Nine Skies is a French progressive rock band blending rock, pop, jazz, and cinematic prog into emotionally rich storytelling. Their debut album Return Home (2017) introduced a conceptual journey through interconnected urban lives, exploring human struggle and modern absurdity through diverse musical textures. Sweetheart Grips (2019), featuring vocalist Aliénor Favier, expands their scope with a powerful double album inspired by the WWII practice of soldiers placing personal photographs under transparent pistol grips, known as “sweetheart grips.” The record explores trauma, memory, and resilience through the perspective of a young soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress. Guests include Craig Blundell, Clive Nolan, Dave Foster, Riccardo Romano, and more, and the album supports suicide prevention charity Ian’s Chain. In 2021, the band released Live @ Prog en Beauce, capturing their acclaimed live energy, alongside the intimate acoustic album 5.20, featuring Steve Hackett, John Hackett, and Damian Wilson. The Lightmaker (2023) tells the final journey of Rudy through his past lives, serving as both a philosophical concept album and a tribute to founding member Eric Bouillette. It features an exceptional cast including Marco Minnemann, Adam Holzman, John Mitchell, Kristoffer Gildenlöw, and more. Following a French mini-tour in 2023, Nine Skies entered a new era in 2026 with the release of a limited, hand-numbered “Best Of " compilation (100 copies), and the arrival of Riccardo Romano as permanent lead vocalist.