Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
and let's do it.
We're live.
Hi everybody, it is skiphappens.
My name is skip clark.
I am the host of skip happens.
Thanks for uh checking in withus here tonight and, as you know
, I I talked to a lot of theartists, the new artists, the
independent artists, superstarswe get them all on skip happens
tonight, no exception to any ofthat.
(00:21):
Check this out as, as a matterof fact, we're probably so close
I could reach out.
And well, not really.
I'm in the North Syracuse area.
She's in the Western suburb ofSyracuse, but it's an honor to
have her.
Sydney Irving is joining ushere tonight on Skip Happens.
Sydney, thank you so much fortaking the time out of your day
(00:43):
to do this.
I know we wanted to get youinto the pod zone, but anybody
that's from the northeast knowshow quick our weather changes.
It's a little.
It's a little cray-cray rightnow, from what I understand, and
it's going to get worse as weget, you know, into the
nighttime a little bit more.
But how are you?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
well, first off, I want to say thank you so much
for having me today.
It's such a pleasure to talkwith you.
The weather got really crazyreally fast, otherwise I would
totally be there, right therewith you.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I know the pod zone.
Matter of fact, I ran thevacuum last night.
I did some dusting, I cleaned itall up I said Sydney's coming
over, we got to get this podzone in shape.
But no, no, no, no, no, no, no,no, no.
But we will get you in heresomeday.
And you know I have a fullpodcast studio, the voiceover
(01:33):
studio, and and I even have avocal booth.
You know voiceover work, soit's pretty cool.
But let's talk about you alittle bit.
You know, growing up here incentral New York where Skip
Happens is, how did growing upin Syracuse shape you as the
artist that you are today?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Well, for me, growing up in Syracuse, I really love
Syracuse.
I think it's a great city and Igrew up at my family's business,
which is a skate park androller rink, so I was running
around the ramps and everythingand I would listen to music with
my family my family just hugemusic lovers so listen to
(02:13):
absolutely everything.
When I was about 10, no youngerwhen I was about seven years
old, I really got into TaylorSwift and I absolutely fell in
love with her album Speak Now,which I think came out in like
2010.
And so for my ninth birthday,my family surprised me with a
(02:36):
guitar, and it was a whiteIbanez electric guitar and I
didn't ask for a guitar, so itsat in the corner for a couple
of months until I started guitarlessons when I was about 10.
And I started sitting down onmy bedroom floor and writing
songs and I just fell in lovewith it.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Taylor Swift.
I tell you it was a lot earlierthan 2010, but I gave her one
of her first radio interviews.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
I still have it and someday I'll have to upload it
and get it online, but I alsohave it's right over there.
Well, if you're here, you wouldhave seen it the thank you card
from her when she came to theradio station that I was working
at at that time with her momand the record label rep, and it
(03:23):
was just a memory that it'ssomething I'll never forget.
It was just so cool and I lookat where she is now and the
woman that she has become andjust everything about her from
the marketing to her music tojust everything is phenomenal.
It's phenomenal and otherpeople need to follow those same
footsteps.
(03:44):
Some may not agree with me, butI can tell that you're a big fan
.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Well, I think she's a wonderful businesswoman and she
writes a mean song, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
She does, she does.
Have you been to one of hershows?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I have.
I went to the Red Tour whichwas amazing and actually when I
went and saw her on the Red Tourwe stayed in the same hotel
that the band was staying in andI think her parents were
staying there too, because I mether dad in the elevator and
that was really cool.
I got to meet a couple of herband mates and I also saw her on
the 1989 tour as well ah, verycool, very cool.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
now, what about?
I was reading in your bio andsomebody else had told me as
well that you're kind ofinfluenced by a little bit of
Tom Petty, some of that.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Oh, yeah, I'm a big Tom Petty fan.
I just absolutely love hissongwriting and I think he is
just the definition of cool,like if you look up the word
cool in the dictionary, tomPetty pops up.
I love his album HighwayCompanion.
That's one of my all-timefavorites, and then Wildflowers
as well.
I love reading all thedifferent things about how
(04:52):
Wildflowers was made.
It's so interesting.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Very cool, very cool.
God rest his soul, man.
I'll tell you a lot of greatmusic, no doubt Sydney.
Do you remember maybe aparticular moment when you
realized that music could bemore than just a passion?
But you remember maybe aparticular moment when you
realized that music could bemore than just a passion, but
you're making a career out ofthat.
When did that come about?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Well, I don't know, I think I always, just in my head
, was like I'm going to do music.
You know, in school, whenthey're like, oh, like we're
going to do a project and you'regoing to say what you want to
be when you grow up, for somereason, even before I started
writing songs and playing outand everything like that, I
always put down singer.
I don't know what it was, but Iwas like I'm going to do it,
(05:33):
it's going to happen, and sothat's me, that's.
It's just always been in mybrain.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
You know, and you've created such a name for yourself
because we see you ontelevision, we're hearing a lot
about you.
I know Channel 9 here locallydid just a great, great thing
with you Just getting out there.
How about your first trip toNashville?
Can you tell me a little bitabout that?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Oh, I just love Nashville.
I actually went with my mom ona trip when I was 12 years old
and we went and did all thesightseeing and everything,
because I always told my mom Iwas like I'm going to be a
musician and I want to go toNashville, and we got Goo Goo
Clusters, which all-timefavorite they're so good.
(06:28):
But I went down to Nashvillewithin the last it was, I think
last year or the year before, Ithink it was the year before and
I was so blessed to be a partof a private country music event
where I was a featuredperformer and I got to perform
for a bunch of radio stationsand I just had the best time.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Was that the country radio seminar?
Speaker 2 (06:50):
It was Well so.
I performed there as well.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
This was.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Charlotte McCoy's music row live.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Oh yes, absolutely.
And Charlotte, I know her verywell, obviously, and I'm hoping
to be out at the ACMs coming up.
We'll do our broadcast livefrom there.
But Charlotte is just awonderful person.
God love her.
Have you been to her ranch, herfarm, have you?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
seen her.
I never have.
I would love to.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Absolutely.
I mean, I see pictures and I go.
This lady, she's just livingthe life.
She's been through a lot, butshe loves helping artists like
you and it's definitely a goodchoice.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
She's just an amazing person.
I really look up to her.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Absolutely.
She could.
She can put you in the rightdirection too, if you know what
I mean.
She could.
You know, don't do this, but dothis.
She knows, she knows the biz,and there's no doubt about that.
What about your songwriting,sydney?
Tell me a little bit about you.
Know how that comes about.
Your creative process.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Well, I write about life experiences, I write about
heartbreak, I write abouthappiness.
I feel like heartbreak isalways kind of the one that it
draws out the best emotions, Ithink because it's so intense.
And I actually have a new songthat comes out tonight at
midnight.
It's called you can't forgetabout me, and it's a song about
(08:08):
heartbreak.
It's a song about a breakup,but it's kind of a cheeky twist
on it I love that.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Does it sound a little bit like this?
You don't mind if I play just alittle bit of it, do you go for
it?
All right, here we go.
This is it, sydney irving, andgive you a little taste of what
she's talking about.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Here we go.
If I turned right on this road,I'd drive by your house and it
doesn't matter much.
But that's what my mind does,and y'all wonder sometimes how
you think of me.
All the memories, good andwholesome, do they bleed?
(08:51):
Well, go pretend you don'tremember me.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
We promised friends one thing will never be Because
we both want sincere apologies.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
But however hard you try, you can't forget about me.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Wow, wow, wow, wow.
So is that hitting radiostations?
Are you sending it to radio?
It's dropping tonight atmidnight, so you know, that is
so cool.
You've got to be so pumped, butit's not the first time you've
done that.
I mean you've been putting outmusic for a little bit.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
I have been.
I I recorded my first albumwhen I was 14.
