Syd
“So now that my needs are met, what do I want?”
Spring is quickly approaching, and we’re elated to be featuring a CUT in Blaque artist that shows us how to tend to your growing pains and flourish: Syd.
Syd (aka Sydney Loren Bennet) was born on April 23, 1992 in the City of Angels (aka Los Angeles). Syd is a singer, songwriter, producer, musical engineer, DJ…she’s a multi-hyphenated flower whose petals hold some major power. After being in the music industry for 14 years, Syd’s delicate musical flow is full of lyrics that make you snap your fingers in agreement and tunes that instantly mellow you out.
Syd initially got her start as a musical engineer, working out of an in-home studio she created out of her parents’ guesthouse. In 2008, Syd (known formerly as Syd the Kid) joined Odd Future, a prominent hip hop group led by Tyler the Creator, contributing as their producer. Syd went on to create another band, The Internet, with Odd Future alum Matt Martian in 2011; while in the band, she also pursued her own solo career, dropping her first debut album “Fin” in 2017. A true artist, Syd finds a lot of value in collaborating with musical geniuses, such as the late Mac Miller, Smino, Zayn, and 6LACK (to name a few).
Drag Case
A CUT in Blaque segment showcasing local talent from our community who are highlighting Black Queer musicians across genres through a series of live drag show performances to engage with and celebrate our people.
Not only has Syd been able to grow tremendously as an artist during her career, but she’s faced some valuable personal growth as well. As the only woman and openly out member of Odd Future (at the time, prior to Frank Ocean), Syd often felt the burden of speaking for the LGBTQ community when questioned about Odd Future’s infamous lyricism. At the time, Syd felt “pressured” to be a voice in the LGBTQ community, saying, “I wasn’t in a position to speak on it because I was so young, and to be honest, ignorant in a lot of ways.”
After taking the time to grow more as a gay-identifying woman, Syd is intentional with connecting to the LGBTQ community. One of the ways she chooses to connect is by being transparent with her art; her music videos always feature a female love interest, and she graciously shares the lessons she’s learned from her previous and current relationships.
We’re definitely looking forward to all Syd will continue to share with us, which includes the album “Broken Hearts Club” later this year and a film by Hillman Grad, Lena Waithe’s production company. Let us know some of your favorite projects by Syd in the comments below!
Starter Pack: Syd
Each Starter Pack playlist is a curated compilation of a Black Queer artist’s greatest musical hits, further exploring the music of the African diaspora. This includes jazz, blues, gospel, rock and roll, hip hop, and R&B.