Sumo Cyco is a four-piece female fronted rock band based out of Toronto, Canada. In October last year Sumo Cyco competed in the 10th annual Indie Week Canada festival, competing against over 250 independent bands from across Canada and across all genres. Sumo Cyco took home the title as Indie Week winners, were awarded prizes from Shure and Jack Daniels and a trip to headline Indie Week Ireland, taking place this weekend in Limerick.
Sumo Cyco can be described as No Doubt meets Pantera blending heavy guitars with dancehall rhythms and female vocals. Skye Sweetnam, the band’s front woman, signed to Capitol Records and EMI (Sony/ ATV) publishing at the age of 14. Skye performed in over 25 countries and opened up for Britney Spears for 50 dates on the Onyx Hotel Tour all before her seventeenth birthday.
Since forming in 2011, Sumo Cyco has recorded and released nine singles digitally to date, alongside grindhouse B-movie videos, which they produce and direct themselves. Sumo Cyco’s video for ‘Interceptor’ has over five million views. The band was awarded “Best-Female Fronted” band at the Toronto Independent Music Awards for 2011-2012. Limerick Post had a word with singer Skye Sweetnam this week.
Limerick Post: Hi, Skye, has your win at Indie Week Canada turned out to be a big opportunity for the band?
Skye: Oh, very much so. Indie Week is not only giving us a great opportunity to perform in Ireland but has also given us the push to extend our stay overseas to tour the UK. This will be our first tour as a band overseas. Very excited.
LP: Will your gigs in Limerick be your first visit to Ireland?
Skye: Yes, the gigs in Limerick will be the first show for our band in Ireland. I’ve performed here before with my solo project in Dublin but it will be my first time in Limerick. I’m expecting it to be beautiful and full of character so don’t let me down Limerick!
LP: What is the next release from Sumo Cyco?
Skye: We are releasing our debut record in Canada June 10. We will continue to release singles with crazy self-made music videos every few months. Those who attend Indie Week can get a special promo CD from us featuring four songs from the upcoming album ‘Lost in Cyco City’, three of our top selling singles as well as a special bonus track.
Sumo Cyco play Indie Week in Limerick on Friday April 25 and Saturday 26, both in Dolan’s. Indie Week happens from Wednesday April 23.