And that was because I hadwritten all these songs and my
family was like, well, if you'regoing to do music, you might as
well just learn how to do it bydoing it right.
So I booked a session at astudio in Syracuse called More
(10:00):
Sound and I did all the songs inone day.
I just did them all live me andmy guitar and picked the best
take.
But that song in particular wasrecorded down in Nashville,
tennessee, and I got to workwith just the most amazing band
of musicians and producer andengineer and everything.
So I'm so thrilled about it andthank you so much for playing
(10:24):
it and giving a little sneakpeek.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Oh yeah, absolutely Tell me what.
What is it like you as anindependent artist, you head to
Nashville, you want to get somemusicians.
I mean, how do you do that?
Do you put an ad out there?
Or do you just go to a studioand say this is what I want to
do?
How much is it going to cost,and who can I get to play with
me?
How does that work?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
So in this case I was so blessed because actually
Sharla put together the band andshe knows the great players and
just absolutely amazing peopleand great people to work with.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Absolutely.
And I heard a steel.
Did I hear a steel guitar inthat?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Well, there's no steel guitar, but there are.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
So many guitar layers .
I just love it.
I'm a huge guitar fan.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
So I was so excited about how it turned out.
Is guitar the only instrumentyou play?
I'm self-taught at the ukuleleand I was goofing around with
the banjo.
I learned Led Zeppelin going toCalifornia, but that was as far
as my banjo career took me.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
You know, I mean, as we talk here, we talk about Tom
Petty, but then again we talkabout Taylor Swift and we talk
about country music.
It seems like you're wellversed in a lot of different
genres, or you're bringing itall together.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Well, thank you.
Growing up, my family playedeverything, so it was rock, it
was pop, it was country.
Obviously, I love country music.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I love the storytelling in country music I
don't know how many peoplereally know this and the fact
that you are from the area herein the Northeast central New
York area.
Can we talk about some of theawards?
I know it was the 2024 BandAlbum of the Year at the ISSA
Awards with the songwriters.
(12:23):
That is pretty cool.
And what does winning an awardmean to you, especially this
early in your career?
Speaker 2 (12:30):
It means a lot.
It means a lot that peoplewould take the time to listen to
the music and then put in avote for it.
You know, like that's big time.
So I appreciate it so much andit's such an honor to even be
recognized.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
And you get recognized here locally with the
Syracuse area music awards.
We get the sammies.
Are we going to see you therein a couple of weeks?
Speaker 2 (12:52):
well, so this year I didn't release a record I'm
working on one but I might popin yeah, you should, I would
love.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Are you gonna be there?
Oh yeah, yeah, I gotta do someof the um.
I forgot I think I'm presentingthe country award.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
And nice, nice Well, I'll see you there.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
And we did the.
I hosted, not hosted, but I waspart of the press conference
that they had just a couple ofweeks ago.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
I did see that.
That was awesome.
You did a great job.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Did you see me shaking at the podium?
I had too much coffee.
It was too early in the morningand I had too much coffee and
I'm like, oh my God, oh my God,oh my God.
I was like bouncing off thewalls.
Well, it's better than fallingasleep.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Yeah well, that's true.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
That's true.
So you're endorsed by BreedloveGuitars.
So, and how did that come aboutalready, which is cool and what
does it mean to you as anartist to have this partnership?
I mean, you get yourself whatI'm sure they supply guitar.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Yeah Well, breedlove Guitars.
I've been playing for a longtime now and it's the only
acoustic guitar that I play outat my shows.
I just love their guitars somuch.
They're just incredibleinstruments, and I have one main
guitar that I bring everywhere.
It's like my safety blanket.
And well, it was a few yearsago.
(14:13):
I made a video out on the iceon a lake in upstate New York
and it was 22 degrees.
I put it up on YouTube andBreedlove saw it and they were
like anybody who's willing tobring our guitar out in 22
degree weather and play a song.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
You got to do what you got to do.
I mean I think that'sphenomenal.
So you've had the opportunityto play some of the bigger
stages.
You've done a little bit inNashville I know you did with
Sharla and it's so cool to getin front of people that could
change your life.
You talk to the radio people,you talk to the program
directors.
But what is it like for you towalk into a radio station at 6am
(14:57):
in the morning because whatthey call a radio tour, and you
got to be wide awake and you'vegot to, you know, be the best
you can be.
What is that?
An exciting feeling for you.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
It's absolutely exciting.
It's pure adrenaline becauseyou have a certain amount of
time on the air and you have toremember to include all your
points.
But it's so cool.
I love getting to meeteverybody and I love getting to
talk to people who are realmusic lovers, you know, like
yourself.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Exactly, I love it.
I love it, I, you know.
And just because I work in thecountry format, I love all kinds
of music.
It depends on my mood, itdepends what the weather's like
that day.
You never know what I'm goingto listen to.
You know it gets it, and Iwould imagine you do the same
thing.
It's just kind of bounce around.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Absolutely.
I'm a big album person, so I'llget really into an album and
I'll play it, and play it, andplay it, and then I'll move on
to another album and play it,and play it, and play it.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Yeah, so that's what I call the deep tracks, though
you go a little bit further.
I mean, yeah, you might have asingle that's on there, but you
want to go further.
You want to hear what else ison that album, which is pretty I
agree.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
I think I love because an album is made to be
an album, so when you listen toit in its entirety, there's
entirety, there's a flow to itand I think there's something
really special and magical aboutthat it is now.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
How do you feel Right now, at this point in your
career?
You make a lot of your owndecisions, am I correct to say
that?
But if you're with a majorlabel, I don't know if you'd be
able to make a lot of thosedecisions.
Do you want to stay being whoyou are now Working with?
Sharla is great.
She's definitely got theknow-how and, like I mentioned
(16:39):
moments ago, minutes ago, thatshe'll point you in the right
direction.
But sometimes you get with abigger company, the corporate,
the label.
They're going to say, no,you're going to do this, you're
going to do that.
I mean, I've heard it both ways.
How do you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (16:52):
For me, my team is totally open to conversations.
As of right now, I release allmy own music and I think there's
something really cool aboutthat, because the digital age
allows you to do that.
You know, you can be an artistand not have a label behind you
and you can still release yourmusic and get out and play shows
, and so right now, that's whatI'm doing, no matter what, I'm
(17:14):
still releasing my music andplaying shows.
But there's alwaysconversations that can happen.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Yeah, exactly, and I think you're on the edge of
those conversations.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Thank you so much.
You're very kind.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
No, I'm just being honest because I've seen you
perform.
You know I've been out at a lotof these shows.
I know I've seen you, I've donepresents on stage and I've seen
you in the audience.
And you know, I think we saweach other at the fair here not
too long ago.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
That's right at the Lainey Wilson show.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Yes, it was the Lainey show.
Was that phenomenal or?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
what she just knows how to put on a show.
She's awesome.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
She just got engaged.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I saw that today.
I was on my Instagram and I sawthe pictures.
I was like, wow, that's amazingit.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
I saw the pictures I was like, wow, that's amazing,
it is amazing, it is amazing.
And that show maybe you couldspeak a little bit better about
this, because you're on stageprobably a lot more than I am,
even though I do a lot of that.
But being at the Laney show andgetting on that stage at the
fair and looking out and seeingnothing but people Swear to God,
I could walk off that stage andwalk on heads as far as I could
(18:18):
see.
What's that feeling like foryou as an artist when you get on
stage and you see that?
Speaker 2 (18:24):
I love that.
I think that's just so cool.
It's cool that people come outto the shows.
Her crowd was huge.
It was absolutely huge.
That's my dream to play to acrowd like that and get to hop
on a stage and do the musicthing.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Right, right, just to see that's got to pump you up.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Absolutely.
It's one of my favorite things.
