Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Lenell
Hi Sydney, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My first time singing was when I was 3 years old. I had a solo in front of my church. It’s something my mother will not let me forget. Thinking back, there’s not a time I can think on that I didn’t adore music. it’s always been a part of me. From making beats as a stepper in 2nd grade, to writing mash ups in middle school and letting my creativity run wild. Music has always been a safe haven for me to express myself and try new things.
I started writing poetry faithfully after a 6th grade assignment in my English class. Our teacher tasked us with an assignment to write a poem that could be considered for publishing. I wrote my poem and not only got an A, but was one of the poems that got published! My teacher was so in awe over my writing, but most importantly, it was such a feeling of freedom, writing down my thoughts and expressing my imagination and feelings in written form.
Fast forward over a decade, and I still feel that comfort and release in writing my music. There’s something about listening to a beat, and the words that just flow to me that is so liberating. Not only as therapy, but healing. And that high, that satisfaction is what keeps me going, because the most beautiful thing is that my release helps someone else in their own story.
As much as I loved my music however, I never thought I’d make it to be recording artist. I loved to sing and put concerts on in my room and in choir, but I didn’t think i had what it takes. I used to grow up thinking, there is always someone out there who can do a thing better than you. For a while I believed it to be a humbling statement, but in actuality, now from a healed place it was fear. It was the fear of if I didn’t make it, and my denying my gift. I never stopped writing, but I also kept my songs and poems close. Only close friends and family knew that it was a hobby of mine.
Fast forward to my being in my senior year of college. I’d met some incredible people and slowly but surely people learned that I truly had a beautiful voice, and was pretty skilled as a vocalist. I because close friends with another aspiring artist who started having me help him with hooks for his song. We took a friends trip to Atlanta and he had me come to the studio to help him record. The producer was stunned when I finished and told him that I did not record music myself. I appreciated his comments but still didn’t see myself releasing music, but I enjoyed helping others finish and curate their songs.
A few months later, one of my good friends who’s a Christian artist was having a conversation with my friend and I at the end of his show. We came to support him and in the conversation my friend spilled the beans about my songwriting and ability to sing. My artist friend then challenged me to come and record in his studio. I took him up on the offer, recorded my first single, “Elevation”, and the rest is history.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This journey has in no way been an easy road. From scammers, to pretenders, to liars, it’s so easy to become discouraged in this venture to be an artist. The best way I can describe my experiences are in the following bullet point stories. Please know that each story is 100% true.
1. Festival, Smestival scam
My most recent one is was what I thought could be a life changing opportunity. My manager and I reached out to what we thought was a legit email for a huge concert. We were almost scammed out of $5000 to try and be apart of this global performance venue. While we were doing our research, one of the emails in this ongoing conversation looked a little off. As a result, I went to the website for the festival from Google instead of the links they provided and discovered they were in fact scammers. We reported them to the correct entity, but it was heartbreaking considering how huge the opportunity could have been for my career.
2. Strippers for Jesus
I was offered a paid show after winning a competition on social media. In prepping for the show, I kept getting different information the closer we got to the show. If you listen to my music, you know that I am very vocal about the influence my faith has on my lyrics. So much that some of my songs even have scripture in them. As we got closer to the show, we kept finding that there were three profiles associated with this show. Upon looking into the venue and trying to figure out the dress code, we noticed that the venue offered exotic dancers throughout the night. While I never knock anyone’s hustle, the idea of exotic dancers in the background of me singing about scripture and my relationship with Jesus just didn’t sit well with me.
3. Atlanta’s top 500-downtown
I had another opportunity that I was led to believed had me as a headliner for a showcase on new indie artist. I was under the impression that there would be about 20 of us in the showcase which seemed like a pretty good number. Upon arriving, I was asked to join a line that went outside the door of people trying to perform. There were easily 100+ people who were waiting in that line. Not only that, but they were charging our guest $40 per person to get into the venue with nothing provided with that cover charge (not even guaranteed seating). After learning this information as well, I decided not to move forward.
4. TV Show hosting socials
The fun of social media, is that it helps to expose you to audiences you wouldn’t necessarily have. Not to mention when you have a page that showcases you being an newer independent artist, you can be approached with opportunities that seem too good to be true. In a lot of cases, they are. I had one individual approach me with what seemed like a position to host a newer version of 106 and Park for hip hop. This individual was trying to hire me immediately, but needed me to wire him money for me to have acting classes before starting. Due to his pitching me to the council of the show as if I’m a personal friend, the wire needed to come to he or his mother directly. He went through great lengths to show how legit he was, even sent me “his” social security card to prove who he was. I had about 2 hours to make this decision, and I wouldn’t/couldn’t get a contract for my lawyers to review until after the wire.
