Skirt initially formed in 2014 as a bedroom-recording project of Mike Pehrsson. The Swedish / Swiss singer and guitarist wanted to pick up his old band Gompa after several years as a drummer in Brighton. The project was titled ‘Skirt’ and a few demos were laid down.
During The Great Escape Festival of Brighton, 2015, bands like St. Pierre’s Snake Invasion, Slaves, Girl Band, The Asylums and Meat Wave inspired Mike and a couple of friends to do something new. Mike recorded the first batch of songs at his very basic home studio - the recording, distribution and promotional hub of his DIY label Stand Your Sound. By the end of the year, the concept had evolved from a straight-ahead garage rock album to a somewhat ominous yet wacky portrayal of the sex-infused aggression of Brighton’s summer, her introverted fetishist winter and the loneliness in between the two. With the help of Danish drummer Jens and Brightonian bassist Michelle, the album, Closed For Summer, was finalized in February 2016. Some additional programming was provided by Czechman Maiq.
The album was produced by Skirt and mixed & mastered by Mike at StandYourSound. In the interim, Skirt had recorded a handful of songs that didn’t quite fit on the album, or were written and recorded after the album had been finished. All of them were about one thing and one thing only: dirty, sleazy, gorgeous sex! The 5-track EP Sex Stories was put together in April 2016, the bands first proper EP. A great album to make love to, naturally.
At this point, Mike became very busy as the drummer to the experimental Post-Presleycore band, Embet Henx, as well as a brief stint with London-based Bruxa Maria. This delayed Skirt’s activity but ended up being a blessing. Good things come to those who wait, and Skirt’s third release, ‘Munchkin’, is a damn good thing, says the band. “This is the most personal, most extreme and most weird stuff I’ve ever written, while also the catchiest and most beautiful. Very ambitious. We’ll see how it translates live I guess, if at all!”, so Mike at the release party of Munchkin, December 2018.