I love writing and creating andI love getting up on stage.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Do you, sydney?
Do you remember the first songyou ever wrote?
Speaker 2 (18:56):
I do, so you can't hear it anywhere.
But I did a summer camp at thered house in Syracuse and so it
was rock camp and so basicallyat the rock camp for anyone who
doesn't know you go to the campand there's all these different
(19:17):
kids and they put groupstogether and they make like a
couple bands of kids and so eachone has like a drummer, a bass
player, a guitar player and asinger or something or keyboard
keyboardist, and you write threesongs and at the end of the
camp perform your three songsand your friends and family can
(19:39):
come and watch.
So I went to this camp and Iwas like I'll write a song, you
know whatever.
So I went home and I wrote asong and I brought it in the
next day and I was like, guys, Iwrote a song and they were like
cool, so we put the drums andbass and keyboards to it and so
(20:01):
at the, the final concert at theend of the camp, I don't think
I told my parents that I wasgonna sing a song or I wrote a
song.
I was just like, yeah, it'sgonna be cool, you should come,
and I think I was 11 or 12.
So they came and my guitarteacher at the time, lauren
Krzykowski, who is a good friend, and we still played together.
And his wife came and it cameto the time where I was going to
(20:27):
play my song and I don't knowwhy I thought this was a good
idea, but I wore socks andsandals.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
I thought it was going to be my thing.
It was a bad idea, but there'spictures.
So I stepped up to themicrophone and I played my song
and then that was it.
That was it Wow.
And the concert ended and my dadand mom were like what just
happened, and my guitar teacher,Lauren, at the time whenever I
(20:56):
went to lessons I didn't talk, Iwas a very, very shy kid and he
was like I didn't know, youtalked, I guess you sing now.
He was like we're going to dothat now, and so I've been
singing ever since.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
What was the name of it?
Speaker 2 (21:09):
It was a song called Don't you Dare.
Don't you Dare, and it wasabout a breakup which I'd never
experienced, but I listened toenough music about heartbreak
and watched enough movies that Imade up a scenario.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
If you could perform anywhere in the world, where
would that be, Cindy?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
That's hard, Honestly .
I would love to go to Europeand perform.
That would be so fun.
I really want to play at RedRocks.
I feel like a lot of people saythat, but that's such an iconic
venue.
I want to play the Ryman.
That would be awesome.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Well, I can see that happening pretty soon.
I mean, get yourself toNashville and get out there and
do that and hopefully next weekyou know when I'm sitting I'm
going to the Ryman.
Next week we have an eventgoing on, the country radio
seminar.
So we get to go to the Rymanand have lunch and all of the
(22:08):
Warner Music Group, they they dothe whole, the whole lunch with
all their artists, which ispretty cool.
So they all come out and theysing one or two songs.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Wow, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
That's pretty cool, pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Do you know who's going to be there?
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Uh, I do.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Cool, cool.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Dierks Bentley, I don't know, there's so many, um,
I I'd have to look it up.
I can, I can let you know, butthere is a long list of brothers
, osborne, dierks, bentley, justall of the most of their
artists Keith Urban, vince, gill.
I can go on and on.
And then what they do is theycome out and, like Dierks has
got a new song dropping atmidnight tonight as well.
(22:49):
I'm sure he's going to playthat next week.
You know it's all the radio,people hear it and yeah that's
amazing.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Do you have it's called?
She hates me.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Oh, that's a good Valentine's day.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Exactly what do you think they're putting it out
tonight and tomorrow'sValentine's day and it's called
she hates me.
I love it.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
What were you going to say?
I'm sorry, oh, I was going tosay do you have a favorite place
to go when you go to Nashville?
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Do?
I have a favorite place.
I like to get out of town.
I like to go to, like, thestation inn, uh, which is on the
outskirts.
You get, you get out a littlebit and nashville has become
it's a great, great, great city.
But you and I both know so manypeople go to nashville and
there's certain areas whereeverybody congregates.
You go down on broadway wheretootsies is and all you know
(23:38):
jack's barbecue and you get thestage.
You get all those.
It's mobbed down there.
If you're going to go down thereyou have to go down there like
maybe 11 or 12 early in the dayand you still hear the music.
But if you wait till night itgets crazy.
It turns into a bacheloretteparties and all this crazy stuff
going on and it's just you know.
(23:59):
But if you you want to, youneed to get out of town.
You need to go to places likethe station in.
I have never been to theBluebird, but I got an invite
from an artist to attend theirshow at the Bluebird next week.
So I don't know if I'm going togo or not because I have so
many other things going on, butit was nice of her to send an
invite.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I think that's a must go.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
You know, I'm kind of thinking about that.
Have you ever been there?
Speaker 2 (24:25):
I want to play there, so bad, that's another place I
would absolutely love to play.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
It's a goal, we have a goal to get you on the stage
at the rhyman and to get youinto the bluebird okay, yeah,
I'll be talking about you.
Next week we'll see what we cando, but charla charla's got a
lot of say in that as well, soabsolutely yeah I see ron ray is
on here.
Uh r you know Ron?
Hi, ron, ron is awesome.
(24:51):
He is awesome.
What do you want, your fans?
Speaker 2 (24:59):
to know about you.
I want my friends to know thatat the end of the day, I
appreciate all that they dolistening to my music and coming
out to the shows and hangingout because I think what is so
special about the people whoI've gotten to meet through
music is that they're musiclovers and they love lyrics.
(25:20):
For me, the lyrics are the mostimportant part, so I love lyric
lovers and all the people whoI've gotten to meet.
They're always like big intolyrics.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Because it's about their lives.
It's about them.
If you have a song and theylisten to it and they go my God,
she's singing about me.
I went through that type ofbreakup or this happened to me,
or I mean, that's what you know.
That's what country music is.
It touches your life, it's.
It's songs about real life,even though maybe you haven't
(25:54):
experienced some of that.
But you've seen it, you'veheard it.
You know what I mean.
So you write a song about it.
Next thing you know it's like,wow, they're singing about me
and if you can make thatconnection, it's you've got a
forever fan.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
So I agree.
Well, I always feel like music.
Once it's released, it'stotally just for everybody else
to take their interpretation ofit and connect it to their lives
, and there's something sospecial about when you can
release a song and someone canrelate to it with what they're
going through.
I think that's so beautiful,because people aren't all that
(26:33):
different.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
No, no, that's right, that's true.
Tell me about you had theopportunity to open up for
Martina McBride and Chris Youngand Jesse McCartney.
Tell me a little bit aboutthose experiences and how did
you get involved with that.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Well, that was at Speedy Fest in binghamton and
it's such a cool festival andI'm so blessed to have had those
opportunities.
Just absolutely amazing artiststhat I love their music and
they just know how to put on anincredible show.
We, my band and I performed.
We opened up for chris young,which was so cool.
(27:09):
He is just a legend, you knowand he's got such amazing music.
Martina McBride was so specialbecause it was during, kind of
like everything was opening backup and so I didn't get a chance
to talk to her, but I wasreally just totally floored
(27:30):
because she allowed me to sitside stage while she performed.
One of her people came over andthey said, hey, if you would
like to sit side stage, martinasaid that that's okay and I was
like, absolutely, and I got towatch her perform from side
stage.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
And what do you watch for when you watch somebody
like a Martina by the way, I'vehad her on the podcast.
If you go back a little bit,you'll see the interview and
it's pretty cool but what do youwatch for as an artist, a newer
artist, and you're watchingsomebody like a Martina McBride,
what is it that you're watchingfor?
Speaker 2 (28:07):
I like to watch how she moves on stage.
I like to watch the way thatshe speaks to the audience
between songs.
She's got a very eloquent waywith words and everybody
watching her is just like eyesglued to her.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
She's such a star and what a voice, my dad, or a
little woman, a big voice, justjust golden.
