The Rhein-Main area with its metropolis of Frankfurt has been a magnificent breeding ground for bands with R&B influences. This may well be attributed to the omnipresence of the American forces and their radio station AFN. Resident oldtimers can't help but remember the huge international success of Supermax and Boney M. in the 1970s, Snap and Milli Vanilli in the late 80s and early 90s, or stars of the local scene such as The Touch with a then unknown Terence Trent D'Arby, and the funkateers of Midnite Fun. In the mid-90s the well ran dry – probably due to the withdrawal of the American soldiers from the area who had been a great audience for decades.

Fast forward to 2010 – again, a Frankfurt band is making waves reviving the tradition of Black Music from the Rhein-Main area. Their sold-out debut at the "Nachtleben" in March sees the release of SKYWALK's first album which is aptly titled "Alive".

Merging contemporary R&B, Hip Hop and Ragga with traditional Soul and Reggae influences the music of SKYWALK is a unique and energetic mix of the best in Afro-American music, the steady, unrelenting pulse of the rhythm section providing a seamless backdrop for the sound scapes of synthesizers and keyboards. SKYWALK promote the human factor by recording live. Instead of bulding tracks on computers and samplers these are used "after the fact" only to fine tune and enhance results. This is why the irresistible down home, down-to-earth flavor of the music comes across with the champagne sparkle of a mirror ball on disco adrenalin. SKYWALK audiences just love the kind of dance-ability that even hard core intellectuals can't resist...

SKYWALK are Udo Kistner, Torsten Buckpesch, MM Michael Minor, Uwe Schmedemann, Torsten Dechert and Sheila Messina.

The band are expanding into a network of musicians and artists to promote Frankfurt soul again with Jamaican Reggae artiste Yah Meek providing harmony vocals on the "Tough Guy“ single. Originally released on the "Alive" album, "Tough Guy“ is now available as a single featuring three different mixes.

Somehow, "Tough Guy" is essential SKYWALK, Sheila Messina singing "I'm not looking for a fight, I'm looking for a lover". Refering to herself, the band, their audiences she seems to be at ease with everyone. "Tough Guy" might just be the answer to "Private Dancer" – but there's no question about the future of Rhein-Main R&B!

Sheila Messina ( Vocals ) >>>
Michael Minor ( Vocals ) >>>
Torsten Dechert ( Drums ) >>>
Uwe Schmedemann ( Keys ) >>>
Torsten Buckpesch ( Guitars ) >>>
Udo Kistner ( Bass ) >>>