Watch our full interview with Skylar Peterson
It’s hard to believe that Nashville native Skylar Peterson is only twenty when you hear him sing. His rich tone effortlessly melts into the lowest register and then climbs with a confident phrasing and lyrical expression. Although he originally had a background as a saxophonist, law initially called to Skylar—but the lure of theater ultimately changed his path.
“When I was going into my junior year of high school, all of a sudden, my passion for singing and musical theater kind of stirred up within me because my school at the time had a very prominent and well-funded theater program. That was kind of like the crown jewel of the conservatory that I was at.”
Unsurprisingly, The Phantom of the Opera drew him in. “I love that dramatic orchestral music, especially the minor keys. I love all of that, that darker type.”
During his final years in high school, he took on prominent stage roles such as Javert in Les Misérables. “I just kind of got thrown headfirst into the musical theater world… I went straight in and committed to it all the way.” His experience in legit theater roles allowed Skylar to embrace an open sound. “It’s where I felt my voice naturally lent itself, and I just loved the sound of it… So that was definitely something that I really dug into early on, especially within teaching, focusing more on that Golden Age, legit musical theater and classical training.”
Skylar also received training in a more commercial style from a jazz singer. “With her, the goal was to do those Great American Songbook songs, those standards, those classics. We would pick one, and then I would record them in her studio… She really taught me the art of simplicity in storytelling. Choosing when to use straight tone or vibrato, how to phrase and back-phrase things, and how important it is to focus on the words and the word painting—all of that. She also helped me understand the nuances of the recording studio, how much room there is to play, and how much give there is compared to live performance. Having that training early on, alongside my classical foundation, really helped me avoid having to play catch-up later.”
Skylar’s talent was evident to such an extent that he knew he had to make a decision about his future. “As time went on and more discussions were had, we eventually, as a family, decided that what would fit best for me right now is probably to look at voice programs as a voice major.”
Things moved quickly after that. After being exposed to Il Volo on PBS, Skylar realized that classical crossover might be the perfect fit for his large bass-baritone voice. “I wanted to merge my classical training with my crooning training and musical theater acting skills. I found that classical crossover allowed me to use all of those tools and communicate effectively.”
A pivotal moment came when he attended a concert by music business legend David Foster and his wife, Katharine McPhee Foster. After the show, Skylar had the boldness to pitch himself to Foster on the spot. Even more surprisingly, Foster agreed to share his manager’s information so Skylar could send over his music.
“About a month or two later, I noticed a DM on my Instagram page from a producer, Olivier Bassil. At the time, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m seeing a random DM from a producer who is interested. Who is this?’ Then, as I did my research, I found out he was David Foster’s right-hand man.” They jumped on Zoom to discuss “what he found interesting in me… and what he wanted to accomplish together.”
Moments of discovery like this are rare these days, but Olivier and Skylar immediately clicked. “From that moment, we were like, ‘Okay, we want to bring a new edge and a new voice to classical crossover.’ With me being 20 years old and having an understanding of what this new generation is, while also appreciating the classic elements of the genre, we wanted to fuse those together. With my bass-baritone voice, we aimed to provide a unique spin on this genre that hasn’t really been done before.”
Last year, Skylar and Olivier wrote and recorded three original songs in Los Angeles: Mirage, The Feel of You, and Masquerade. His music is making waves, with the first two songs amassing over 100,000 streams and Masquerade continuing to climb.
A true student of the genre, Skylar has worked to carve out his own niche. Speaking of Mirage, he shares, “We wanted an international flair—something like the old Bolero classic, and Bésame Mucho. That classical Spanish guitar, that passionate feeling… It’s a hybrid of Latin and Middle Eastern influences. Even our drummer for that piece was in Ghana, so it has a Djembe African rhythmic pulse, Eastern harmonics, and a Latin feel. We blended all those elements together… This is my first original piece. This is what Skylar Peterson sounds like.”
While he worked with industry veterans, Skylar was also a driving force in the creative process. He describes himself as “having a good understanding of what it means to be classical crossover.” That foundation helped him in the studio. “I had a strong vision for what I wanted and what I knew it had to be while still playing around with the ideas of the other creatives in the room. I had a strong conviction of what this sound needed to be and guided it lyrically, melodically, and musically. Being a musician first, the musical expression is just as important to me as the vocal performance. I wanted the product to be expressive, new, and fresh while still staying within the lane of the genre.”
His second single, The Feel of You, leaned into a more commercial, power-pop ballad style. “We wanted something that would push the boundaries of classical crossover—something more relatable to the new generation. It’s a heartbreak ballad, more simplistic in its accompaniment, with mostly piano and, during the big chorus parts, a little more brass. But overall, we kept it simple.”
With Masquerade, he returned to his operatic roots and Phantom obsession. “That has always been my favorite. Getting to do something like that was truly a passion project. We wanted a fresh take on it for the new generation while still being a true homage to Phantom and the past. I really enjoyed singing that one, allowing myself to use a more classical sound.”
Skylar continues to build his resume, recently performing in Palm Beach for Princess Charlene of Monaco. He also plans to continue recording, though those plans were delayed due to the LA fires.
With the polish already in his voice, a clear vision, and the enthusiasm of youth, Skylar Peterson is an artist to watch. We look forward to following his career and seeing where his talent takes him.
Watch our full interview with Skylar Peterson
