Sydney Lauren is Music Gorilla’s latest featured Pro Artist Member.
Sydney Lauren has been in love with music her whole life but didn’t develop her passion seriously until high school. She’s 20 years old and is currently studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Sydney is primarily a vocalist who started learning the guitar and piano in her early years of high school. It was important to her to have the ability to accompany herself while singing. Learning these instruments is also what sparked her interest in songwriting.
Music Gorilla: Like most artists you have noteworthy and cringeworthy material posted online. Here’s a chance to flaunt your best. Give them your top 2 links; no more, no less.
Sydney Friedman: https://soundcloud.com/sydneylaurenf/burying-love-alive and https://soundcloud.com/sydneylaurenf/delete-you
MG: What song are you certain should be played on the radio the day after the music industry reads your answer (pick one :))?
SF: There are two songs off my EP that I know would do very well on the radio if they were to be played now. “Burying Love Alive” and “Delete You”. They both have a catchy and commercial sound and are very relatable. “Burying Love Alive” was written as a ballad but is now a heart wrenching sing a long, and “Delete You” makes you want to dance!
MG: Hypothetical: The industry wants your music, but they don’t want you or vice versa: How flexible are you in this imperfect, yet all too real-world scenario? Are you still listening or is it time for them to hang up?
SF: I believe everything happens for a reason and if I need to go down a path that is not my top choice at first, it may be something I need to do. I’ll still be on the other end of that phone!
MG: How long has your band been together? How many pieces? Are we talking lifers or moonlighters? If asked, do all critical components of your band have the ability to tour 300+ days per year, as of this question? Yes, that includes you solo songwriter people!
SF: It’s me and only me! I’ve been going as a singer songwriter playing guitar and piano for six years. Recently, I started developing my sound into more commercial pop. My debut EP coming out January 27th will be a produced collection of songs that represent me as a songwriter, musician, person, and the way I live my life. Ultimately, I would absolutely love to tour 300+ days per year. If I could be on the road and playing shows every night, I’d be the happiest person alive.
MG: For those of you not touring, what’s the real issue that stops you? Is it time? Finances? Family? A job?
SF: I am a student. If I had a larger fan base and could tour, I would. Now that I’ve really developed what I want my sound to be, it’s now time to grow my 500+ fans so that I can get on the road and play big shows all over!
MG: What’s your greatest strength and your greatest weakness? Whether it’s time management, beer management, or tightening up your songwriting, or anything else that affects you, elaborate.
SF: My greatest strength is being able to listen to people. Whether it’s a friend or family member who need my ear, critique on my writing/music, or myself and what I need, my ears are always open. I live in the moment and take in what is around me. My greatest weakness is I am an anxious person. I’ve learned how to deal with my anxiety but sometimes it gets the best of me.
MG: A&R reps and established artists have attended the live showcases of Music Gorilla. We recall one where there were only a few people in attendance and we’re not sure the band knew exactly who was watching, because one of the 3 was a R&R Hall of Fame inductee. It was an interesting moment for us on this side of the fence, to see how it played out. Do you play the same for 3 people as you do for 300? Sure, it’s the energy from the audience that makes the gig more enjoyable, but it’s the energy on stage that creates the energy in the audience.
SF: I don’t think it’s the difference in amount of people, I think it’s the room you are in and what the atmosphere is. Sometimes if you are playing in a room that feels like dead space for just a small amount of people, it can get awkward. If you are playing in a venue like The Bitter End, it doesn’t matter how many people there are, that room always has a contagious energy flowing and it’s impossible not to feel alive and into your music when you are playing.
MG: Look to the past, who’s your inspiration? What makes this question not boring? You can only name one. Warning: saying you can’t pick just one is entirely too hipster and unacceptable 🙂
SF: I can only name one!? My biggest inspiration, no doubt, would have to be Christina Perri. Her words and her voice are hypnotizing and the way she feels her music is nothing short of inspiration. It’s comforting to watch someone who is comfortable being themselves on stage and always knowing what to say. There’s no way this question could be boring due to the fact that when someone asks me who my biggest inspiration is, I think back to all of the heart warming times I’ve watched her live and reliving the experience. It was seriously a spiritual experience!
MG: Give us your next year: Where are you? What are you doing?
SF: I don’t like to think too far into the future because who know what could happen next but as of now I am finishing my last year of college at Berklee College of Music still making and performing music. If an opportunity were to present itself and I couldn’t say no, leaving school is something I would highly think about. If things are meant to go a certain way, I have to go with it! (How could I turn down an amazing opportunity?!)
MG: Here’s the real battle in this industry, everyone is so damn unique and many are so damn good and they’re making beautiful music, yet still you need to convince the masses or the few people who have the ability to get you to the masses, that you stand out even more. What is it that sets you apart? Why should they invest in you? What is it that you have that even the best of the others don’t? What is it that will make them demand an encore?
SF: Music is not only an emotional experience for me, but it is equally a physical one as well. I listen to and make the music I do because it’s what makes me move. When I listen to music, I want it to move through my body and make me feel something. My music and my words come together to create that experience. At this point in my life, it’s so extremely important to have fun and live. That is what I want my audience to experience. A short time where they can listen to good music, be present, and feel good. Feel alive.
MG: Ok, so this wasn’t your run of the mill interview, anything you want to add? Add the stuff you wished we asked.
I wish you asked if I could be doing anything right now, what would it be… I would be on tour. In a different city each night singing and performing my heart out to people who need it. (more specifically I’d be touring with Fifth Harmony!).
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and anyone who is or wants to be in the biz shloud be reading his newsletter whether they agree or not (I actually very much disagree with his actual TASTE in music, but I’m often on his side as far as the biz goes ). As far as live music goes, well- the younger generation simply has not produced as many long-life acts. Does that mean the younger acts are not as good? Not necessarily, but maybe .. Technology factors in and how we take in music now and how many other options are on the table. But one can definitely make an argument that in the last 10 years the polarization of styles and slotting and formatting has narrowed the media’s treatment of music, although it certainly hasn’t narrowed musicians or music itself. In Mpls it’s certainly true that the crappiest indie rock band in town is still more likely to get press than a really good NOT indie rock band. That style over substance mentality hurts both the ignored and the overlay fawned over.But let’s face it, there was crappy yet popular music in every decade, and critics fave but sucky music in every decade. Speaking for myself, I like to stay current but not be very influenced by popular tastes, whether it’s hipsters or tweens, I don’t really care much.There are 2 kinds of people to never bother talking to . people who never read the paper and people who read it and believe every word.