'Points in common with my profession' - indie-rock band receive moving letter from Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa

Guitarist Turnbull Smith, lead singer Rob Scaz, bassist Jonny Scaz and drummer Myles Soley formed Acomb-based Skylights in 2008 and all four members of the band are Leeds United fans.

Having heard that Whites defender Gaetano Berardi enjoyed his guitar music, guitarist Smith messaged the hardman Whites defender and struck up a rapport with Berardi who sent the band a signed shirt.

Skylights then met Berardi and sent the club a vinyl of their work of which United head coach Bielsa is clearly a big fan.

An email from Bielsa sent to the band read: “Dear members of the Skylights band.

"When we look up the word music in a dictionary or Google, we can find the following: the art of combining sounds in a temporal sequence according to the laws of harmony, melody and rhythm, or of producing them with musical instruments.

"I think the music you make is beautiful and it also has points in common with my profession, in which we try to combine movements, instead of sounds.

"But ultimately, we need to have the harmony of a band for our production to be good.

"The fact of sharing your art with me is an act of great generosity on your part.

“I admire your work and talent. I wish you all the best in 2021. And I hope you continue to support Leeds United.

"Kind regards, Marcelo Bielsa."

Skylights then posted the letter on social media, saying: "Thanks Marcelo Bielsa. You're one of the greatest managers of all time, we're just a few lads having a go, it means a lot top get compared to your art. Very humbled."

The band were due to play at United's player of the season awards until the coronavirus pandemic intervened and a date at Headingley Stadium performing before a Josh Warrington fight was also on the cards before Covid-19 also put paid to that.

Explaining how the relations with Warrington, Berardi and now Bielsa all began, Smith told the YEP: "I had messaged Gaetano Berardi a couple of years ago on Insta because I had heard he liked his guitar music.

"To my amazement - we had about 30 followers at the time - he replied back to me and said he really liked our music.

"I asked him for an address to send him a t-shirt and I sent it to him.

"A few weeks later, a package turned up in the post and Gaetano had sent us a signed Leeds United shirt, that was signed saying great music. We were over the moon.

"We met up with Berra a few times and when I managed to get hold of a vinyl from 42 Records office I sent it to the address Berra had given me.

"Then I received an email letter from Marcelo saying he thought our music was beautiful and compared it to how to play football."

Smith added: "Rob and Jonny are brothers and their dad is a die hard Leeds fan and made the brothers support Leeds from birth.

"I followed them into it when I met them playing football at the park when I was 10.

"I'm also a huge boxing fan and I saw Berra do a ring walk for Josh so I spoke to Josh and he has since been a regular at our shows.

"It's been a surreal experience for us all.

"The Scaz brothers have always loved Berra and I've followed Josh Warrington's journey for years so to meet them at the shows has been incredible.

"Now to get a seal of approval from Marcelo is a dream."

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-find-ps300k-short-term-solution-elland-road-pitch-problems-ahead-everton-visit-3109201

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins