“The Vaulted Skies sound, and feel authentic. Perhaps it’s the band’s chemistry, perhaps it’s tracking the song live together in a room, perhaps it’s myriad factors converging and coalescing serendipitously, but the energy of ‘What If I Were The Boy?’ is stunning. Leaning toward the darker, gothier end odd the spectrum, they not only capture the sound, but also the spirit of that late 70s / early 80s period, from the reverby guitar in the opening bars, which kicks into overdrive in the chorus. The rhythm section is so beefy with a solid four-square bass groove that’s the defining feature of so many great bands of the time (The Sisters of Mercy did it first and set the blueprint forever). The rhythm guitar squirms and drives in a grating swirl of flange and the sound is simultaneously spacious and dense and they play with a passion that’s exhilarating. So many bands over the last 30 years have striven to do the same or similar, but The Vaulted Skies have absolutely nailed it, and ‘What If I Were The Boy?’ is an absolute killer.” Chris Nosnibor, Aural Aggravation

What If I Were The Boy?

Full length and radio edit versions of Mark Saunders' epic remix of The Vaulted Skies' most recent single - What If I Were The Boy? - plus instrumentals of each.

"When The Vaulted Skies reached out to me asking if I would do a remix for them of “What If I Were The Boy?” it was an easy decision to say yes. The band are right up my alley for one thing. The original version of the song is great with good hooks and it has a great vocal to get inspired by and build something new around. I really enjoyed myself on this mix." Mark Saunders: https://www.marksaunders.com/

What If I Were The Boy? - The Mark Saunders Remixes

What If I Were The Boy? - 7" Mark Saunders Remix - INSTRUMENTAL

What If I Were The Boy? - Full Length Mark Saunders Remix - INSTRUMENTAL

What If I Were The Boy? - Full Length Mark Saunders Remix

What If I Were The Boy? - 7" Mark Saunders Remix

“Introducing ‘Almost Happy’ live on stage, I usually refer to this as our “pandemic song”. Every artist has one, and this charts a turning point in my mindset during some very dark times.

Even before the pandemic, 2020 was shaping up to be a tough year. In the February, a friend committed suicide. Then in May, during the first wave of lockdowns, another very close friend died from causes completely unrelated to covid. Within a month or so of that, like a lot of people, I lost my last remaining source of income and was scared about being able to pay the bills.

One gloomy Sunday afternoon, with nothing else to do, I picked up my guitar, and for no explicit reason decided to try and rise to the challenge of writing ‘a happy song’. 

Generally speaking, I failed. But what emerged was something that acknowledged the good things I had left in my life, and the fact that in many situations we can choose whether we focus on the positives or the negatives. 

To that end, it’s a companion to ‘Hollowhead’, but whereas that song is one of the heaviest things we’ve done, Almost Happy feels like more of a departure. 

The first few times we played the track live I was really worried our audience would hate it, because it’s so different to everything else we do. At least it seems that way to us. But on the contrary, lots of people have been telling us its their new favourite!   So that would usually introduce a new sense of pressure when unveiling the studio recording to the world, but on this occasion we’ve had help from some rather decorated individuals…

First and foremost, Mat Hector’s on the drums. He’s been doing session work for us to help keep our live shows going while we recruit a permanent band member. If you don’t know Mat - he’s a legend. When we were first introduced and he did some recording with us (playing on ‘Versus Heart’ and ‘The Way You Die’), he was on a short break between a run of huge shows with Iggy Pop. His other clients include Grace Jones, Marc Almond / The Loveless and Razorlight. 

Mat has his own studio, where he often collaborates with Mark Neary. As well as being a session musician (playing primarily bass and double bass for artists like Adele!), Mark is also a seasoned engineer, whose most notable credits include work with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and The Rolling Stones, no less. 

With Mark at the wheel for this recording, the process was swift and wholly enjoyable. As a bassist himself, he was able to get Andy comfortable right away. It was also wonderful for Ben to be released from engineering duties and focus on playing guitar. 

So we got the drums, bass and all the guitars, including mine, down on day one, then tracked the vocals and finished the mix on day 2. 

The third wise man in this pre-Christmas story, is the highly celebrated mastering engineer, Barry Grint. Bazza’s credits are jaw-dropping, including releases from iconic artists such as Madonna, Prince, Duran Duran, A-Ha, Bon Jovi, and too many more to mention.   We’re more than almost happy with it ;D"

Almost Happy

James Scott: "This track is inspired by and dedicated to my father. 

He came to England from India in the 1950s (when he was 10). 
After experiencing positive discrimination initially (he was cast in West End musicals like South Pacific and The King & I, on account having not only an extroverted personality and a good singing voice, but also authentic dark skin), it wasn't long before he also suffered outright racism. 

This continued throughout his life, and although it surely contributed to crafting the more difficult side of his personality, I can't help but admire all the things he achieved in spite of the prejudices that otherwise held him back in so many ways. 

So in some respects, the song is simply saying "Let what doesn't kill you, make you stronger", but the context is very personal, right down to the Eastern flavours in the intro. That descending part was one of the first things I wrote after his death in 2000. Along with many other, much more literal expressions of the complicated form of grief I was going through. 

