Elvis Presley – ‘Mystery Train’
“My first love was Elvis, no question. In our house, we had a French-release compilation album of his songs called ‘Le Roi Du Rock ‘n’ Roll’. As a small kid, I was obsessed with ‘Mystery Train’. The way Elvis held his guitar like a gun and the percussive way he attacked the strings made me fall in love with the guitar. Many years later, I went busking around Europe on my motorbike with a tent and played my guitar in the streets. But it was all because of Elvis and those early Sun [Records] recordings – and ‘Mystery Train’ in particular.”
Blondie – ‘Autoamerican’
“There was an Our Price on Finchley Road, North London that I’d go to with my older brother and sister. That’s where I bought ‘Autoamerican’ in 1981. Blondie – what can you say? Apart from the fact that as a young boy, it was impossible not to be in love with Debbie Harry. I love the variety on this particular record – it goes through different genres. Years later, I saw Blondie play [in 2013] at a private function in New York with Kanye West. Debbie Harry was still magnetic.”
Queen, Wembley Stadium, 1986
“Queen were supported by INXS. It was before they released ‘Kick’ [in 1987]. I only went because it turned out my friend Kieran’s dad was a big-shot in the music industry and he got four tickets. I was around 17, it was a year after they played Live Aid and Queen were phenomenal.”
The Beatles – ‘Eleanor Rigby’
“All through our early teenage years, my younger brother and I were always at the top of the house listening to The Beatles. ‘Eleanor Rigby’ reminds me of the ‘80s and the views out of our house in London: looking at the grey, rain-drizzled skies. I always felt its melancholy, looking out of the window back then as a teenager. Not that I was unhappy, but I definitely responded to that in music.”
Ever meet Macca?
“I have met Paul McCartney and he was a complete gentleman. At a political party, we were watching the American election on TV and he came up to me and said [Lewis does a pitch-perfect Macca impersonation]: ‘Oh, you understand a bit or two about the TV, don’t you?’. And I just realised he’d seen me on TV and I melted. I went to bed grinning. That McCartney knows who I am is incredible. I was completely tongue-tied.”
David Bowie – ‘Heroes’
“I know 173 other people will probably also have picked ‘Heroes’ for this, but from the opening note, it’s just relentlessly brilliant. It’s the most evocative, triumphant, euphoric song – and unbelievably cool. The second album I ever owned was Bowie’s ‘Hunky Dory’ – and he’s remained a touchstone for me.”
The Rolling Stones – ‘Little T&A’
“I listen to the Stones a lot and I can never get ‘Little T&A ‘ out of my head. Keith Richards is quoted as calling the song ‘dumb’ and that it’s just about rock ‘n’ roll energy. It’s a celebration of carnality, I’m aware of that, but that’s the one that stays in my head!”
Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers – ‘Swing the Mood’
“I can’t fucking hear Jive Bunny again! But I don’t mean that in a pejorative way. When I was in my twenties, I would go out on my own dancing to old-school rock ‘n’ roll at rockabilly nights. Then Jive Bunny came out and cut up my favourite songs into snippets and put them into this endless [novelty] medley. And then it was never off the radio, so I’d have to put it into the Room 101 of music.”
Crazy P – ‘There’s a Better Place’
“It’s an ambient rave tune with a fantastic Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory sample. I’m just that age. I left school right into the dance culture of the ‘90s and that will still always get me up on the floor.”
The Weepies – ‘Gotta Have You’
“It reminds me of moving to LA as a family with my late wife Helen [McCrory]. My daughter was one year old and my son was about to be born. We were living in Venice Canals – and I was filming out there. We had a babysitter who was a 23-year-old roller-skating, already-Botoxed sunny Californian girl. We asked her, are you listening to any good music? She gave us two great bands. One is The Shins but the other was a lesser-known band called The Weepies. That song will always get me going.”
Elton John – ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’
“I can’t say I do karaoke but I will proudly divulge that I was at karaoke in Fulham Broadway once. I went in there with a friend and I got up and sang ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’ and I won a bottle of champagne for best karaoke of the evening! Very chuffed I was too. If I was back looking for another bottle of champers, I’d pick it again.”
Talk Talk – ‘It’s My Life’
“I was an ‘80s kid and I liked electronic music. I’ve always loved ‘It’s My Life’ and Andy Hollis’ vocals, as well as its slightly bombastic nature. Life’s what you make of it – seems like a good sentiment to have.”
Damian Lewis’ UK tour begins on October 2. His album ‘Sweet Chaos’ is out now via Thin Red Duke
ON THE RISE
Houston artist Skyve knows what it feels like to carry weight you didn't realize was yours. His latest single, "Eternal Time," released July 7th, moves fast and hits harder with under two minutes of guitar-forward energy that somehow manages to feel upbeat and contemplative at once. There's a throwback quality to it, too; the pacing and chord choices carry a distinctly 90s sensibility, the kind of arrangement that trusts a hook to land without over-explaining itself.
Skyve drifts easily between rapping and singing, carrying the song with an unhurried confidence. It's a track about the people and patterns we hold onto long after they've stopped serving us and the strange, freeing ache of finally setting them down.
"It's about taking a step back and finding the things in people that are holding you back or hurting you, and you don't realize it at first," says Skyve. "It's hard to let go of those things and those people, but it will make you a better person."
Born Stryker Johnson, Skyve has been building toward this moment since childhood: making beats on an iPad before he could drive, then on his phone, and eventually in FL Studio, where he landed three years ago. He's 19 now wth “Eternal Time” marking his 11th project, but the first he's genuinely proud of, the kind of song he finds himself coming back to on his own time.
True to his instinct for range, he sings, raps, and plays guitar, with no interest in staying in one lane. 'I do a lot to explore,' he explains, adding that piano, drums, and even banjo are next on his list. For now, he places this project in indie rock territory with an indie pop lean — guitar-driven, melodic, and resistant to easy categorization.
"If I had to categorize my sound, I'd say indie, more than anything. A more creative feeling. Not like the standard sound music offers today," explains Skyve.
On "Eternal Time," Skyve co-wrote and produced alongside a collaborator who helped shape the guitar melodies and the song's overall flow, with both contributing to the drum programming. The lyrics, though, are his alone — as they always are.
"It depends, but I do maybe 50 percent of my own stuff," he shares of his process more broadly. "This one was with a producer who helped lay down some melodies on guitar and get the flow started. But I always write all my lyrics."
The release came with a rare milestone: a live show two weeks prior, marking one of Skyve's first times performing guitar in front of an audience. "It was a little nerve-racking," he admits, "but it ended up being fun overall."
"Eternal Time" isn't tied to an album or EP; it stands on its own, at least for now. But Skyve is already looking ahead. "I do have an album coming out this fall," reveals Skyve. "I'm still working on getting more details, but that's something I want to walk fans through."
For an artist who insists he can't imagine doing anything but music, Skyve's approach feels less like a career plan and more like a compulsion toward honesty. “I don't want to bring a single song or idea to the grave with me,” he reflects — a line that could double as his mission statement. “Eternal Time” is proof he's already living it, one unfinished thought at a time.
“Eternal Time” is now available on all streaming platforms, with promotional support from Starlight PR. With an album on the way this fall, it's clear Skyve is just getting started, so be sure to follow along on social media to catch what's next.
