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Sky Ferreira | |
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 Ferreira performing atThe Pageant inSt. Louis, Missouri, September 2013 | |
| Born | Sky Tonia Ferreira (1992-07-08)July 8, 1992 (age 32) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Hair color | Dark brown[1] |
| Eye color | Green |
| Agency | Women Management[2] |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | skyferreira |
Musical artist | |
Sky Tonia Ferreira (Brazilian Portuguese:[feˈʁejɾɐ]; born July 8, 1992)[3] is an Americansinger-songwriter, model, and actress. As a teenager, Ferreira began uploading videos onMyspace of herself singing songs she had written, which led to her discovery by producersBloodshy & Avant and a recording contract withParlophone in 2009. She released her firstextended play,As If!, in 2011, which combined elements ofelectropop anddance music. Ferreira's second EP,Ghost (2012), however, incorporated pop with more stripped-down song structures and featured collaborations withJon Brion andShirley Manson, as well as the critically acclaimed track "Everything Is Embarrassing", which she composed withDev Hynes.
After multiple delays and disputes with her record label, Ferreira's debutstudio album,Night Time, My Time, was released in October 2013, preceded by the lead single, "You're Not the One", and marked a departure from her former style, incorporating more experimentalindie rock withsynth-pop elements. The album received critical acclaim. That year, she ventured into acting with her appearance inEli Roth'sThe Green Inferno. While appearing in films and other projects, she released "Downhill Lullaby" and "Don't Forget" as singles from her upcoming second studio album,Masochism, in March 2019 and May 2022, respectively.
Ferreira's earlier work incorporated elements ofdance-pop, while her recent projects experiment withacoustic,new wave and primarilyindie rock 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 her work in the entertainment industry, she has worked as afashion model.
Sky Tonia Ferreira was born on July 8, 1992, inVenice, Los Angeles.[4][5][6][7] Ferreira's heritage isNative American,Brazilian andPortuguese.[8]
Ferreira was largely raised by her grandmother, who had beenMichael Jackson's personal hairstylist for over 30 years.[9] 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 13 years old.[10] Ferreira expressed interest in singing as a child and, with Jackson's encouragement, Ferreira's grandmother enrolled her in opera lessons.[11]
Ferreira has stated that she wassexually assaulted in her adolescence twice, firstly involving a neighbor, and secondly in an incident that involved a stranger who had broken into her home.[12] In an interview withRookie, 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."[12] Ferreira dropped out of high school after completing her sophomore year.[13]
Ferreira began maintaining aMyspace profile where she uploaded demo versions of self-written tracks. Shortly before her 15th birthday, she wrote a letter to producersBloodshy & 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.[14] In 2009, she was signed toParlophone,[15] and began finalizing the debut studio album that she says was first begun when she was 14 years old.[16] In 2010, she ventured into the film and modelling industries after starring in the independent filmPutty Hill[17] and appearing in the magazinesDazed andInterview.[18][19]
After releasing the tracks "17" and "One", the latter having peaked at number 64 on theUK Singles Chart,[20] Ferreira announced that her debut studio album would be released on January 11, 2011. Itslead single "Obsession" peaked at number 37 on the USBillboardHot Dance Club Songs chart.[21] These plans never came to fruition, and were substituted for theextended play (EP)As If! and its lead single "Sex Rules" that March.[22] 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."[23] During this time, Ferreira was featured in the advertising campaign for theCalvin Klein "CK One" product line alongsideCassie Ventura.[24] The following year, she was photographed byEllen von Unwerth for the cover ofVs.,[25] and appeared in theAdidas "Originals" commercial with rappersBig Sean andSnoop Dogg.[26]
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.[27] She was later revealed to have been working withJon Brion,Greg Kurstin, andShirley Manson on the project.[28] In early 2012, Ferreira revealedWild at Heart as the title of her record,[29] and confirmed "24 Hours" and "Swamp Girl" for its track listing.[30] "Lost in My Bedroom", described by Ferreira as "the most electro pop [song] on the album", surfaced online that March.[31] After releasing the music video for the track "Red Lips" in June, she stated that she renamed the recordI'm Not Alright.[32]
With her debut studio album still unreleased, Ferreira announced that her second extended playGhost would be released in October. It respectively peaked at numbers 8 and 71 on the USBillboardTop Heatseekers and Alternative Albums component charts to theBillboard 200.[21] Its second single "Everything Is Embarrassing" was described by Katherine St. Asaph ofPitchfork 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".[33] In her debut television performance, Ferreira performed the track onLate Night with Jimmy Fallon in January 2013.[34] The previously leaked track "Lost in My Bedroom" was included onGhost, and was featured on an episode ofABC'sGrey's Anatomy in December.[35]