Did you meet her husband, john?
Speaker 2 (28:35):
I did not know.
It was like everything was verylike yeah, go to the stage
player set and just make sure Imean, obviously I mean she's a
performer, so she's taking careof her health and making sure
that she doesn't get under theweather.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Yeah, no, exactly.
If you do go to another MartinaMcBride show, more than likely
behind the soundboard that'll beher husband.
Oh, really, yeah.
Yeah, Not kidding, it's notabout me, it's about you.
But another trip to Nashville.
We went to Martina's house.
We had get this, we had whatthey call martinis with Martina.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Wow, that's so fun.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
And it was so cool because we were able to hang out
at the house, hung out aroundthe pool.
Her husband, john, has one ofthe biggest Beatles collections
you'll ever see.
He took us down into thebasement and it was just all
Beatles, the records, albumafter album after album.
Just crazy, crazy, wow yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Beatles stuff is pretty sought after, so that's
yeah he's got really collection.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Yeah, I'm sure you know doesn't just let anybody
down there, but it's a wholedifferent event which is kind of
crazy.
You said your parents have askating rink.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Yeah, black Mamba skate park, like the snake, and
it was opened up.
I grew up all around it.
So my mom tells me a story allthe time that when I was little,
I was like little little, likethree years old and I wanted to
play Barbie dolls and the boyswho would come to the skate park
, they would play Barbies withme on the ramps.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
So you're talking and not a roller skating, it's.
You got the ramps, the flipsand the all the extreme sports.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
So it's both.
Now we have a roller rink andwe have a skate park now.
But, it started as a very smallskate shop with some ramps in
the back room.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
How very cool, were you into extreme sports at all.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
No, not even close.
I tried to skateboard and thatwas it.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
I tried.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
No, tony Hawk, absolutely not.
Well, I got into guitar.
I couldn't hurt my hands.
No, exactly.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
And yet, look where you are now and you're doing
very well.
But, uh, yeah, I married intothe family of Dave Mara, who, uh
, was the BMX bike rider.
He's no longer with us but, uh,he has the more the extreme
sports on, more gold medals thananybody holds.
All the records for that, butit was great.
That's why I was asking yeah,he's got his own.
(31:14):
Well, he's gone now, butthere's a park named after him,
north Carolina, which is prettycool.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Oh, that's so nice.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
Pretty cool, yeah, pretty cool stuff.
So where do you see yourself infive years?
Talk to me.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
I see myself playing lots of shows.
I want to play all the time Ialready am, but I could totally
play more and I want to releaselots of music.
I actually am writing a lotright now and I can't wait to
get back in the studio.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
I love that.
And how do you handle criticism?
Because you know you and I bothknow whether it's doing what I
do or doing what you do.
You know there's a lot of thereknow whether it's doing what I
do or doing what you do.
You know there's a lot ofthere's everybody thinks there's
an expert.
Some people will say you suck.
Other people are going to sayyou're great.
How do you handle criticism?
Speaker 2 (31:59):
I think the biggest thing is to look at it and say
music is totally subjective youknow, so some people are going
to like it, some people aren'tgoing to like it.
It's the same way that somepeople like, so some people are
going to like it, some peoplearen't going to like it.
It's the same way that somepeople like ketchup and some
people like mustard.
You know, it's just kind ofwhat it is.
I do think that when you havelike music that you write and
(32:23):
you put so much heart into it,definitely is it's really close
to your heart.
So if someone isn't totally thekindest about, it, it does hurt
your feelings a little bit, butyou have to look at it like it's
totally subjective and it's notcool for people to be mean.
But you know, all you can do isjust put niceness into the
world and and hope that you getit back.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
If you could collaborate with anybody.
I know I'm asking a lot ofquestions, but I feel I think
this is so interesting If youcould collaborate with anybody.
I know I'm asking a lot ofquestions, but I think this is
so interesting.
If you could collaborate withanybody, who would that be?
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Can I say Post Malone , yes, I was kind of hoping you
would.
Post Malone or Midland, I loveMidland's music.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Oh yeah, I did see that you love Midland.
This is funny because anotherNashville trip you've had a
chance to hang out with theseguys, right.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Yeah, I got tickets and VIP passes for my 21st
birthday and there's a wholestory that goes along with it.
I've just been such a huge fanof them forever.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
I am a big fan, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
Yeah, their songwriting is amazing.
So, anyways, for the past fewyears, I always include one of
their songs in my set list, asong called 14 Gears, which is
one of my all-time favorites.
But, fast forward.
We're at the Midland VIP eventand I introduced myself to the
lead singer, mark, and I sharedthat I'm a singer songwriter too
(33:54):
and I cover some of their songswhen I play out.
And he looked right at me andhe said, well, why don't you
come up and do one?
Then and I thought my heart wasgoing to jump right out of my
chest.
I jumped up on stage and theyhanded me a beautiful guitar.
We got right down to businessand the Midland boys backed me
up and we played 14 yearstogether.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Oh my God, how nervous were you.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Absolutely shaking in my boots.
I was running on pureadrenaline, but it was the most
surreal moment yet.
And just when I thought Icouldn't get any bigger, the
guys from Midland appeared to beblown away at my arrangement of
their song 14 Gears and Marksaid hey, do you want to come up
later tonight at the big showand play it again with the full
band?
I'm just so grateful to them.
(34:38):
They're such kind and wonderfulpeople.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
And they are.
But the first time I met themnot really knowing much about
them, it was in Nashville Gotinto an elevator and these guys
got in the elevator and they'reall dressed weird, I said
they're looking out of the 70s.
you know the bell bottoms andall this stuff.
I'm going, oh my God, who arethese guys?
Then, all of a sudden, we're atthe show and they go ladies and
(35:03):
gentlemen, midland.
And I go, oh my God, those arethe guys I was just in the
elevator with, going, oh my,what are they?
Who are these guys?
The way they were dressed, youknow what I'm talking about.
Anybody that's seen Midland.
They're a little different butthey're awesome man.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
They're awesome.
I think they're some of themost stylish people out there.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Yeah, they made that known.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Which is pretty cool.
So anyways, you know this isgreat that we've had this
opportunity to sit and talk alittle bit tonight, but you know
you don't see yourself movingto Nashville anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
We're talking about it.
I would absolutely love to.
It would be a dream.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
When you say we're talking about it, is that like
the family, your dad andeverybody, yeah, my team, my
family, the whole group of them.
Yeah, that's cool, that's cool.
Now tell me a little bit aboutyour team.
For example, who does yoursocials?
Do you do that?
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Yep, so I'm an independent artist right now, so
I run my social media and myteam is so wonderful and so
helpful in putting all thepieces together.
But I run my social media andso that's me, so if you comment,
it's me.
Commenting right back.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
I love it.
I love it.
That's good.
And do you welcome people tochime in on Facebook and maybe
Twitter and TikTok if somebodyleaves a comment that you
welcome that correct.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
Absolutely.
I do a live stream every weekon Tuesdays at 7.30 pm, eastern
time, and I get on and playthree songs.
It's called A Sides, b Sidesand Covers.
So I play two of my songs andthen I put one of my favorite
cover songs at the end and wetalk about whatever people want
(36:51):
to talk about.
Last week or this past week, wetalked about dessert.
I'm a huge dessert lover, so wetalked about where the best
half moon cookies come from allright where.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
I think Harrison Bakery uh, I'm gonna go with
Gaddis oh okay, oh okay, gattis.
Bakery.
Speaker 2 (37:10):
Green Hills makes a mean.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
Green Hills makes a mean.
Donuts and cookies.
You're right there.
You're right there.
They're like out of the way forme.
So it's easier for me to eithergo to Harrison or I can scoot
over to Gattis Bakery.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
I mean sometimes you got to take the trip.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
You got to.
I know.
