrack song off Warner Bros big new teen movie, Everything, Everything (written by Justin Tranter & Julia Michaels). She’s also a passionate brand ambassador for PETA 2, and she was a part of Radio Disney’s “Music In Our Schools” program.

Skylar’s single “Only Want You” is at #3 NOW on the Billboard dance chart!

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Learn more about Skylar in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! What are some words you would use to describe this year so far?

Invigorating, awesome, exciting

Where does this interview find you today? Is there music playing in the background? If so, what is it? What kind of music do you listen to when you are working? What music gets you instantly out of a bad mood?

I am at home in the office typing and I hear my dad’s music playing in the other room (Jon B). I like to listen all sorts of music! But my favorite is Pop / R&B!  I am not a huge fan of techno because I like to hear words and a strong melody.

Can you recall your earliest musical memory? How long do you think you’ve been wanting to be a musician?

My first memory musical memory is when I was 5 and had started taking piano lessons. I remember wishing I could play the music that my parents played on the radio and not the songs that were in the piano book. I asked to quit many times but they told me I needed to continue until I was at least 10. Which I am sure glad they did because at 9 years old I signed myself up for a school talent show to play the piano and the choir teacher asked me to sing instead because they already had too many piano players. The following week I sang in the talent show and realized in that exact moment that I had found my calling. I truly fell in love with it and haven’t stopped singing since.

If you weren’t singing today, what else could you see yourself doing?

Truly the thought of not being able to sing makes me nauseous. I just can’t imagine my life without music!  I sing all day, everyday. Which of course drives everyone around me nuts but its what I love to do. But if I had to pick something else it would then it would be writing music for other artists.

How does it feel being the youngest artist to sign to Cherrytree Records? Did you know that when it was all happening? Does that ever intimidate you at all?

It feels great but no it doesn’t intimidate me because even though I am young in many ways, with music I feel like an old soul. I am completely comfortable and confident talking music and performing music, even more so then simply talking. So when it came time to start meeting with labels, my main goal was to find a person who was passionate about music the way I was and that accepted who I was an artist. Thankfully when I met with Cherrytree’s President Martin Kierszenbaum I knew It was a perfect fit!

Let’s talk about your breakout single of the summer, “Only Want You.” Where did this song first come from? What was the inspiration for it?

The song was done by an amazing producer named Tricky Stewart . I spent a week in Atlanta recording a ton of material and this song stood out immediately to all of us as “the one”! It made us all bounce our heads and feel happy! Martin K (Cherrytree Records) Called it Pizza! “Something everyone would like”

What was it like shooting the video for “Only Want You” in one take on Hollywood Blvd? Did all those people on the sidewalk think you were crazy? (lol) Were you nervous to do it? Whose idea was it?

We were sitting in Martin’s office throwing ideas out and I said “What if I just get one camera guy, my mom holds the music up, and I perform dancing and singing down Hollywood Blvd?” and they all laughed and said, “Ok lets do it next week” and we did! I wasn’t nervous because its Hollywood, and there is a lot going on there and a lot to look at so I figured that me singing couldn’t possibly be the most shocking these these people have seen! Since it was done in just one continuous take, I knew it would be over quick! Thankfully we caught a lot of people off guard which helped us get some pretty funny reactions to it.

What was it like to shoot the video for “How Did We” in Mexico? Is it still hard to believe that you are singing a song written by such talented songwriters like Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter?

Yes, working with those two was a dream come true. I have loved and admired their work for years and felt extremely honored to have gotten the chance to work with them on this amazing song! Shooting in Mexico was not too shabby either!;) The weather was amazing and shooting anywhere near water is always a huge plus!

Can you talk about being a brand ambassador for PETA 2 and being a part of “Music In Our Schools”? What do these two organizations mean to you?

I have been a vegetarian since I was 9 and then went Vegan a few years ago. I feel proud and grateful to be part of an organization(Peta) that not only supports animal rights but also challenges people to watch, read and listen to whats really going on behind the scenes of the meat and dairy industry. It not only affects the animals but our land and our long-term health as well.

As for “Music in our schools” this is something that I can relate to on every level. I wouldn’t of ever of found out I could sing if it weren’t for my choir teacher asking me to try. But now, in that same elementary school in Wisconsin where I discovered I could sing, that program and that talent show has been cut due to lack of funding. So now with “Music is our school” schools are being shown the importance of having it!

This summer, you’ve got big radio tours lined up with Miley Cyrus and Fifth Harmony. How excited are you for these to start? Are these going to be the biggest tours that you have been a part of?

Yes, these summer shows are very exciting and are definitely the largest shows I have done thus far. The audiences have been full of energy and so much fun to perform for! Plus seeing the other acts perform as well is a bonus!

Who are some of your very favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? What musicians would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

I would love to work with Bruno and Beyonce! These two always give it 100%! I am inspired by both of these artists for different reasons though. With Beyonce, she always leaves me with my mouth hanging open in shock with her non stop energy and big voice on stage. She sings and performs hard every single time! She is always fierce and never disappoints! As for Bruno, he is just an all around amazing artist. His lyrics are always creative and cool and his beats are insane. I love every song he puts out! He just seems like he is about as real as they come!

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people continue to take away from your songs?

I hope people see how passionate I am about music and that I truly put everything I have into each song I release. I hope they also see that I have matured and my music has matured with me. Its a little more R&B inspired then it use to be because I really wanted to incorporate what I grew up listening too which was artist like (Michael and Janet Jackson, Boys to Men, Mariah etc)

What advice would you give to someone just getting started on this music path

I would tell them to first Dare to Dream! Then take the time to learn who you are as an artist, and once you figure that out, don’t let anyone try to change you or throw you off course. Its a marathon, not a 50 yard dash so enjoy every single step!