Musician Jed Skuse set for hometown show at final Longline Classic

Gisborne musician Jed Skuse will perform at the final Longline Classic on Labour Weekend. Photo / Lightseeker Photography

Gisborne musician Jed Skuse is looking forward to getting back to his hometown to play at the final edition of The Longline Classic on Labour Weekend.

He is in his second year of an engineering degree at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch and said a perfect life would be a balance of both music and engineering.

Last week, he released a new single You Only Call Me on the Weekend, a catchy tune that was inspired by an off-the-cuff remark made by one of his mates.

It combines layers of vocals, electric/acoustic guitar and percussive elements to create a sound that feels intimate yet full.

He describes his sound as “stripped-back acoustic guitar”, where he often uses a loop pedal to create layers of beats, melodies and chords.

It’s a mix of indie, funk, roots and acoustic rock with groove-driven loops and rich guitar work.

The self-taught musician started making music when he was at Ilminster Intermediate School and continued while he was at Gisborne Boys’ High School, where he won the solo/duo category of the Smokefree Rockquest in his final year.

At the moment, he fits his songwriting around a busy uni schedule and plays gigs in pubs in Christchurch when he can.

His favourite venue is Smash Palace in Gisborne, which he said “was always a good time”.

He has released several songs over the past few years, which showcase the breadth of his musical style. Wrong Places has a reggae beat, Just Another Day is a clever rap, and Surreal shows off his musicianship and singing voice.

Skuse has opened for Jon Toogood and shared the festival stage with Tiki Taane, Scribe and Messie at last year’s Longline Classic.

He says he can’t wait to take the stage in a couple of weeks, where people will be able to hear the new single live as well as some of his older music.