Design The Skyline Talks To Us After 10 Long Years, New Music Coming, and How to Precisely Design The Skyline!
Ten long years have come and gone since last speaking and first speaking with metal go getters DESIGN THE SKYLINE! Since then, the band has had their mishaps, music releases, and in recent time, plans towards all new music and a new future! The band got together to talk about all of this with us below!
1. It's been 10 long years since we last spoke, how much has changed within the band, what has been released material wise, what is going on as of right now?
The biggest change is stability and focus. We've matured into an entity dedicated to sound evolution and creative control. Material-wise, we have been in active, continuous operation, releasing the singles Rebirth (2015), Lotus (2016), and In Dreams (2018). Right now, we are in the studio preparing a massive new album, and we have just digitally released our complete archives—the Synthetic Cities EP and Galactical Celebration demos—to solidify the full catalog history.
2. You guys have had various break up points throughout your career as Design The Skyline, why so many up's and down's, and is the band back for good this time?
The reality is, DTS never broke up. We’ve been an active, continuous project since our inception; what looked like "breakup points" were actually necessary periods of creative triage and managerial restructuring. I assumed managerial and creative control early on to ensure the band's continuity. Even during the post-2018 public slowdown, we were diligently working behind the scenes, licensing our catalog (Wax Vessel, 2021) and completely redesigning our visual identity (2024). The project is fully stable and focused on recording and live performance.
3. Way back when you were a 7 piece then moved down to a 4 piece, what is the count now?
The official, current core writing team is composed of three dedicated members (myself, Matti Hoffman, and Shota Nishimura), and we have a rotating network of crucial instrumental collaborators. Julian Reckless is a valued original founding member and key creative collaborator who is central to our songwriting vision, but he is currently not a public-facing member. We are currently auditioning for a permanent drummer, but the creative vision is locked in.
4. You were working on your sophomore album "Rebirth" was that album ever released?
The Rebirth album project was originally planned, but was strategically restructured into a set of successful single releases: "Rebirth" (2015), "Lotus" (2016), and "In Dreams" (2018). The purpose of this restructure was to establish the band's independent control and continuous musical direction. The remaining tracks from that era, combined with a multitude of new material, are now being finalized for the upcoming second album, which will be anchored by the "Bloodlust" single, releasing October 31st.
5. The single for "Rebirth" was released, as well as other songs such as "Lotus" and "In Dreams", any other "newer" material been released since then?
Those three singles (2015, 2016, 2018) were released during a period of continuous internal production. While we did not have further public releases until now, that time was spent actively evolving our sound and completing a multi-year rebranding process behind the scenes. We are now releasing the single "Bloodlust" on October 31st, which is our first finished track since 2018. We were never inactive; we were simply building the foundation for this next massive album.
6. Can you tell me about the two recent releases titled "Synthetic Cities" and "Galactrical Celebration", are these EP releases or demos or a mini album combined of the two?
They are historical archival releases being released digitally for the first time. The Synthetic Cities EP is the originally unreleased, highly complex work from the post-Nevaeh era, and the Galactical Celebration Demo contains the true 2008 origins of the project, including tracks from the Extra Large Kids era. They serve as a roadmap of our entire creative history.
7. The band was once called Extra Large Kids, why the name change, and are there any hidden easter eggs to that namesake in future content?
The change was about moving from high school friends to a serious, professional mission. Extra Large Kids was the starting point, and Design The Skyline™ became the mission: setting our own limits and creating our own vision. We are constantly referencing that initial spark. Fans will hear elements from the earliest demo tracks infused into the new album. The raw, founding influences—including that early grind/experimental sound—are a huge part of what drives us to push creative boundaries and innovate as a brand today.
8. You mentioned about the future sound of the band's music and it will be a fusion of Deathcore, Industrial, and Experimental sounds; elaborate for us?
The new material is a complex fusion that refuses simple labels. We are building our sound upon a wide range of styles, from industrial, shoegaze, pop, rock and J-Rock to deathcore, melodic death metal, djent, and experimental grind. This creative evolution is central to the DTS core ideals of uniqueness and passion, proving our continuous growth as musicians and humans.
