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7th House Biography
Adversity
Perhaps the most important thing to know about 7th House is that in the
wide world there is only one Sky, a character in every sense of that word --
hewn from the rock of adversity.
7th House is Sky and Walter.
Sky was born into a troubled home in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, a home
environment permeated with drug abuse, gambling and intolerance.
Sky's home was also one of contrasts. In addition to being a heart surgeon,
Sky's father was also celebrated classical violinist. Recognized at the
earliest age to be musically gifted, Sky was formally trained from the age of
two on the violin. As soon as he was tall enough, Sky switched to the bass
violin. By age 9, recognized as a, prodigy, Sky was commuting to L.A. on
weekends to study with some of the world's best bass players toward a
career as a classical performer. As Sky remembers, "Some of the only
peaceful memories I have of my life at home was when my father and I
would work out violin duets in the basement. When we communicated
through music, things would calm down a bit."
When asked what group he associated with in school, Sky laughs: "Are you
kidding me? I didn't exist! I was that kid who dragged his bass from his house to
school and back again. There were no girls for Sky." For Sky youthful rebellion was about clean living (including dedicated vegetarianism which he continues today) open mindedness (pursuing relationships with people of diverse cultures) and choosing rock
and roll over classical music.
"There are two ways of living this life, " explains Sky. "You can either
succumb to all the bullshit and negativity people throw at you, or you can
use it to your advantage: take the negativity, the 'you won't ever amount to
anything' and turn that into the driving force behind every productive thing
you do. I choose the latter."
Sky left high school and home and moved to Amsterdam, but returned after
a year to help care for his father whose health was failing. Shortly after
Sky's return his father died and Sky was at his side. Exactly one year later,
in a Las Vegas hotel room that Sky was sharing with his mother, Sky awoke
to find his mother dead.
"It has not been easy," Sky says. "There is so much about my upbringing I
reject, but I have never turned my back on my family. My father left me his
violin which I keep close by and cherish. As for all the negativity, I use it.
That is what our song 'Man from Amsterdam' is about -- using negativity to
your advantage. I'm not angry, really. I'm grateful."
Destiny
Growing up in a different Pittsburgh suburb was another classical music
prodigy, Walter -- the son of two Philippine immigrants, both doctors, his
father a surgeon. Like Sky, Walter was being trained from an early age
toward a career as a classical pianist.
As he got older Walter taught himself guitar in order to make some money
gigging close to home. One day he found himself subbing on guitar in a,
rock band that was playing an assembly at an all-girls Catholic school.
"When I looked out from the stage and saw those girls going crazy," Walter
says, "I knew there was no turning back."
Walter left school to master the guitar and to pursue rock n' roll full
time. He met Sky in 1993 in his sophomore year in high school. "Our chemistry was
instantaneous. I immediately felt that we should play music together." 7th
House was formed with a name that has an astrological overtone, but
actually refers to the house in which they rehearsed -- the seventh house
from the end of the block.
While Sky and Walter dreamed that 7th House would deliver them from
Pittsburgh to a broader destiny, they decided to call their debut album "412,"
the Pittsburgh area code, in keeping with Sky's philosophy of celebrating
one's road, no matter how rough.
Sky and Walter later learned that when Walter's mother was doing her
residency in the recovery room at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, her
teacher was none other than Sky's father. It turns out that if you call (412)
7TH-HOUSE today, you will reach the recovery room at St. Francis
Hospital.
Now
7th House went on to become a major touring band and to win K-ROCK
New York's best unsigned band competition in 1999.
Sky writes all the songs and together Sky and Walter played, sang and
programmed virtually every note on their debut album, "412" on Blackbird/Atlantic.
Perhaps the most important thing to know about 7th House is that in the
wide world there is only one Sky, a character in every sense of that word --
hewn from the rock of adversity.
7th House is Sky and Walter.
Sky was born into a troubled home in a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, a home
environment permeated with drug abuse, gambling and intolerance.
Sky's home was also one of contrasts. In addition to being a heart surgeon,
Sky's father was also celebrated classical violinist. Recognized at the
earliest age to be musically gifted, Sky was formally trained from the age of
two on the violin. As soon as he was tall enough, Sky switched to the bass
violin. By age 9, recognized as a, prodigy, Sky was commuting to L.A. on
weekends to study with some of the world's best bass players toward a
career as a classical performer. As Sky remembers, "Some of the only
peaceful memories I have of my life at home was when my father and I
would work out violin duets in the basement. When we communicated
through music, things would calm down a bit."
When asked what group he associated with in school, Sky laughs: "Are you
kidding me? I didn't exist! I was that kid who dragged his bass from his house to
school and back again. There were no girls for Sky." For Sky youthful rebellion was about clean living (including dedicated vegetarianism which he continues today) open mindedness (pursuing relationships with people of diverse cultures) and choosing rock
and roll over classical music.
"There are two ways of living this life, " explains Sky. "You can either
succumb to all the bullshit and negativity people throw at you, or you can
use it to your advantage: take the negativity, the 'you won't ever amount to
anything' and turn that into the driving force behind every productive thing
you do. I choose the latter."
Sky left high school and home and moved to Amsterdam, but returned after
a year to help care for his father whose health was failing. Shortly after
Sky's return his father died and Sky was at his side. Exactly one year later,
in a Las Vegas hotel room that Sky was sharing with his mother, Sky awoke
to find his mother dead.
"It has not been easy," Sky says. "There is so much about my upbringing I
reject, but I have never turned my back on my family. My father left me his
violin which I keep close by and cherish. As for all the negativity, I use it.
That is what our song 'Man from Amsterdam' is about -- using negativity to
your advantage. I'm not angry, really. I'm grateful."
Destiny
Growing up in a different Pittsburgh suburb was another classical music
prodigy, Walter -- the son of two Philippine immigrants, both doctors, his
father a surgeon. Like Sky, Walter was being trained from an early age
toward a career as a classical pianist.
As he got older Walter taught himself guitar in order to make some money
gigging close to home. One day he found himself subbing on guitar in a,
rock band that was playing an assembly at an all-girls Catholic school.
"When I looked out from the stage and saw those girls going crazy," Walter
says, "I knew there was no turning back."
Walter left school to master the guitar and to pursue rock n' roll full
time. He met Sky in 1993 in his sophomore year in high school. "Our chemistry was
instantaneous. I immediately felt that we should play music together." 7th
House was formed with a name that has an astrological overtone, but
actually refers to the house in which they rehearsed -- the seventh house
from the end of the block.
While Sky and Walter dreamed that 7th House would deliver them from
Pittsburgh to a broader destiny, they decided to call their debut album "412,"
the Pittsburgh area code, in keeping with Sky's philosophy of celebrating
one's road, no matter how rough.
Sky and Walter later learned that when Walter's mother was doing her
residency in the recovery room at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, her
teacher was none other than Sky's father. It turns out that if you call (412)
7TH-HOUSE today, you will reach the recovery room at St. Francis
Hospital.
Now
7th House went on to become a major touring band and to win K-ROCK
New York's best unsigned band competition in 1999.
Sky writes all the songs and together Sky and Walter played, sang and
programmed virtually every note on their debut album, "412" on Blackbird/Atlantic.
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