I know what else do you like todo in Central New York If
you're not playing music.
What else do you do?
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Well, I don't know if this is like a Central New York
thing, but I've gotten reallyheavily into making smoothies,
like I've made it an art.
So I made a strawberry smoothiethe other day and it turned out
very good.
I also made a cherry almondsmoothie, which was pretty good.
I find these recipes online.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
I was going to ask you to get them, okay.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Well, I tried to stray the other day and I was
like I'm going to make a peachsmoothie.
It was a disaster so bad.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
They sound so good, though I mean strawberry.
I get a strawberry smoothiefrom Panera every once in a
while, but they're so good.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
That's why I started, because I'm kind of a
cheapskate.
So I was like I don't want topay that money, I'll just make
it myself.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
No, that's cool.
That's cool and you find therecipes online.
That's a great hobby.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
It's kind of a nerdy hobby.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
I it's a great hobby.
So you know, it's kind of anerdy hobby, but I don't think
it's nerdy, I think it's healthy, I think it's cool it's doing
that.
Do you work out at all oranything like that?
I do work out, I do.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
Like if you do the videos online and you just
follow along with the video.
I do a thing called B Shred andthe gentleman that runs it, his
name is Vince and he's alwayslike, yeah, pushups, and you're
like, yeah, I love pushups.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
That's crazy, but it's good stuff, definitely good
stuff.
Uh, sydney Irving has been withus here tonight on skip happens
and, uh, we're actuallyneighbors and I'm so proud to
say that I know her becauseshe's from upstate New York show
.
That's where this podcast is,that's where I'm on the air
every afternoon on the Wolf herein Syracuse.
(39:12):
So it's good to you know, wehave great talent in this area.
We have so much great talentand you've been recognized for
that.
So, and and you're continuingto grow, I can pretty soon I
know it's going to be, you'll bein our powers on radio, and
when I say a power, those arelike the best songs.
There's like five or six ofthose and they rotate every few
(39:33):
hours.
So that means you made it Like,for example, you could be in
that category with Post MaloneJust saying.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
Did you go to?
Speaker 1 (39:43):
the Post Malone show.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
I did go to the Post Malone show, Actually fun fact.
The drummer that's touring withPost Malone.
His name is Phil Lawson, and heactually played the drums on my
new single.
You Can't Forget About Me, andmy past two releases as well.
How cool, how cool.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
Oh, so cool and he's such a talent, so it was so cool
to get to see him rock out onstage with Post Malone.
Post Malone goes out on concerton a on a concert tour that
they they'll take some of thesemusicians with them.
They need a drummer, they needa guitar player, they need and
that's when they're not doingthat, they're doing stuff in the
studio.
That's how they make theirmoney.
So that is pretty cool.
That is you know.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
Yeah, it was so cool he.
He posted on his Instagram I'mgoing on tour with Posty.
I was like that's so cool, likeon his Instagram, going on tour
with posters, like that's socool, like that's so awesome,
and it's.
It just goes to show you that,like Nashville, it's where the
pros are.
You know, like I, I just can'tbelieve, like there's so many
talented people in that townit's such an honor to work with
any of them.
Speaker 1 (41:04):
What was the name of the studio that you went into to
cut the air?
Speaker 2 (41:07):
It's called Love Shack.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
Love Shack.
Was that up on Music Row Cool?
Speaker 2 (41:14):
Just off, yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:15):
Yeah, very cool.
You had the best people withyou too.
Sydney Irving, so good to talkto you, so good to see you.
I'm kind of all over the placetonight.
I'm all giddy.
It just is, you know, it's justjust is I, you know it's
because we're neighbors and Ithink, oh my God, she, we know
each other, we really know eachother.
I really got to be on my A gameand when I think like that it
(41:38):
doesn't really happen, I knowI've seen you on the boat.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Yeah Well, thank you so much for having me today.
It's truly an honor to talkwith you tonight.
Speaker 1 (41:47):
Oh, absolutely.
Well, it goes right back to you.
So, and you know we've got toget together, we've got to do
some radio stuff.
I'd love to put you in front ofsome of the Wolf listeners.
The radio station is kickingass, so you know, to get you out
there.
I mean that would be so cool.
We'll have to talk about that.
We have a lot of great showscoming up, and do you know
Muscadine bloodline they'recoming.
(42:08):
Do you know that?
Yes, I follow them on Instagram.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
I love their music.
Speaker 1 (42:16):
Yep, yep Plus.
I had them on the podcast.
No way, yeah.
So look at.
You know you get bored oranybody that's watching this.
If you go to skip happens onYouTube and just go back through
the videos, let me see that.
You'll see Martina, you'll seeMuscadine, nate Smith, laney
Wilson, yeah.
So you know, like I said in thebeginning, that's what I love
about this, because it's just aconversation and whether it's,
(42:41):
you know, independence, whetherit's the big stars, I signed
with major contracts.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
we get them all on Skip Happens, so that's cool and
that's awesome.
I was yeah, I was watching theother night.
I didn't see I.
Which ones did I watch?
Speaker 1 (42:57):
Just the other night, I'm nervous.
No, no, don't be nervous.
Um just the other night I hadum Eden, uh, delia.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
Eden Delia.
I watched Eden.
I watched Lainey Gardner.
Speaker 1 (43:10):
Lainey Love Lainey.
Yeah, she's coming back on, bythe way, oh cool, and we'll let
everybody know the exact datewhen I firm it up.
But yeah, that, and yeah,there's so many good people out
there.
Lainey Gardner was justphenomenal and now she is signed
to a major label.
Speaker 2 (43:29):
Wow, good for her.
Speaker 1 (43:31):
Yeah, and she's doing a showcase next week, so I'll
get the chance to, you know,check it out and see, see how it
goes so that's amazing.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
I love her voice.
Speaker 1 (43:39):
Oh my God, so good, so good.
Yeah, Just look through anybodywatching this, or you.
You can go through all that.
There's so many videos on therenow.
So that's what I'm going to doall night.
I'm just going to be watchingall of them.
Just make sure you subscribe.
I need to get my subscribers up.
That's what I need to do.
(44:00):
But uh, Sydney Irving, you'reawesome Young lady.
You are such a talent, so muchahead of you.
It's a great road.
It's a lot of work, but I cansee you doing it all and I know
someday we're going to go.
I knew her when she lived inMarcellus.
I know this.
You know Jennifer went toschool.
I'm looking at a note.
Hang on and see if I can bringit up here.
I went to school with your dad.
Speaker 2 (44:19):
Oh, no way, Hi Jennifer.
Speaker 1 (44:21):
Yep, yep.
And let's see here, of course,ron.
Where are you, ron?
She's one, one, great, greattalent, no doubt.
Let's see what else.
I'm clicking through thesereally quick here, awesome.
And then let's see here.
It's funny because I can.
(44:43):
Got to run, we'll check.
I have no, oh, okay, all right,cool, let's see.
You know, even with this, youmight get a new fan too, or two
or three, or four Amazing Thankyou, you know what I mean.
Yeah, absolutely, Thanks forjoining us tonight.
Before we let you go, where cansomebody look at your music?
Let's say they're not from thearea and they go.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
I just want to say thank you again for having me.
It's been a pleasure talkingwith you today, and you can find
more about me at my website,sydneyirvingmusiccom.
I'm on Instagram, Facebook,YouTube, TikTok at
sydneyirvingmusic.
Speaker 1 (45:21):
Just Google.
Just go to Google, type it in,google it up.
Yeah, google it up.
Sydney Irving, thank you againfor joining us.
I want you to stay right there.
Thank you for watchingeverybody and make sure you
check her out, check out hermusic and get to some of her
shows.
I'm sure you can find them allon the website.
So there you go.
Thanks for watching Skiphappens.
Skip Clark, your host.
(45:41):
Have a.
and let's do it.