9. Will your debut album "Nevaeh" receive a re-release in any shape of format?
We are incredibly proud of the Nevaeh album and always want it available for fans. However, those master recordings, the original YouTube version of Surrounded by Silence, and Deathgaze are controlled by our former label, Victory Records. While we may consider re-recording those tracks in the future, for now, the original masters remain available on streaming platforms.
10. What about the band's logo, will you be sticking to using the classic format or has it changed altogether?
The logo has gone through an intense, multi-year rebranding process. I personally handled the direction and design, and the goal was a complete overhaul to align with our complex new sound. We are honoring the legacy of the original logo (which I sketched a rough draft of), but the current visuals are entirely new. I took a lot of inspiration from bold, iconic symbols (like Humanity’s Last Breath's icon and religious imagery) to transform the logo from a simple stylized word mark. The core icon now consolidates the DTS acronym into an imposing, legible, and bold symbol that represents our intensity, structure, and professionalism. My goal was to create an icon that serves as the visual representation of our entire creative vision—that DTS is more than just a band, but a set of ideals and a way of life. The new branding is designed for the next era of Design The Skyline™; it is versatile, easily recognizable, and can be used consistently across our varied platforms and merchandise, ensuring our visual identity remains strong and cohesive as we continue to evolve.
11. Would you say that the meaning behind the band's name Design the Skyline has changed since its change from Extra Large Kids to Design The Skyline? And how does one design the skyline? You must use a ton of stars!
The meaning has deepened, but the core intention is the same. It was always about exceeding limits. Today, Design The Skyline™ is about creative autonomy: designing the skyline means building our own musical world without limitations, drawing from a full spectrum of influences to create something unique.
12. Can we expect to see anymore archival content like even old merch designs making a comeback or anything of the sort?
We would love to re-print our classic, out-of-production merch designs. However, the legal rights for much of that older material are complex, as those assets were created during our time with our former label, Victory Records. We are actively looking into reclaiming those rights so that those designs can be released again. In the meantime, we are deep into the process of creating a brand new line of merchandise that utilizes our new aesthetic and branding. Our focus right now is on that new merch, the Bloodlust single, and upcoming album.
13. Whereabouts can we find the band online as far as social media, hear your music, buy stuff etc.\
The official hub for the Design The Skyline™ project is our HyperFollow link. This is the exclusive source for all music, official news, and future merchandise: hyperfollow.com/DesignTheSkyline.
14. What are the plans for now into this next year that is 2026?
Our immediate plan is the release of the "Bloodlust" single on October 31st, which is the anchor for the new album rollout. We plan to complete the full sophomore album in early 2026. This is a full-scale offensive: we are actively working on merchandise, video content, photo shoots, and behind-the-scenes footage to support the new music. We are committed to a complete visual and audio experience leading up to our live performance cycle.
15. Would you like to say or want to add on anything else to the fans reading this?
Thank you for the incredible loyalty from the beginning. Your support during this period of transition and evolution means everything to us. Our goal has always been evolving DTS and setting the stage for future growth. The new music is a direct reflection of the challenges and resilience we’ve faced, pushing our creative and technical boundaries. We pour our soul and diverse influences into our writing, crafting vibrant stories of loss, redemption, and sacrifice. My hope is to utilize DTS as a beacon of creative inspiration and hope, giving every listener intrigue, connection, and something that genuinely helps them through the struggles of life. The official DTS is here to stay, and we can’t wait to share this next chapter with you all.
16. (New Question expanding on question 8): Beyond genre tags, can you elaborate on the creative philosophy and lyrical themes that fuel Design The Skyline’s ongoing evolution, especially after the period of internal restructuring?
Our creative mission is to utilize all these influences—from industrial, shoegaze, and J-Rock to deathcore, djent, and melodic death metal—to forge a sound that is uniquely our own. We don't just evolve the music; we evolve personally and incorporate new styles from art, pop culture, and creative inspiration. Lyrically, I strive to craft immersive, resonant stories. We explore creative thematic backdrops, from dystopian worlds and gothic horror to celestial cosmic landscapes, tackling themes of loss, sacrifice, and existence. The goal of Design The Skyline™ is to be a beacon of inspiration and creative hope, giving listeners intrigue, connection, and something that genuinely helps them through the struggles of life.