In June 2013, Ferreira starred in the short filmIRL playing Angel, which has been described as "an eye-opening look into the reality of young life in New York".[36] That month, she again renamed her debut studio albumI Will, and stated that it would be released "later this summer".[5] She noted that it would be composed of "ten up-tempo songs, all still prettyelectronic, although for some reason it comes across morepop-rocky live."[37] It was again renamedNight Time, My Time, and announced to be released on October 29, 2013, byCapitol Records.[38] Upon its release, it received favorable reviews frommusic critics; atMetacritic, which assigns anormalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received anaverage score of 79, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 30 reviews.[39]Rolling Stone listed it as the fifth-best debut album of 2013,[40] noting its potent blending of synth-pop elements with a more grunge-inspiredindie rock sound. The album was also listed as the 25th best overall album of the year byComplex.[41] The record debuted at number 45 on the USBillboard 200.[21] "You're Not the One" was released as the lead single fromNight Time, My Time on September 24, 2013.[42]
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In September, Ferreira starred as Kaycee in the independent filmThe Green Inferno.[43] In the early morning of September 14, she and her boyfriend,DIIV frontmanZachary Cole Smith, were arrested at a traffic stop inSaugerties, New York fordrug possession.[44] Ferreira, who was in possession ofecstasy tablets, was arrested on drug possession andresisting arrest; Smith was in possession ofheroin.[45] She bailed herself out.[46] In October, Ferreira cancelled the final week of her tour withVampire Weekend after sustaining a hemorrhage to her vocal cords,[47] which she later added was caused by a vocal node that was repeatedly misdiagnosed as laryngitis.[48] In November, Ferreira andIcona Pop were announced as the opening acts forMiley Cyrus'Bangerz Tour, which began on February 14, 2014.[49] Later that month, she released her third extended play,Night Time, My Time: B-Sides Part 1.[50] In December, Ferreira was announced as the spokeswoman for hair care brandRedken.[1] She subsequently appeared as a guest vocalist withAriel Pink on his track "My Molly", which was released as a music video on December 23 of that year.[51]
On February 20, 2014, during the third performance opening for the Bangerz Tour, Ferreira fell and split open her shin onstage. After completing the performance, Ferreira was taken by ambulance to anAnaheim hospital and treated with 60 stitches. As a result of the injury, she was forced to temporarily pull out of support for the tour, but returned shortly after.[52] On November 20, 2014, while on her North American tour, Ferreira debuted a new track called "Guardian".[53]
On July 16, 2014, Ferreira announced viaTwitter that she was working on her second album.[54] She described the sound of the album as "more aggressive" and is working withAriel Rechtshaid andJustin Raisen, with whom she producedNight Time, My Time, as well asBobby Gillespie andAndrew Innes of Scottish bandPrimal Scream. Ferreira also expressed the wish to collaborate withGesaffelstein.[55] She also appeared in the 2016 comedy-drama filmElvis & Nixon, directed byLiza Johnson,[56] andThe Trust, which starsNicolas Cage andElijah Wood, and is directed by Benjamin andAlex Brewer.[57]
Ferreira confirmed on April 7, 2015, that her upcoming second studio album will be titledMasochism.[58] On May 12, 2015, the singer announced that she would be releasing a film co-written and directed by her frequent collaborator Grant Singer accompanied by a new single with the album scheduled to be released later in the year.[59]Jimmy Choo revealed on June 4 that Ferreira would be the face of their newest fragrance named Illicit.[60] She collaborated with Primal Scream on the song "Where the Light Gets In", which was released on February 1, 2016, as the lead single from the band's eleventh studio album,Chaosmosis.[61] It was announced on April 25, 2016, that Ferreira would guest-star in the2017 sequel toDavid Lynch's 1990s television seriesTwin Peaks.[62] In October 2016, she was cast inJonas Åkerlund's filmLords of Chaos, based on the 1998book of the same name byMichael Moynihan and Didrik Søderlind.[63] She appeared inPlayboy in October 2016, with the photo shoot serving as a "visual introduction" to her next album.[64] Ferreira appeared inEdgar Wright's 2017heist filmBaby Driver, portraying the mother of lead character Baby (played byAnsel Elgort). She also contributed a cover of theCommodores song "Easy" tothe film's soundtrack, produced byNigel Godrich.[65]