We're live.
Hi everybody, it is skiphappens.
My name is skip clark.
I am the host of skip happens.
Thanks for uh checking in withus here tonight and, as you know
, I I talked to a lot of theartists, the new artists, the
independent artists, superstarswe get them all on skip happens
tonight, no exception to any ofthat.
(00:21):
Check this out as, as a matterof fact, we're probably so close
I could reach out.
And well, not really.
I'm in the North Syracuse area.
She's in the Western suburb ofSyracuse, but it's an honor to
have her.
Sydney Irving is joining ushere tonight on Skip Happens.
Sydney, thank you so much fortaking the time out of your day
(00:43):
to do this.
I know we wanted to get youinto the pod zone, but anybody
that's from the northeast knowshow quick our weather changes.
It's a little.
It's a little cray-cray rightnow, from what I understand, and
it's going to get worse as weget, you know, into the
nighttime a little bit more.
But how are you?
Speaker 2 (01:01):
well, first off, I want to say thank you so much
for having me today.
It's such a pleasure to talkwith you.
The weather got really crazyreally fast, otherwise I would
totally be there, right therewith you.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
I know the pod zone.
Matter of fact, I ran thevacuum last night.
I did some dusting, I cleaned itall up I said Sydney's coming
over, we got to get this podzone in shape.
But no, no, no, no, no, no, no,no, no.
But we will get you in heresomeday.
And you know I have a fullpodcast studio, the voiceover
(01:33):
studio, and and I even have avocal booth.
You know voiceover work, soit's pretty cool.
But let's talk about you alittle bit.
You know, growing up here incentral New York where Skip
Happens is, how did growing upin Syracuse shape you as the
artist that you are today?
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Well, for me, growing up in Syracuse, I really love
Syracuse.
I think it's a great city and Igrew up at my family's business,
which is a skate park androller rink, so I was running
around the ramps and everythingand I would listen to music with
my family my family just hugemusic lovers so listen to
(02:13):
absolutely everything.
When I was about 10, no youngerwhen I was about seven years
old, I really got into TaylorSwift and I absolutely fell in
love with her album Speak Now,which I think came out in like
2010.
And so for my ninth birthday,my family surprised me with a
(02:36):
guitar, and it was a whiteIbanez electric guitar and I
didn't ask for a guitar, so itsat in the corner for a couple
of months until I started guitarlessons when I was about 10.
And I started sitting down onmy bedroom floor and writing
songs and I just fell in lovewith it.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
Taylor Swift.
I tell you it was a lot earlierthan 2010, but I gave her one
of her first radio interviews.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
I still have it and someday I'll have to upload it
and get it online, but I alsohave it's right over there.
Well, if you're here, you wouldhave seen it the thank you card
from her when she came to theradio station that I was working
at at that time with her momand the record label rep, and it
(03:23):
was just a memory that it'ssomething I'll never forget.
It was just so cool and I lookat where she is now and the
woman that she has become andjust everything about her from
the marketing to her music tojust everything is phenomenal.
It's phenomenal and otherpeople need to follow those same
footsteps.
(03:44):
Some may not agree with me, butI can tell that you're a big fan
.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Well, I think she's a wonderful businesswoman and she
writes a mean song, you know.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
She does, she does.
Have you been to one of hershows?
Speaker 2 (03:57):
I have.
I went to the Red Tour whichwas amazing and actually when I
went and saw her on the Red Tourwe stayed in the same hotel
that the band was staying in andI think her parents were
staying there too, because I mether dad in the elevator and
that was really cool.
I got to meet a couple of herband mates and I also saw her on
the 1989 tour as well ah, verycool, very cool.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
now, what about?
I was reading in your bio andsomebody else had told me as
well that you're kind ofinfluenced by a little bit of
Tom Petty, some of that.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Oh, yeah, I'm a big Tom Petty fan.
I just absolutely love hissongwriting and I think he is
just the definition of cool,like if you look up the word
cool in the dictionary, tomPetty pops up.
I love his album HighwayCompanion.
That's one of my all-timefavorites, and then Wildflowers
as well.
I love reading all thedifferent things about how
(04:52):
Wildflowers was made.
It's so interesting.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Very cool, very cool.
God rest his soul, man.
I'll tell you a lot of greatmusic, no doubt Sydney.
Do you remember maybe aparticular moment when you
realized that music could bemore than just a passion?
But you remember maybe aparticular moment when you
realized that music could bemore than just a passion, but
you're making a career out ofthat.
When did that come about?
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Well, I don't know, I think I always, just in my head
, was like I'm going to do music.
You know, in school, whenthey're like, oh, like we're
going to do a project and you'regoing to say what you want to
be when you grow up, for somereason, even before I started
writing songs and playing outand everything like that, I
always put down singer.
I don't know what it was, but Iwas like I'm going to do it,
(05:33):
it's going to happen, and sothat's me, that's.
It's just always been in mybrain.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
You know, and you've created such a name for yourself
because we see you ontelevision, we're hearing a lot
about you.
I know Channel 9 here locallydid just a great, great thing
with you Just getting out there.
How about your first trip toNashville?
Can you tell me a little bitabout that?
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Oh, I just love Nashville.
I actually went with my mom ona trip when I was 12 years old
and we went and did all thesightseeing and everything,
because I always told my mom Iwas like I'm going to be a
musician and I want to go toNashville, and we got Goo Goo
Clusters, which all-timefavorite they're so good.
(06:28):
But I went down to Nashvillewithin the last it was, I think
last year or the year before, Ithink it was the year before and
I was so blessed to be a partof a private country music event
where I was a featuredperformer and I got to perform
for a bunch of radio stationsand I just had the best time.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Was that the country radio seminar?
Speaker 2 (06:50):
It was Well so.
I performed there as well.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
This was.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Charlotte McCoy's music row live.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Oh yes, absolutely.
And Charlotte, I know her verywell, obviously, and I'm hoping
to be out at the ACMs coming up.
We'll do our broadcast livefrom there.
But Charlotte is just awonderful person.
God love her.
Have you been to her ranch, herfarm, have you?
Speaker 2 (07:11):
seen her.
I never have.
I would love to.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Absolutely.
I mean, I see pictures and I go.
This lady, she's just livingthe life.
She's been through a lot, butshe loves helping artists like
you and it's definitely a goodchoice.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
She's just an amazing person.
I really look up to her.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Absolutely.
She could.
She can put you in the rightdirection too, if you know what
I mean.
She could.
You know, don't do this, but dothis.
She knows, she knows the biz,and there's no doubt about that.
What about your songwriting,sydney?
Tell me a little bit about you.
Know how that comes about.
Your creative process.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Well, I write about life experiences, I write about
heartbreak, I write abouthappiness.
I feel like heartbreak isalways kind of the one that it
draws out the best emotions, Ithink because it's so intense.
And I actually have a new songthat comes out tonight at
midnight.
It's called you can't forgetabout me, and it's a song about
(08:08):
heartbreak.
It's a song about a breakup,but it's kind of a cheeky twist
on it I love that.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Does it sound a little bit like this?
You don't mind if I play just alittle bit of it, do you go for
it?
All right, here we go.
This is it, sydney irving, andgive you a little taste of what
she's talking about.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Here we go.
If I turned right on this road,I'd drive by your house and it
doesn't matter much.
But that's what my mind does,and y'all wonder sometimes how
you think of me.
All the memories, good andwholesome, do they bleed?
(08:51):
Well, go pretend you don'tremember me.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
We promised friends one thing will never be Because
we both want sincere apologies.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
But however hard you try, you can't forget about me.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
Wow, wow, wow, wow.
So is that hitting radiostations?
Are you sending it to radio?
It's dropping tonight atmidnight, so you know, that is
so cool.
You've got to be so pumped, butit's not the first time you've
done that.