5. Booty 4 beats (Liar x Type beat)
This situation combined the horrors of online dating and music producers. I met a man who was absolutely my type and lived in my area on social media. We began talking a bit and as we got to know one another I learned that he did music full time and was even signed to a label. He worked as an artist, producer and a beat maker for the label. He knew I was trying to launch my career, so he would give me some tidbits of information to help me in legally protecting my work. At one point, he gifted me 3 beats he’d made, to help me stay encouraged. We’d lost touch shortly after, as both our schedules were demanding at that time. In the break, I came across one of the beats he “made” me on YouTube, showing as having been sold exclusively. After a bit of back and forth, following my discovery, I told him I deleted the beats off my hard drive.
6. Residency by their options
In trying to gain a faithful following, the idea of getting a residency is a dream come true. My manager and I had an audition lined up for me to be a part of a showcase, that turned out to be a potential residency. At the moment the audition went pretty well, but there was some information that didn’t sit quite as well as I’d hoped. We got the official offer a few days later, and I noticed they had me listed to do another genre outside of my own. I am VERY intentional about how my image and music is conveyed. While the opportunity afforded me a stable place to have performances, it would require me to be untrue to the image I’ve worked so hard to build. In staying true to myself and how I want to be seen in the music world, I chose not to move forward.
7. Blonde H.A.M. roll call
My last and lengthiest situation was being approached by a placement promoter. We’d met through socials of course, and she offered to work on trying to land a few placements for my songs in a movie or TV Show. After 3 years of back and forth, MIA breaks of not being able to reach her, and a few hundred dollars of investments without a single placement, I was ready to end our connection. She’d recently reached out to me and we’d had an agreement that given our history, she’d do my next 2 placement pitches for free. She’d had an opportunity come a few days later, but said that it could not be covered under this agreement and I’d have to pay her again…until I added my new manager into the conversation, and then her entire approach changed.
The struggles and tribulations that come with being an independent artist in this industry can be off-putting and disheartening. I share these stories to show how insane it can get sometimes, but despite the insanity that can come with this grind, nothing worth having isn’t fought for. And the perseverance I continue to show, keeps my blessings flowing in, and ultimately allows me to help others.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a songwriter and vocalist. I believe what sets me apart is the vulnerability I show and use to inspire my music. I believe that only you can tell your story and I truly live that every day. My music started as a form of therapy for myself. As time has progressed I am learning how my story, while unique, favors that of many others. There is a beauty in community, and when that community can come together on similar experiences and try to heal one another, it is a beautiful thing to witness. I have been incredibly blessed to create music that creates such an avenue.
My faith has gotten me through some very rough times, and I use my music to show the human side of being a Christian. My music joins other artist who look to share their points of view in an alternative genre. My music specifically, has the ability to reach various genres in my unique approach, but it creates a safe space to talk about the journey of faith in an uncommon way.
My tone automatically comes off with a neo-soul, jazzy vibe. I feel blessed when I get comparisons to influential artist when people try to define my sound. I love the plethora of influences people hear in my music. It is the highest compliment to me of proven versatility and broken barriers. I have always been a complex person when it came to my interest, and I never liked being put into a single box of label. I wanted my music to share the same freedom and be applicable in so many avenues and spaces. I once had someone tell me that they put one of my songs on their worship, party and everyday playlist. Those are the praises I appreciate the most.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned, and I’m continuing to learn on this journey is that your path is just that, YOURS. In culture today, it’s so easy to get caught up in comparisons. You can easily get discouraged on situations when your streaming numbers may not be where someone else’s are. While I may not be at the hundreds of thousands of streams for my music [YET], I’m grateful for the 5k, and even 1.4k streams I receive. I’m a firm believer that what is meant for you will come to you in due time. It’s imperative to stay focused on your walk and how you navigate your path. Staying true to yourself and your gifts is the true heart of what makes you a success. Whether you reach the multitudes, or a handful of people; each opportunity is a chance to make a lasting impact on someone’s life. That is something I see as a blessing that keeps me humble and eternally grateful in my journey.
I could easily change my avenue of music, to what’s popular right now to spike some reactions, but it wouldn’t be true to my calling. While it could give a quick satisfaction and spike in my metrics, it causes a boatload of other issues and concerns. Keeping on top of trends, having to constantly shape-shift to stay relevant, or worst: potentially losing who you are chasing after fame. Your art, craft and passion is yours. It’s not meant for everyone to understand, nor appreciate. However, if you continue to be your purest and truest version of yourself, the people you’re meant to reach will find you, and that’s the most satisfying part about what we do as creatives. We bridge gaps and give expression when if seems none can be found. We are pioneers to souls who have been misunderstood, possibly under represented, or just looking for a tribe that gets them. We have the responsibility and privilege to create the spaces that cause people to feel seen. And that, is pretty freaking cool!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydney_lenell_music/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SydneyLeNellMusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjNGTU7l-_10V7wSkaE2TTA
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sydney_lenell
Image Credits
Overalls Very Own Photographer
Ry James
