Perth artist Sydnee Carter has learnt a lot over the past 12 months, and she’s channelled those epiphanies into her new single, Drug Was You. It’s a track about the addictive and toxic qualities of our past history, and how that affects people in different ways. It’s a reflective track with a pulsating beat - so whether you’re looking to think about your past, or just looking to dance, you’ll enjoy it.

I spoke to Sydnee about her 2020, as well as her plans for the future. I also asked her for her view on where Australian pop music is heading, and what advice she had for self-taught musicians like herself. It’s an interesting chat with some nuggets of wisdom, so read on!

Firstly, can you introduce yourself and your music?

My name is Sydnee Carter, I am a 23-year-old Pop/EDM singer/songwriter from Perth, Western Australia.

Drug Was You talks about a toxic relationship – can you elaborate on how the process of writing this song proved cathartic?

This past year (2020) has challenged me in my songwriting in a different way than previously. I have put a focus on writing from other peoples perspectives and creating characters and stories to go with them.

I found this really helped my songwriting as there is only so much you can experience as a 23-year-old female who married her highschool sweetheart. I found it really interesting to be able to put myself in the perspective of experiences of my friends who have felt the effects of being in toxic relationships and found themselves craving certain aspects again.

The song also talks about looking back at a life that might not exist for you anymore – why do you think that the past has addictive qualities for so many people?

I think it’s because people link those qualities to past selves, past selves that may have qualities that their current selves wish they still had or displayed. As the saying goes “the grass is always greener on the other side”, people always crave what they don’t have anymore.

As a vocalist, you’re always evolving, both in your own music and featuring on other artists’ tracks – how do you push yourself when you go to record music, and what are you looking for from yourself vocally?

I love to learn! I started out by playing guitar and then I wanted to sing and play at the same time and so I learnt certain songs and did covers, and evolved from there. I love the aspect of music that there is always more to learn as we evolve and life goes on.

Vocally, I am always very hard on myself as I know I can do better or I can push my tone, or push the depth of my recording. It definitely helps to have a really good producer in the room who knows what I am capable of and can push me to do better each session.

As a self-taught musician, what advice would you give to other musicians looking to start making music?

Everyone learns differently, but ultimately stay true to you, be influenced by as many genres of music as possible and stay unique. Don’t try to fit moulds because that’s what is current, evolve your sound as you get more experienced, definitely. My biggest fear and now my most favorite part of music is co-writing, because every songwriter/artist is different and can you learn so much from each person.

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Finally, what are your next few steps, both personally and music-wise?

My next steps personally is to travel with my husband (obviously when COVID subsides), build our house (wherever we end up settling down in the world) – build my own studio there.

Music wise – start establishing my own team including management etc, hopefully get a publishing deal, be a highly sought after song-writer and topliner. Move to Sydney as well is on the list!

Follow Sydnee on Facebook here, Instagram here and Twitter here.