Singer/songwriter Sydney Quiseng opens up about shedding doubt, embracing change, and stepping absolutely into her personal artistry with ‘PHASES,’ a soul-baring solo debut rooted in reflection, resilience, and self-discovery.
Stream: ‘PHASES’ – Sydney Quiseng
“The sundown will get all the eye however typically the afterglow is the perfect half,” says Sydney Quiseng about her debut EP PHASES.
In case you’re not acquainted, Quiseng is the vocalist of the band Echosmith. Quiseng (pronounced Key-Sang) was born and raised in Southern California, the place she fashioned Echosmith along with her brothers and co-wrote the triple-platinum-hit “Cool Youngsters,” which launched the band into touring the world and writing three albums, the third of which was launched in 2023.
In 2024, Quiseng determined to step exterior the comforts of being in a band with a brothers and go it alone as a solo artist. When Atwood Journal caught up with Quiseng final fall, her hesitancy was audible along with her first two singles, “Marvel” and “Responsible.”
So I shouldn’t should say that I’m sorry
For considering of myself for as soon as in my life
I’m not sorry, however I’m tryin’ to place it softly
So don’t attempt to pin this on me
Once we each know that I’m not responsible
After chatting with Quiseng not too long ago, all these emotions of guilt and self-doubt is gone. Quiseng has actually embraced her solo journey while nonetheless touring with Echosmith. “I Want Findin’,” a latest single and the opening tune on the EP, is Quiseng’s most private tune and in addition her favorite off the EP. The music video was shot in Japan, a house away from residence for Quiseng, and for those who pay attention rigorously, you possibly can hear musical influences of Japan woven into the normal Americana backdrop of the association.
I like songs that make me go quiet
One thing’s acquired me near crying
Somebody up there is aware of I would like findin’
I’ve been holding a grudge in direction of the silence
However I put myself on an island
Somebody upstairs is aware of I would like findin’
And I kinda prefer it
On “Leftover Espresso,” Quiseng embraces the sound she’s identified for with Echosmith. Quiseng describes the tune “as filled with angst and much more confidence conceptually.” You may hear a toughness and a ‘fuck it’ angle that weren’t current on her earlier songs. The tune creates a steadiness on the file, and pushes it into an indie-pop path. The manufacturing is lush and filled with headbanging power.
There’s leftover espresso
There’s mates I’m not calling
My engine’s been beginning, however simply barely
And that’s gotta depend for one thing
Unfinished
A sink filled with dishes
They are saying I’ll miss it once I’m not in it
However they’re waking up with all I’ve been wanting
And I’m nonetheless ingesting leftover espresso
The EP ends with Quiseng’s latest tune, “Afterglow.” I say tune, however it’s extra of a lullaby or a prayer. It options the voice of Quiseng’s Grandfather at the start, who she calls her finest good friend. Quiseng performs lots with the idea of time in her songs by way of place and reminiscence, however “Afterglow” is essentially the most on the nostril she has been. The tune or prayer, nevertheless you interpret it, is backed by a mild strum of an acoustic guitar with Quiseng’s grounded but haunting vocals excessive. It’s a good looking second to finish the file on. It brings you again all the way down to what’s essential.
Like a moon at the hours of darkness
You’re the brilliant facet and it’s arduous
To let that go
It’s a part, I do know
I miss you in my automobile
Oh, I hate this half
It’s the aftermath
It’s the aftеrglow
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CATCHING UP WITH SYDNEY QUISENG
Atwood Journal: Once we spoke final autumn, you had simply launched “Marvel” and “Responsible.” You’ve got now launched three different singles and are about to launch your debut EP. You’ve additionally been touring the brand new music. Do you’re feeling extra settled into being a solo artist?
Sydney Quiseng: I really feel far more settled now. It’s wonderful what time can do, as a result of I used to be so nervous to face by myself as a solo artist again in September. Now it feels actually pure to be on this path. There’s one thing particular about attending to have so many “firsts” once more with this undertaking too. I’m having the time of my life and it simply seems like I’m precisely the place I’m imagined to be.
Your single, “Leftover Espresso” feels like a world away from the place you had been whenever you launched “Marvel.” Once we spoke within the fall final yr, you had been simply transitioning into changing into a solo artist and it felt such as you had been little apprehensive. With this new tune, it undoubtedly feels such as you’re absolutely immersed in your journey. Would you say that was honest statement?
Sydney Quiseng: That’s why I beloved releasing “Marvel” first. It describes that feeling of being not sure and the rising pains of doing one thing new, whereas “Leftover Espresso” is stuffed with angst and much more confidence conceptually. “Leftover Espresso” can be a really trustworthy tune that I most likely wouldn’t have written years in the past, because it speaks very vulnerably on the grind of life that I believe we’re all in proper now.
Once you look again at who you had been whenever you began writing as a solo artist and who you at the moment are, do you’re feeling like an evolution has occurred?
Sydney Quiseng: Completely. “Responsible” was one of many first songs I wrote for my solo undertaking and “Phases” for instance, got here a lot later. “Phases” is me acknowledging change and studying to be okay with it. You may respect who you had been within the rear view whereas nonetheless permitting your self to turn into somebody new. I lastly allowed myself to completely embrace this new chapter, so I’ve come a great distance since I wrote “Responsible.”
Your atmosphere has at all times impacted how and what you write. You shot the music video for “I Want Findin’” in Japan and I may even some Japanese affect within the music. Are you able to speak concerning the tune and why you determined to make use of Japan as your backdrop for that tune?
Sydney Quiseng: “I Want Findin’” is my favourite tune on the EP as a result of it feels essentially the most private. It’s about the fantastic thing about with the ability to rely on somebody whenever you really feel misplaced. I’ve been to Japan 16 occasions, so it holds a really particular place in my coronary heart.
I’ve visited throughout seasons once I didn’t know who I used to be, however I at all times left feeling like I discovered myself once more. Filming the music video there was so becoming as a result of typically wandering round in a overseas place helps you get nearer to what you’re truly searching for.
You’ve got named this assortment of songs, Phases, after your third single. In plenty of your songs, you reference each the moon and in addition the idea of time, by way of place and reminiscence. Are you able to speak extra about this and the way these concepts inform your songwriting?
Sydney Quiseng: I’ve actually grown to understand nature in all its varieties. A sundown on the ocean, a moon rise, the best way a flower blooms on the excellent time – the sensation of being unplugged has been an enormous inspiration for my private development and my music. After I decelerate and immerse myself in nature, it offers me a lot readability about what’s truly occurring in my head and that’s once I get most of my tune concepts.
You’re about to launch one remaining tune, “Afterglow,” which concludes this assortment of music. You’ve got your Grandad’s voice firstly of the monitor. Two questions: What’s the importance of your Grandad introducing the tune? What made you determine that this tune ought to shut the file?
Sydney Quiseng: My grandpa is one in every of my finest mates. I stay in California and he lives in Arizona so we speak on the cellphone on a regular basis. Subconsciously, I began to gather his voicemails so I wished to make use of them for one thing someday. I truly didn’t inform my grandpa that I used to be going to have him be a part of my EP, so I used to be in a position to shock him with the ultimate model of this tune in individual.
“Afterglow” is about appreciating the previous whereas additionally realizing that perhaps the perfect is but to come back. The sundown will get all the eye however typically the afterglow is the perfect half. It felt proper to finish Phases on a bittersweet observe as a result of that’s what life is.
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