A family that ‘gazes together amazes together, and a family that amazes together is bound to boast some immaculate musical chemistry. That’s in play on Vanishing, the debut album from Northern California-based alt-rock band Nyte Skye, the project of Film School’s Nyles Lannon and his son Skye, who crafted the record in 2020 and 2021 during the Covid-19 pause when Skye was just 12 years old.
The LP drops today (January 10) via Sonic Ritual, and enclosed is an engrossing 10-track collection of dream-pop bliss and plush textures that positions the father-son duo — dad on vocals and guitars, son on drums — as an exciting new collaboration. Hell, not many of us, at 12-years-old, could lean on our pops to fuel a newfound creativity.
“The songs on Vanishing capture the little ways my son and I were coping with those early days of the pandemic; some reflective and poignant, some escapist, some playful,” says Nyles. “Music was our bond and in some ways our guiding light. It gave us a focused goal while we processed what was happening, together in our little world.”
Adds Skye: “The pandemic somewhat inspired it.. It encouraged it in the sense that we didn’t have other things to do. It was easier than usual to work on music because of all the free time.”
So far, it adds up to time well spent, channeling a feeling of having nothing to do and ultimately creating a record that now surfaces back when we’re suddenly all busy again. Tracks like the ethereal “Dream State” and propulsive midnight electronic ride of “Moon Rabbit” slot in nicely with titans of the more shimmering pools of guitar-pop and modern rock.
“We also had a lot of time, more than we had ever had, and probably ever will again,” says Nyles reflectively. “I think for a musical father and son, it was a golden opportunity. We knew we had this cool moment and we took advantage of it. We also both knew it wouldn’t last forever, so we stayed pretty focused on the goal.”