Singer/songwriter Sydney Quiseng opens up about shedding doubt, embracing change, and stepping totally 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 generally the afterglow is one of the best 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 Children,” 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 outdoors 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 must say that I’m sorry
For pondering 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 just lately, all these emotions of guilt and self-doubt is gone. Quiseng has really embraced her solo journey while nonetheless touring with Echosmith. “I Want Findin’,” a latest single and the opening track on the EP, is Quiseng’s most private track and in addition her favorite off the EP. The music video was shot in Japan, a house away from residence for Quiseng, and in the event you pay attention rigorously, you may hear musical influences of Japan woven into the standard Americana backdrop of the association.
I like songs that make me go quiet
One thing’s bought me near crying
Somebody up there is aware of I want findin’
I’ve been holding a grudge in the direction of the silence
However I put myself on an island
Somebody upstairs is aware of I want findin’
And I kinda prefer it
On “Leftover Espresso,” Quiseng embraces the sound she’s identified for with Echosmith. Quiseng describes the track “as stuffed with angst and much more confidence conceptually.” You’ll be able to hear a toughness and a ‘fuck it’ perspective that weren’t current on her earlier songs. The track creates a steadiness on the document, and pushes it into an indie-pop path. The manufacturing is lush and stuffed with headbanging vitality.
There’s leftover espresso
There’s associates I’m not calling
My engine’s been beginning, however simply barely
And that’s gotta depend for one thing
Unfinished
A sink stuffed 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 track, “Afterglow.” I say track, 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 greatest good friend. Quiseng performs quite a bit 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 track 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 lovely second to finish the document on. It brings you again right down to what’s essential.
Like a moon at the hours of darkness
You’re the intense facet and it’s laborious
To let that go
It’s a section, 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 gotten 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 superb 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 purported to be.
Your single, “Leftover Espresso” appears like a world away from the place you have been whenever you launched “Marvel.” Once we spoke within the fall final 12 months, you have been simply transitioning into turning into a solo artist and it felt such as you have been little apprehensive. With this new track, it positively feels such as you’re totally immersed in your journey. Would you say that was honest commentary?
Sydney Quiseng: That’s why I beloved releasing “Marvel” first. It describes that feeling of being uncertain and the rising pains of doing one thing new, whereas “Leftover Espresso” is filled with angst and much more confidence conceptually. “Leftover Espresso” can also be a really trustworthy track that I in all probability 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.
While you look again at who you have 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’ll be able to admire who you have been within the rear view whereas nonetheless permitting your self to change 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 setting has all the time 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 discuss concerning the track and why you determined to make use of Japan as your backdrop for that track?
Sydney Quiseng: “I Want Findin’” is my favourite track 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 upon 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 all the time left feeling like I discovered myself once more. Filming the music video there was so becoming as a result of generally wandering round in a international place helps you get nearer to what you’re truly on the lookout for.
You’ve gotten named this assortment of songs, Phases, after your third single. In a number 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 discuss extra about this and the way these concepts inform your songwriting?
Sydney Quiseng: I’ve actually grown to understand nature in all its types. 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 progress and my music. After I decelerate and immerse myself in nature, it provides me a lot readability about what’s truly happening in my head and that’s once I get most of my track concepts.
You’re about to launch one last track, “Afterglow,” which concludes this assortment of music. You’ve gotten your Grandad’s voice in the beginning of the observe. Two questions: What’s the importance of your Grandad introducing the track? What made you resolve that this track ought to shut the document?
Sydney Quiseng: My grandpa is one among my greatest associates. I reside in California and he lives in Arizona so we discuss on the cellphone on a regular basis. Subconsciously, I began to gather his voicemails so I needed to make use of them for one thing at some point. 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 capable of shock him with the ultimate model of this track in particular person.
“Afterglow” is about appreciating the previous whereas additionally realizing that possibly one of the best is but to return. The sundown will get all the eye however generally the afterglow is one of the best half. It felt proper to finish Phases on a bittersweet notice as a result of that’s what life is.
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