MEETING MODERN SKY: THE TALENT ON OUR DOORSTEP
We sit at the window of A Slower Space, hands wrapped tightly around coffee cups as we shake off the chill that engulfs Penny Lane on this chilly February morning, ready to delve into the world of Modern Sky and the many roads that led Dave Pichilingi here.
Looking out onto one of the world’s most famous streets, people carrying bunches of flowers, walking dogs on leads and holding their children’s hands tightly, it’s easy to forget what it represents. And for many of us living in the city, it’s certain that at times we forget how lucky we are. The talent that Liverpool possesses doesn’t start and end with Fab Four and their incredible legacy, and Modern Sky are part of the dedicated army who are working to amplify new voices. To prove to the world that we’re far from a one-trick pony.
And what better person to man this ship than a scouser who’ll “live and die within five miles” of where he was born? “Like most people in this city [he] wanted to be a rock and roll star,” and after a stint at Ford, thankfully for us, Pichilingi followed his Mum’s advice and pursued a career in music. “It was just a burning desire to be in this environment,” he explains, “a calling more than anything else.” Growing up with the anarchic grit of Punk Rock in the air, everything felt possible, “all of a sudden you didn’t have to be an impresario guitarist, anyone could pick up a guitar and learn two chords… and just have a go.”
With this energy, Pichilingi threw himself into the industry, signing to RCA, helping to create Produce Records, managing the likes of The Farm and Sub Sub, and part-owning Seel Street nightclub, The Masque. It would be quicker to list what he hasn’t done; “I’m a generalist, I’ve done most things, I’m not an expert in many but I have good ears and I’m good with people.” The latter is a talent that makes meeting Pichilingi feel not too dissimilar to reading a book about Tony Wilson – who he knew, by the way. He’s full of stories about rubbing shoulders with the best of the best, industry names that are (rightfully) considered gospel. Every bit of inspiration was brought right back to Liverpool.
Over 18 years ago, Pichilingi took all that he’d learned from Manchester’s In The City festival, the first music convention of its kind in the UK, and fed it into a new chapter of his career. With Yvette Livesey (Tony Wilson’s partner) blessing, Sound City was born. The longest running festival and conference for emerging talent in the UK, Sound City was inspired by convention giants such as South by Southwest (SXSW), and avidly supported by the likes of Kevin McManus, Revo, Marc Jones and more, they got it “off the ground”. It was the beginning of a train of events that would positively impact the lives of those across Liverpool and beyond.
It was Sound City that Chinese record label, Modern Sky, bought into around 8 years ago. Requesting that Pichilingi “help them grow their company outside of China”. Now, Modern Sky UK is the most successful independent record label to come out of this city, with their roster boasting acts including Jamie Webster, Mick Head, The Royston Club, Brooke Coombe, Red Rum Club, The Lottery Winners and The Lathums.
“There’s a certain attitude from Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield and cities like that… an arrogance and I think that’s a good thing. The fierce competitiveness between Liverpool and Manchester with football and music, it keeps us on our toes. Someone once described it as a budgie pecking a mirror, we’ve got more in common than we’d care to admit, but we like to look for the differences, be it a voice or a team… It’s a very northern attitude.”
Love for the North pours from Pichilingi, who celebrates determination and ambition, working class stories and underdogs rising from the ashes. “It’s not about being the best guitarist in the world, the best singer, it’s about being interesting,” he shares with us. Because if you don’t “live and breathe it,” if it isn’t “the reason you get up in a morning and the reason you go to sleep at night,” then it’s not for you. As someone who has been there and done that, Pichilingi explains that overnight success is rare, “you can’t fast track this thing,” but it’s clear that potential is everywhere.
“There’s so much great stuff going on in Liverpool right now, it feels like there’s more bands than ever, more music than ever being made, I suspect we don’t even know ourselves what’s coming down the line. That’s the great thing about it; it takes you by surprise.” And one recent surprise is winner of Channel 4’s The Piano, Brad Kella. Many in the industry were taken aback when he signed a recording contract with Modern Sky, but for Pichilingi, seeing Kella’s determination and talent, it was inevitable; “for us, he’s just the perfect Modern Sky artist.”
2025 is a big year for Modern Sky, starting off strong with January’s release from Brooke Coombe, upcoming collaborations with Modern Sky Japan artists and new releases due from Jamie Webster, Red Rum Club, The Lathums and Precious Pepala. Expect this year’s playlists to be populated with the best new voices that the North has to offer, and remember how lucky we are when every artist we want to see live plays right her, on our doorstep.
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By Megan Walder