I mean you've been putting outmusic for a little bit.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
I have been.
I I recorded my first albumwhen I was 14.
And that was because I hadwritten all these songs and my
family was like, well, if you'regoing to do music, you might as
well just learn how to do it bydoing it right.
So I booked a session at astudio in Syracuse called More
(10:00):
Sound and I did all the songs inone day.
I just did them all live me andmy guitar and picked the best
take.
But that song in particular wasrecorded down in Nashville,
tennessee, and I got to workwith just the most amazing band
of musicians and producer andengineer and everything.
So I'm so thrilled about it andthank you so much for playing
(10:24):
it and giving a little sneakpeek.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Oh yeah, absolutely Tell me what.
What is it like you as anindependent artist, you head to
Nashville, you want to get somemusicians.
I mean, how do you do that?
Do you put an ad out there?
Or do you just go to a studioand say this is what I want to
do?
How much is it going to cost,and who can I get to play with
me?
How does that work?
Speaker 2 (10:46):
So in this case I was so blessed because actually
Sharla put together the band andshe knows the great players and
just absolutely amazing peopleand great people to work with.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Absolutely.
And I heard a steel.
Did I hear a steel guitar inthat?
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Well, there's no steel guitar, but there are.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
So many guitar layers .
I just love it.
I'm a huge guitar fan.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
So I was so excited about how it turned out.
Is guitar the only instrumentyou play?
I'm self-taught at the ukuleleand I was goofing around with
the banjo.
I learned Led Zeppelin going toCalifornia, but that was as far
as my banjo career took me.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
You know, I mean, as we talk here, we talk about Tom
Petty, but then again we talkabout Taylor Swift and we talk
about country music.
It seems like you're wellversed in a lot of different
genres, or you're bringing itall together.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Well, thank you.
Growing up, my family playedeverything, so it was rock, it
was pop, it was country.
Obviously, I love country music.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I love the storytelling in country music I
don't know how many peoplereally know this and the fact
that you are from the area herein the Northeast central New
York area.
Can we talk about some of theawards?
I know it was the 2024 BandAlbum of the Year at the ISSA
Awards with the songwriters.
(12:23):
That is pretty cool.
And what does winning an awardmean to you, especially this
early in your career?
Speaker 2 (12:30):
It means a lot.
It means a lot that peoplewould take the time to listen to
the music and then put in avote for it.
You know, like that's big time.
So I appreciate it so much andit's such an honor to even be
recognized.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
And you get recognized here locally with the
Syracuse area music awards.
We get the sammies.
Are we going to see you therein a couple of weeks?
Speaker 2 (12:52):
well, so this year I didn't release a record I'm
working on one but I might popin yeah, you should, I would
love.
Speaker 1 (12:59):
Are you gonna be there?
Oh yeah, yeah, I gotta do someof the um.
I forgot I think I'm presentingthe country award.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
And nice, nice Well, I'll see you there.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
And we did the.
I hosted, not hosted, but I waspart of the press conference
that they had just a couple ofweeks ago.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
I did see that.
That was awesome.
You did a great job.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Did you see me shaking at the podium?
I had too much coffee.
It was too early in the morningand I had too much coffee and
I'm like, oh my God, oh my God,oh my God.
I was like bouncing off thewalls.
Well, it's better than fallingasleep.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Yeah well, that's true.
Speaker 1 (13:32):
That's true.
So you're endorsed by BreedloveGuitars.
So, and how did that come aboutalready, which is cool and what
does it mean to you as anartist to have this partnership?
I mean, you get yourself whatI'm sure they supply guitar.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Yeah Well, breedlove Guitars.
I've been playing for a longtime now and it's the only
acoustic guitar that I play outat my shows.
I just love their guitars somuch.
They're just incredibleinstruments, and I have one main
guitar that I bring everywhere.
It's like my safety blanket.
And well, it was a few yearsago.
(14:13):
I made a video out on the iceon a lake in upstate New York
and it was 22 degrees.
I put it up on YouTube andBreedlove saw it and they were
like anybody who's willing tobring our guitar out in 22
degree weather and play a song.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
You got to do what you got to do.
I mean I think that'sphenomenal.
So you've had the opportunityto play some of the bigger
stages.
You've done a little bit inNashville I know you did with
Sharla and it's so cool to getin front of people that could
change your life.
You talk to the radio people,you talk to the program
directors.
But what is it like for you towalk into a radio station at 6am
(14:57):
in the morning because whatthey call a radio tour, and you
got to be wide awake and you'vegot to, you know, be the best
you can be.
What is that?
An exciting feeling for you.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
It's absolutely exciting.
It's pure adrenaline becauseyou have a certain amount of
time on the air and you have toremember to include all your
points.
But it's so cool.
I love getting to meeteverybody and I love getting to
talk to people who are realmusic lovers, you know, like
yourself.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Exactly, I love it.
I love it, I, you know.
And just because I work in thecountry format, I love all kinds
of music.
It depends on my mood, itdepends what the weather's like
that day.
You never know what I'm goingto listen to.
You know it gets it, and Iwould imagine you do the same
thing.
It's just kind of bounce around.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
Absolutely.
I'm a big album person, so I'llget really into an album and
I'll play it, and play it, andplay it, and then I'll move on
to another album and play it,and play it, and play it.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Yeah, so that's what I call the deep tracks, though
you go a little bit further.
I mean, yeah, you might have asingle that's on there, but you
want to go further.
You want to hear what else ison that album, which is pretty I
agree.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
I think I love because an album is made to be
an album, so when you listen toit in its entirety, there's
entirety, there's a flow to itand I think there's something
really special and magical aboutthat it is now.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
How do you feel Right now, at this point in your
career?
You make a lot of your owndecisions, am I correct to say
that?
But if you're with a majorlabel, I don't know if you'd be
able to make a lot of thosedecisions.
Do you want to stay being whoyou are now Working with?
Sharla is great.
She's definitely got theknow-how and, like I mentioned
(16:39):
moments ago, minutes ago, thatshe'll point you in the right
direction.
But sometimes you get with abigger company, the corporate,
the label.
They're going to say, no,you're going to do this, you're
going to do that.
I mean, I've heard it both ways.
How do you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (16:52):
For me, my team is totally open to conversations.
As of right now, I release allmy own music and I think there's
something really cool aboutthat, because the digital age
allows you to do that.
You know, you can be an artistand not have a label behind you
and you can still release yourmusic and get out and play shows
, and so right now, that's whatI'm doing, no matter what, I'm
(17:14):
still releasing my music andplaying shows.
But there's alwaysconversations that can happen.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
Yeah, exactly, and I think you're on the edge of
those conversations.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Thank you so much.
You're very kind.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
No, I'm just being honest because I've seen you
perform.
You know I've been out at a lotof these shows.
I know I've seen you, I've donepresents on stage and I've seen
you in the audience.
And you know, I think we saweach other at the fair here not
too long ago.
Speaker 2 (17:40):
That's right at the Lainey Wilson show.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
Yes, it was the Lainey show.
Was that phenomenal or?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
what she just knows how to put on a show.
She's awesome.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
She just got engaged.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
I saw that today.
I was on my Instagram and I sawthe pictures.
I was like, wow, that's amazingit.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
I saw the pictures I was like, wow, that's amazing,
it is amazing, it is amazing.
And that show maybe you couldspeak a little bit better about
this, because you're on stageprobably a lot more than I am,
even though I do a lot of that.
But being at the Laney show andgetting on that stage at the
fair and looking out and seeingnothing but people Swear to God,
I could walk off that stage andwalk on heads as far as I could
(18:18):
see.
What's that feeling like foryou as an artist when you get on
stage and you see that?
Speaker 2 (18:24):
I love that.
I think that's just so cool.
It's cool that people come outto the shows.
Her crowd was huge.