In 2018, she stated: "I would just like to clarify for some: My silence should not be confused for negligence, I deeply care and put everything I have into my music. Including all of my earnings. I won't put out something that I don't stand by or the bare minimum."[66]
On March 21, 2019, Ferreira announced the single "Downhill Lullaby", which was released on March 27.[67] In July, she debuted a song "Descending" duringPitchfork Music Festival.[68][69] She collaborated withCharli XCX on her promotional single "Cross You Out" released in August.[66] On December 19, 2021, Ferreira stated thatMasochism would be "actually coming out" in 2022.[70]
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In March 2022 she released an 18-second-long teaser ofMasochism's second single, titled "Don't Forget",[71] which was then released on May 25.[72]Masochism failed to materialize, and the singer hinted at being sabotaged and "greylisted" by her label, which had been withholding the release of the album and music videos. Fans of Ferreira have launched a campaign in support of the singer, funding a plane to fly a "Free Sky Ferreira" banner over the Capitol Records building and paying for a billboard with the same slogan on it to appear inTimes Square.[73] In November 2023, Ferreira was dropped by Capitol.[74]
On December 2, 2024, Ferreira announced the release of "Leash", a song written and co-produced by her for the soundtrack ofHalina Reijn's sophomore feature film,Babygirl.[75] Additionally, the singer expressed her intentions to tour live and act more throughout 2025.[75] On December 5, "Leash" was released, and Ferreira stated thatMasochism will be released in 2025.[76][77]
Ferreira is primarily asynth-pop singer,[78][79][80][81][82][83][84] also being described asdance-pop,[85]indie pop,[9]indie rock,[86]alternative rock,[87] andart pop.[88] Her earlier work incorporated elements of dance-pop andelectropop, most notably seen in tracks fromAs If! andGhost.[89] The latter EP also includes elements ofacoustic andnew wave. 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."[89] As her career progressed, Ferreira more frequently experimented with elements of indie rock, which were commonly heard in her first album,Night Time, My Time.[90] Ferreira's vocal range has been described as that of acontralto.[91]
Julianne Escobedo Shepberd fromRolling Stone wrote that Ferreira's "songs are catchy, but they're also thickly glazed with fuzz andsynths, evoking influences likeSuicide,Siouxsie Sioux and thekrautrock groupHarmonia".[92] Karolina Ramos fromThe GW Hatchet compared Ferreira to New Zealand recording artistLorde, both of whom she felt "tackle contemporary love, desire and insecurity with depth, composure and frankness." She compared her musical style to 1980spop music, and noted that "her throaty, sultry vocals call to mindLana 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."[93] 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 ofNight 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."[89]
Ferreira is also afeminist, which has influenced her work; she has said "I feel like I'm doing a bad job of being a feminist if I'm not making someone angry."[94]
Ferreira has citedMichael Jackson,[95]Madonna,[96]Prince,[96]Fiona Apple,[97]the Jesus and Mary Chain,Gwen Stefani,[96]Sonic Youth,[98]Alice Cooper,[96]Nancy Sinatra,[96]Cat Power,[99]Blondie,Hole,Elliott Smith,[100]Kate Bush,My Bloody Valentine,Carly Simon,[101]Françoise Hardy,[101] andthe Runaways as musical influences.[32]
In July 2014, Ferreira performed at theMusic Hall of Williamsburg in New York City to benefit theDavid Lynch Foundation. Ferreira announced that the funds raised would "go towardsTranscendental Meditation (TM) programs for at-risk students; veterans withPTSD; women who are survivors of domestic violence; American Indians suffering fromdiabetes; the homeless and incarcerate." Of her own practice she said, "TM sort of saved my life."[102][103][104]
In support of theDakota Access Pipeline protests, Ferreira performed at a benefit concert titled We Rock with Standing Rock in December 2016.[105]
| Year | Awards | Work | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Rober Awards Music Prize | Herself | Most Promising New Vocalist | Nominated | [106] |
| 2014 | "My Molly" | Best Cover Version | Nominated | [107] | |
| Webby Awards | "You're Not the One" | Best Music Video | Won | [108] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Putty Hill[17] | Jenny | |
| 2011 | The Wrong Ferarri | Herself | Cameo appearance[109] |
| 2013 | IRL | Angel | Short film[36] |
| The Green Inferno[43] | Kaycee | ||
| 2016 | The Trust[57] | The Woman | |
| Elvis & Nixon[56] | Charlotte | ||
| 2017 | Baby Driver | Baby's mom | |
| Curious Females | Crystal | Short film | |
| 2018 | Lords of Chaos | Ann-Marit | |
| American Woman | Bridget Callahan | ||
| 2022 | Alone at Night | Stacy | |
| 2023 | Reptile | Renee |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Twin Peaks: The Return[62] | Ella | Episode: "Part 9" |
| 2020 | The Twilight Zone | Fiji | Episode: "Ovation" |
TM sort of saved my life. I'm being 100 per cent, for real. Come support. Also... It's for my number one person in the world. David Lynch!
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