The song tried and failed to come to life several times over the years. It finally happened during a session with Ben in which we played around with the chord progressions within each section. This would have been around the same time he helped craft the middle 8 for 'What If I Were The Boy?'.

Hollowhead

Caroline Slipped Across The Sky - The Strange EP Mix

LYRICS (Scott)
Whenever I lose my head
Whenever I talk without air
Whenever I catch my breath
Always far from where you left it

Whenever I lose my heart
Whenever I love without it
Whenever I touch your skin
I always know 
What I suspected is true

What's the matter with you?
What's so wrong with me? 
Don't you want to be in love?
What's the matter with you?
What's so wrong with me? 
Don't you want to be in love...
Like everyone else?

Vampires - The Strange EP Mix

When frontman James AJ Scott got together with his now-wife Joanna, people didn't think it would last. This song is about taking a leap of faith. Distancing from negativity and later reconnecting and forgiving. Above all it's a celebration of love that withstands the stormy seas of life, as we strive to reach paradise.

Sail Away With Me

A new mix and master for our homage to Grunge. 
It's a song about those relationships that ended wayyy before they ended...

Credits:
James AJ Scott - Original composition, words, vocals and guitars
Ben Singleton - Keyboards, mastering
Rupert Hobday - guitars
John Melia - Bass
Scott Bradley - Drums
Recorded and mixed at EAS Studios, Milton Keynes

Out of Sight (2nd Edition)

Vaulted Skies frontman James Scott says: "Author James Carol has delivered the first of a series of remixes of Vaulted Skies tracks. The brief given to James and to other producers was to "see where the tracks could go". I really wanted to see how great a departure we could make from the stylistic origins of each song, and this is quite a big departure from the grunge-inspired original. This may not be the final version of James' remix of 'Out of Sight', but it made everyone in my house smile and dance so much, that I couldn't wait to share it with you. Especially because we still have some time to go before the next set of new recordings from our forthcoming EP are at a similar stage. So hopefully this will keep you going for a while!"

Out of Sight - The Take Take Take Mix - James Carol Remix

Out Of Sight - The Take Take Take Mix

This is a sneak preview of Versus Heart. This version will be free to stream until the final version is released later in January! If you would like a copy of the song to keep, please subscribe to our mailing list at http://www.thevaultedskies.com/contact/  

CREDITS
Vocals: James Scott
Guitars: Ben Singleton & James Scott
Bass: Karly Poulton
Drums: Mat Hector
Other instruments: Karly Poulton, Ben Singleton & James Scott

Cover images by Simon Williams

LYRICS
Talking to the trees, fifteen stories high
The moon is make-believe, and so are all the skies
‘Til your rain falls down on me
‘Til your reign falls down again

There’s no sound as the friendship fades
No amusement to be found in these arcades
I see you broadcasting, on all frequencies but mine
Why did you lie?

When you said you were dead
What I think you meant was I was, in your head 
When you said you were dead
What I think you meant was, I was in your head

So here it comes, the five card spread
The last one in her hand is death
But your panic is misplaced
This one is an ace
New beginnings, ways of living
Ways to occupy your space

When you said you were dead
What I think you meant was I was, in your head 
When you said you were dead
What I think you meant was, I was in your head

But what about your heart? 
What about your heart…?

Versus Heart (Preview)

The 'No Fate?' EP: now streaming for free!

The Night

Does Anyone Else Feel (Strange)?

It Starts With You

The Falling Man

Unholy

James wrote it, sang it and played guitar. Ben added synths and extra guitar parts. Karly played the bass. Mat Hector played the drums; recorded at Grand Chapel Studios. Engineered and mixed by Ben. Produced by Ben and James. Mastered by Ian Sheppard.

The Way You Die

FIRST DRAFT: Demo cover of the Norma Tanega track featured in the opening credits of the TV series 'What We Do In The Shadows'.

You're Dead - JS Home Demo - Norma Tanega Cover

Breadcrumbs (JS Home Demo)

Once described as the lovechild of Robert Smith and Boy George, the beard-afflicted, kohl-eyed songwriter James AJ Scott put The Vaulted Skies together in 2013 to satisfy his urge to bring peace to the galaxy through a fusion of edgy alternative rock and danceable electronica. Shot through with the dynamics of grunge and bouts of epic melancholia, the four-piece puts on a show designed to take audiences on an emotional corkscrew.

Featuring woollen-bespectacled lab-coat-attired Doktor Ben Singleton on a second guitar alongside Scott’s) the official line-up is completed by bassist Andy McFarlane (who joined after answering an ad on a sort of Tinder for musicians), and Kryptonian-strength drummer David Ferenc Korosztos, conjured forth from a distant realm using an incantation of questionable moral (and health & safety) standards.

Over the years, the band's performance has evolved from what was initially shoegaze level introversion to something altogether more engaging, captivating audiences everywhere from pubs and clubs to large outdoor stages. The team that booked The Vaulted Skies for their first London performance at Brick Lane’s legendary 93 Feet East, reflected: 

"The crowd went wild for their set"… "A rocking, huge set - they sure know how to put on a show!"

Career highlights include supporting David Bowie and Cure guitarist Reeves Gabrels on his 2015 UK tour.

The Vaulted Skies

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