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Interviews
Sydney Sherrill – Luckiest Girl Alive
By: Lisa Steinberg
Q) How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t listened to your music before?
A) I would say my music is a mix of pop rock and Texas tones.
Q) Who are some of your musical influences?
A) Stevie Nicks and Taylor Swift are probably my biggest two. I love Miley Cyrus and Suki Waterhouse as well as Adele and Amy Winehouse. I think I gravitate to strong female voices.
Q) Talk about the story behind your song “Shadow.” What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?
A) I think everyone can connect to the process of moving on from someone, which is what the song is about. It’s the battle within, leaving with kindness even though there is a lot of sadness, anger and resentment within that. It’s a song that both feels like a final fight with that person, but also within yourself of not being able to let go of the person or situation.
Q) Bryant Bural directed the video for “Shadow.” How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?
A) The video was so much fun to make, and I had such a great time working with Bryant and his vision for the song. I think it really shows that internal struggle of moving beyond what your life was like with that special person in it. I think the walking scenes really show how jarring it can be to go through the world getting used to it just being you again, wondering if they still see your shadow in it wherever they are.
Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?
A) For me, a song is all about the story and what you want to say. I can write to music, but most of the time when it’s just me, lyrics always come first. Sometimes the melody comes while I am writing lyrics and sometimes it comes years later. The story is always the central part for me though.
Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?
A) I am always there for the creation of my tracks. I always give reference tracks and overall feels, but I also think it’s important to let the musicians on my projects have creative freedom to put their own spin on the creation of each song.
Q) Your EP Luckiest Girl Alive is out now. What are some themes you explore on it?
A) I think the EP is about looking within yourself and seeing where you are at with the process of moving on from a relationship. Looking back on it — it is a little self-absorbed going through the motions of how I felt and not necessarily any other perspectives until the last song, “Stay” which is about being there for your friendships. I think it put a perfect bow on the end of the EP because friends are the ones who keep us in the present, and not in our own heads (good ones, at least).
Q) My favorite song on the EP is “Not Now But Someday.” Is there a certain track on the EP that holds a special place in your heart? If so, why?
A) I think “Shadow” held a big place for me while writing the EP because it felt like it was my way of sticking up for myself and really encapsulated that time in my life and how I was feeling. Now that I’ve had some space since writing and recording the EP, “Luckiest Girl Alive” is my favorite track. It is my favorite song to perform because it feels so empowering. Yes, I wrote it in context of another person, but since performing it live, I have been able to reclaim it as my anthem for how I feel about myself. Getting to express myself through my music really does make me feel like the luckiest girl alive.
Q) What do you hope lingers with listeners who explore Luckiest Girl Alive– whether it be an emotion or message?
A) I really just hope people don’t feel crazy or alone. I want these songs to be something people can gravitate to during a similar situation in their own lives. I think that’s what good music is for. If I can have even one person listen and say to themselves “thank god someone else gets it” then I have done my job.
Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?
A) I recently performed at the Texas State Fair which was so much fun because it felt like a homecoming to me. Getting to play at places I used to go when I was a little girl always feels like such a full circle moment.
Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?
A) I would love to write with Kacey Musgraves. She is such an incredible artist and songwriter.
Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?
A) I have really been into Suki Waterhouse and her new album. I think it’s such a cool vibe bridging that pop rock sound with a new generation and how we go through life and love.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?
A) Thank you so much for sticking around for my journey and listening. I feel so honored that you would spend your time with my music, and I can’t wait for you to hear more!
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