Oasis-inspired Yorkshire, U.K. indie rock quartet Skylights also give a slight nod to the rockier side of '80s alt guitar acts such as Echo & the Bunnymen and the Cult.

They were formed in 2008, in the Acomb area of York when Jonny Scarisbrick approached Turnbull Smith. Scarisbrick was a guitarist and Smith had played bass in bands, but for Skylights they decided to swap roles. Struggling to find a singer, they ended up coaxing Scarisbrick's brother, Rob, to rehearsals with the promise of beer, while Smith's former bandmate, Myles Soley, completed the lineup on drums. Rob was unaware that Smith had already booked them to play a local gig two weeks later, but the show went ahead and was a minor success. Between that point and 2013, Skylights played live sporadically in their home city, mainly at venues such as The Junction and Fibbers, before going on hiatus.

They returned to the live scene in 2017, going on to perform in both Liverpool and Leeds over the next couple of years. A key run of gigs in the latter city helped build up a sizable fan base there. This development -- alongside their much-publicized love of the Leeds United football club and continued support from the city's world featherweight boxing champion, Josh Warrington -- led many to believe they were a Leeds band. Skylights' singles released in 2018 -- "YRA," "What You Are," and "Lifeline" -- benefited from plays on local radio and attracted the attention of Manchester's 42's Records, the affiliate record label of 42nd Street, a popular indie nightclub during the Britpop era. In 2020, 42's issued the group's debut physical release -- a four-track EP led by the propulsive "Enemies" -- which was promoted by a live Sky TV appearance on Soccer AM. The reflective, string-laden "Darkness Falls" followed later that year, and in 2021 Skylights enjoyed a prestigious Manchester support slot with the Sherlocks, as well as Scottish dates and a thorough tour of Yorkshire towns. Early 2022 brought further singles -- "Outlaw," "Nothing Left to Say," and "Driving Me Away" -- all of which ultimately appeared on their debut album, What You Are. Released that May, the record narrowly missed out on a U.K. Top 200 chart placing after making an appearance in the midweek Top 100. ~ James Wilkinson