We’ve been fans of Los Angeles, USA-based artist sydneyunicorns since 2021. With the release of her second EP, Show & Tell, it was time to get better acquainted with her.
By Graeme Smith
“Honestly it was less an inspiration and more of a necessity to write these songs,” Sydney confesses. “The experience of going to music school was so crazy and unexpected for me, and while I was learning and growing so much I was also really struggling internally. All of these feelings from a past version of myself kept rearing their heads, and it was really frustrating to try to function normally through what was coming up for me. Ultimately, the only thing I could do was surrender to the feelings and write through them since I couldn’t escape them.”
The whole of Show & Tell feels like a confessional for Sydney. She approaches the record unafraid to share a lot of her deeper feelings and it makes for a compelling listen. It’s what we’ve come to expect from the artist, who has never been afraid to share through her music.
Yet, the EP does offer up some of the unexpected too, and we get plenty of variation across its six tracks. It’s introduced by the pulsating electronica of Siren Call. The lyrics are defiant, declaring independence from a world that would aim to tell us what to do and how to act. The message is delivered with plenty of spirit by passionate, characterful vocals. As the track arrives at its conclusion, things get gigantically layered and all enveloping.
Much of the EP’s runtime is dedicated to Sydney’s late-diagnosis of ADHD and neurodivergence. I wanted to know how it came into her writing and recording process, and ultimately what she creates.
“Honestly, it has given me a sense of gentleness and grace towards myself that I have never experienced before,” she answers. “Even though I get frustrated with myself a lot, I also have a bit more softness because I understand parts of myself and my history better now. I think so much of the EP is working through the push and pull of living in a world that’s not built for neurodivergent minds. Siren Call is the most pointed example—I was trying really hard to find the power in the overwhelmingly difficult experience of being different.”
And what does she have to say to other neurodivergent artists? “Share your art. Hiding and shrinking might feel easier than putting yourself out there sometimes, but we desperately need each other.”
Betrayal journeys into the world of alt pop during a heart-wrenching ballad that fully justifies its title. Mean Girls Live Forever looks back with bitterness at a childhood of psychological warfare. It’s beautifully dark and unhinged, especially during a bouncing, soulful chorus. It’s a memorable highlight.
UNWELL is a percussive, dreamy trip reminiscent of Madonna’s mid-’90s era while Victim/Saint is a wonderfully searching moment. RIP ends things in smouldering style. The vocals are at their most vulnerable during a minimal first verse before we get rock licks ahead of the cathartic chorus. Captured audio at the close have maximum impact.
Sydney is an artist who has always done things her own way and I think that’s why I keep returning to her music. “It’s important to me that my voice is authentic, whether that be working alone or with others,” she says. “I’m still navigating how to be comfortable as the artist in the room. The struggle to take up space and assert myself and my vision is so important for growth though. I feel like I’m just now finding the balance. There are times I need to bring other writers or producers in to make the song the best it can be, and there are also times I need to take the work and sit with it alone for a minute as well.”
We’ve been supporting her music since her 2021 release, The Crown, a fact she was quick to thanks us for. She also acknowledged that her music has evolved over that time. “My production skills are always growing,” she says. “Even though it kind of makes me want to delete everything, it’s kind of fun to go back and listen to my early releases to see how I’ve progressed. My sound for this EP definitely leans more pop than my previous releases, and, now that it’s out, I’m ready to delve into more experimental vibes again. I don’t really know where we go from here yet sonically, but I am excited to lock in and be a studio gremlin again and find out!”
And I’m looking forward to staying on that journey with her.
Sydney’s new EP, Show & Tell, is out now and you can give it a listen below.
