Interview: Sye Elaine Spence – musician

Please tell us a bit about yourself Sye?
My name is Sye Elaine Spence. I am a singer-songwriter originally from New York City, currently residing in Atlanta, GA. I’ve been writing songs most of my life and just released a solo EP, an acoustic folk-inspired record entitled “Bloom” in April of this year.

What inspired you to begin your music career?
Well I began writing songs as a child. It was an innate interest that I had and it was much more appealing to me than anything else; school, play, etc. To this day, writing is the one thing I can do for hours on end without strife. So I believe I am a songwriter first. My decision to pursue performing and recording came about six years ago. I had written quite a bit for other independent artists at the time and was highly inspired to record ideas that represented my story and my life. It all has been a wonderful journey since then, learning about myself, my taste, and what really is the purest expression of who I am.

What do you do when you’re not using your creative brain?
I love this question because to answer makes my heart melt. I am a mother to a sweet seven year old named Danielle and most of my time is dedicated to her, mostly in the form of cuddles and tickles. I’m also extremely domestic. If I were not pursuing music, I would definitely be a fulltime homemaker. I love to cook, clean, look after little ones. I love it all. And it is very interesting to see how it affects my work. Being a mom has probably been the greatest source of inspiration for me artistically; being able to see the world every day through a child’s eyes has been an invaluable gift.

Do you have any favourite artists out there?
I do. They change often as I am a binge listener and will play a new find on over and over for weeks at a time. Right now, I have Sharon Van Etten, Mountain Man and Moses Sumney on repeat.

Who’s your personal style icon and why?
My mother. Every since I was small, I’ve always admired her style. The woman is always put together. Very feminine, and always with class. And it is the way she carries herself that makes every look come together. In a way where the clothes do not make her look good, it is always the other way around.

Any exciting projects in the pipeline?
Yes, I am actually releasing two new songs digitally before the end of the year and my first music video that will be released before the end of the year as well. I also will be entering grad school in the spring to further my study of creative writing. I am really excited about that process and growing even more as songwriter.

How do you see yourself in five years time?
I want to be able to continue doing what I love. Growing as a songwriter and overall as an artist. Releasing more music, touring and connecting with more people around the world through my work.