Melville Teen Balances Rap, Acting Careers

Sky Katz, right, is interviewed by Gabbie Hanna on the set of TRL in November 2017.  Screenshot/YouTube/TRL

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

There’s a familiar, local face in the cast of Disney Channel’s “Raven’s Home.”

“Tess” is played by Melville’s very own teenage rap star, Skylar “Sky” Katz.

The show, a spin-off of “That’s So Raven,” sees Katz as a tomboy neighbor and best friend of Booker and Nia Baxter. The show aired its first episode in July 2017 and is currently filming its second season.

For the audition process, Katz, 13, said that being in New York she had to send the California production company her audition video, and then they flew her out to California for the final audition, which she added “clearly went well.”

When she found out she landed the role about a year ago, she said that it was an amazing moment.

“I totally freaked out. I was so hyped and so happy,” Katz said. “I knew it was going to change my life forever.”

Katz said she enjoys playing the role of Tess, who is just like her.

“We have so much in common and I love that,” she said. “She’s hip, has a nice style, she loves her friends, and she plays basketball. It’s the first job I got in acting so it was a perfect role.”

Her favorite episode to film was “You’re Gonna Get It” in season one in which Tess and Nia do their own makeup.

“It took so many different looks, trying out different crazy makeup styles,” Katz said. “It was really funny because we looked totally crazy.”

During her time on set, Katz said she’s learned to trust her gut with her performance.

“It’s amazing how I could work with all these amazing people and learn new things from them every day,” she said. “It’s an honor.”

Along with acting, Katz also balances her career in music, and was a former “America’s Got Talent” contestant, who at the time was coming off an appearance on Harry Connick Jr.’s “Harry TV,” for which she performed her song “Fresh.”

With that, Katz has also performed during halftime of a New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden in January 2017 and has previously showed off her rap skills on MTV’s “TRL.”

Katz said to stay tuned for more music from her, as she is currently working on a project with a few undisclosed people.

“It’s amazing being able to do both music and acting because some people only have time for one and somehow, in some way, I fit time for both,” she said. “I feel like it’s cool to do that.”

During her free time, Katz said she likes hanging with her family and friends and enjoys playing basketball. With her busy schedule filming in California, she is home schooled.

Her future goal with acting is one day be in a movie, for more music have the opportunity to go on tour all around the world.

For kids her age looking to break into the industry, Katz said never give up.

“I was really lucky. I got it in my first few auditions but it could take so many until you land that one good role,” she said. “So, just keep going.”