Skindive
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Dublin , Ireland |
| Products | Music albums, EPs |
Skindive was an electronic rock ensemble originating from Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1990s. Their sound fused electronic elements with intense, atmospheric tones, often drawing comparisons to Garbage due to the blend of distorted guitar riffs and pristine female vocals.
Formation
The band Skindive came into existence in 1999, initiated by Gerry Owens after his return to Dublin following modest achievements with several London-based groups. Owens began composing his own material, which eventually led to assembling the group.
He promptly enlisted bassist Alan Lee and drummer Ger Farrell; however, finding a suitable lead singer took more time. After numerous auditions, Owens connected with Danielle Harrison, who was residing in Los Angeles at the time and subsequently relocated to Dublin to join the band. Owens highlighted the significance of building a stable lineup:
"Having been part of multiple bands that eventually fell apart due to conflicting personalities, I prioritized establishing a long-term unit for Skindive. It required considerable time to gather the right members."
Throughout the subsequent year, Skindive honed their live performances in Dublin while seeking a record deal in the United States. Following exposure to their demo, Chris Blackwell of Palm Records attended one of their shows in Dublin and promptly signed them. The band then commenced work on their first album, titled Skindive.
Debut album
In January 2001, Skindive released the Tranquilizer EP, followed by their self-titled debut album in February 2001 under Palm Records. Gerry Owens took charge of production and recording duties, collaborating with co-producers Adrian Sherwood and Alan Branch. The mixing and mastering were completed by Dave 'Rave' Ogilvie in Vancouver.
Although the album received favorable critiques, it did not achieve chart success, which led the band to transition to Alphamale Recordings.
Follow-up and dissolution
After touring in 2002, Skindive lost backing from Palm Records. Danielle Harrison explained that the departure of essential supporters within the label hindered their progress. Subsequently, the band negotiated an exit from their contract.
They then signed with independent label AlphaMale Recordings and worked on a second album, releasing the single Precious, which garnered consistent airplay on Pet Sounds at Today FM. Nevertheless, since the single failed to break into the top 30 charts, the planned album was ultimately shelved and the group disbanded.
Following this, Gerry Owens initiated a new project named Lluther, with former Skindive drummer Ger Farrell joining for live performances.
Band members
- Gerry Owens – Guitarist/Songwriter
- Danielle Harrison – Lead Vocals
- Alan Lee – Bassist
- Ger Farrell – Drummer
Management for Skindive was handled by Dermot F Geoghegan.
Discography
| Year | Details |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Tranquilizer
|
| 2001 | Skindive
|
| 2001 | 3 EP
|