Familiar Faces Form New Band: Skyline Motel

Skyline Motel. Pictured (L-R): Tom Bukovac, Daniel Tashian, David LaBruyere Ian Fitchuk, Kate York and Sarah Buxton. Photo: Marcel Chagnon

For Sarah Buxton, Kate York, Daniel Tashian, and Ian Fitchuk, founding Skyline Motel allowed the freedom to create music on their own terms. “Most of the singers in the band have been through the ringer with the label world and the music business in general,” said York. “So the idea behind this whole project was just to make music for fun and on our terms. It has been nothing but fun since we started.”

In June, the band debuted with an industry showcase at BMI, then played its first public appearance at BMI’s Buzz at the Basement series July 2. A recent appearance at a Cystic Fibrosis benefit took place last week (7/23).

Lyric Street released Buxton’s debut record two months before the label closed. After she scored songwriting success with Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy” and “Put You In A Song,” she parted ways with her longtime publisher. Big Yellow Dog writers Kate York and Daniel Tashian are not new to Music Row either. Both have released multiple albums and collaborated with various music publishers. York released a seven-track album titled, New, last week (7/24). Tashian released a record on Elektra in the ’90s, and is now in a band called The Silver Seas. Ian Fitchuk is currently self-published and has written for and produced artists including Amy Grant, Mindy Smith, Natalie Grant and Matt Wertz.

“Skyline Motel started out as an idea that Kate had and would not let go!” Buxton teased.

“Years ago Daniel and I talked about how much we wanted to be in a Fleetwood Mac type band,” said York. “The idea for Skyline Motel came after meeting Sarah and turning in a song to my publisher, Carla Wallace, who said, ‘Who is this? Stevie Nicks and Christy McVie?’”

“The first 10 songs were all written in one night, Friday, Jan. 13, 2012,” said Buxton. “It was the day I got out of my old publishing deal that Daniel, Kate and I made New Years resolutions. Ian Fichuck joined around dinnertime. We ate and didn’t stop the creative process until around 4:30 a.m.”

The founders invited Buxton’s husband, in demand session guitarist Tom Bukovac, and David LeBruyere, a previous bandmate for John Mayer, to join the band. Richard Bennett joined them in the studio to craft the music, which is halfway recorded. The band is still in the process of deciding how to release the album, but judging by the audience reaction at the Basement, these gifted artists should find themselves in big business after it is expected in the fall.

“There was no agenda that preceded the night that we wrote all the material,” said Fitchuk. “Everything since then has been a natural motion forward, an energy we’re just trying to enjoy.”

To catch a preview of these new tunes, including “From a High Window,” “Sleep With Me,” and “If You Feel Like Singing,” check out the band at 3rd and Lindsley on Oct. 4.

The band’s official Twitter handle is @Skylinemotel.

In other news, Buxton and Bukovac announced last week (7/23) via Twitter they are expecting their first child.