It was absolutely huge.
That's my dream to play to acrowd like that and get to hop
on a stage and do the musicthing.
Speaker 1 (18:43):
Right, right, just to see that's got to pump you up.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
Absolutely.
It's one of my favorite things.
I love writing and creating andI love getting up on stage.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Do you, sydney?
Do you remember the first songyou ever wrote?
Speaker 2 (18:56):
I do, so you can't hear it anywhere.
But I did a summer camp at thered house in Syracuse and so it
was rock camp and so basicallyat the rock camp for anyone who
doesn't know you go to the campand there's all these different
(19:17):
kids and they put groupstogether and they make like a
couple bands of kids and so eachone has like a drummer, a bass
player, a guitar player and asinger or something or keyboard
keyboardist, and you write threesongs and at the end of the
camp perform your three songsand your friends and family can
(19:39):
come and watch.
So I went to this camp and Iwas like I'll write a song, you
know whatever.
So I went home and I wrote asong and I brought it in the
next day and I was like, guys, Iwrote a song and they were like
cool, so we put the drums andbass and keyboards to it and so
(20:01):
at the, the final concert at theend of the camp, I don't think
I told my parents that I wasgonna sing a song or I wrote a
song.
I was just like, yeah, it'sgonna be cool, you should come,
and I think I was 11 or 12.
So they came and my guitarteacher at the time, lauren
Krzykowski, who is a good friend, and we still played together.
And his wife came and it cameto the time where I was going to
(20:27):
play my song and I don't knowwhy I thought this was a good
idea, but I wore socks andsandals.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
I thought it was going to be my thing.
It was a bad idea, but there'spictures.
So I stepped up to themicrophone and I played my song
and then that was it.
That was it Wow.
And the concert ended and my dadand mom were like what just
happened, and my guitar teacher,Lauren, at the time whenever I
(20:56):
went to lessons I didn't talk, Iwas a very, very shy kid and he
was like I didn't know, youtalked, I guess you sing now.
He was like we're going to dothat now, and so I've been
singing ever since.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
What was the name of it?
Speaker 2 (21:09):
It was a song called Don't you Dare.
Don't you Dare, and it wasabout a breakup which I'd never
experienced, but I listened toenough music about heartbreak
and watched enough movies that Imade up a scenario.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
If you could perform anywhere in the world, where
would that be, Cindy?
Speaker 2 (21:30):
That's hard, Honestly .
I would love to go to Europeand perform.
That would be so fun.
I really want to play at RedRocks.
I feel like a lot of people saythat, but that's such an iconic
venue.
I want to play the Ryman.
That would be awesome.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
Well, I can see that happening pretty soon.
I mean, get yourself toNashville and get out there and
do that and hopefully next weekyou know when I'm sitting I'm
going to the Ryman.
Next week we have an eventgoing on, the country radio
seminar.
So we get to go to the Rymanand have lunch and all of the
(22:08):
Warner Music Group, they they dothe whole, the whole lunch with
all their artists, which ispretty cool.
So they all come out and theysing one or two songs.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
Wow, that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
That's pretty cool, pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Do you know who's going to be there?
Speaker 1 (22:22):
Uh, I do.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Cool, cool.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Dierks Bentley, I don't know, there's so many, um,
I I'd have to look it up.
I can, I can let you know, butthere is a long list of brothers
, osborne, dierks, bentley, justall of the most of their
artists Keith Urban, vince, gill.
I can go on and on.
And then what they do is theycome out and, like Dierks has
got a new song dropping atmidnight tonight as well.
(22:49):
I'm sure he's going to playthat next week.
You know it's all the radio,people hear it and yeah that's
amazing.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
Do you have it's called?
She hates me.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Go ahead.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Oh, that's a good Valentine's day.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Exactly what do you think they're putting it out
tonight and tomorrow'sValentine's day and it's called
she hates me.
I love it.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
What were you going to say?
I'm sorry, oh, I was going tosay do you have a favorite place
to go when you go to Nashville?
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Do?
I have a favorite place.
I like to get out of town.
I like to go to, like, thestation inn, uh, which is on the
outskirts.
You get, you get out a littlebit and nashville has become
it's a great, great, great city.
But you and I both know so manypeople go to nashville and
there's certain areas whereeverybody congregates.
You go down on broadway wheretootsies is and all you know
(23:38):
jack's barbecue and you get thestage.
You get all those.
It's mobbed down there.
If you're going to go down thereyou have to go down there like
maybe 11 or 12 early in the dayand you still hear the music.
But if you wait till night itgets crazy.
It turns into a bacheloretteparties and all this crazy stuff
going on and it's just you know.
(23:59):
But if you you want to, youneed to get out of town.
You need to go to places likethe station in.
I have never been to theBluebird, but I got an invite
from an artist to attend theirshow at the Bluebird next week.
So I don't know if I'm going togo or not because I have so
many other things going on, butit was nice of her to send an
invite.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
I think that's a must go.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
You know, I'm kind of thinking about that.
Have you ever been there?
Speaker 2 (24:25):
I want to play there, so bad, that's another place I
would absolutely love to play.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
It's a goal, we have a goal to get you on the stage
at the rhyman and to get youinto the bluebird okay, yeah,
I'll be talking about you.
Next week we'll see what we cando, but charla charla's got a
lot of say in that as well, soabsolutely yeah I see ron ray is
on here.
Uh r you know Ron?
Hi, ron, ron is awesome.
(24:51):
He is awesome.
What do you want, your fans?
Speaker 2 (24:59):
to know about you.
I want my friends to know thatat the end of the day, I
appreciate all that they dolistening to my music and coming
out to the shows and hangingout because I think what is so
special about the people whoI've gotten to meet through
music is that they're musiclovers and they love lyrics.
(25:20):
For me, the lyrics are the mostimportant part, so I love lyric
lovers and all the people whoI've gotten to meet.
They're always like big intolyrics.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Because it's about their lives.
It's about them.
If you have a song and theylisten to it and they go my God,
she's singing about me.
I went through that type ofbreakup or this happened to me,
or I mean, that's what you know.
That's what country music is.
It touches your life, it's.
It's songs about real life,even though maybe you haven't
(25:54):
experienced some of that.
But you've seen it, you'veheard it.
You know what I mean.
So you write a song about it.
Next thing you know it's like,wow, they're singing about me
and if you can make thatconnection, it's you've got a
forever fan.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
So I agree.
Well, I always feel like music.
Once it's released, it'stotally just for everybody else
to take their interpretation ofit and connect it to their lives
, and there's something sospecial about when you can
release a song and someone canrelate to it with what they're
going through.
I think that's so beautiful,because people aren't all that
(26:33):
different.
Speaker 1 (26:34):
No, no, that's right, that's true.
Tell me about you had theopportunity to open up for
Martina McBride and Chris Youngand Jesse McCartney.
Tell me a little bit aboutthose experiences and how did
you get involved with that.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Well, that was at Speedy Fest in binghamton and
it's such a cool festival andI'm so blessed to have had those
opportunities.
Just absolutely amazing artiststhat I love their music and
they just know how to put on anincredible show.
We, my band and I performed.
We opened up for chris young,which was so cool.
(27:09):
He is just a legend, you knowand he's got such amazing music.
Martina McBride was so specialbecause it was during, kind of
like everything was opening backup and so I didn't get a chance
to talk to her, but I wasreally just totally floored
(27:30):
because she allowed me to sitside stage while she performed.
One of her people came over andthey said, hey, if you would
like to sit side stage, martinasaid that that's okay and I was
like, absolutely, and I got towatch her perform from side
stage.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
And what do you watch for when you watch somebody
like a Martina by the way, I'vehad her on the podcast.
If you go back a little bit,you'll see the interview and
it's pretty cool but what do youwatch for as an artist, a newer
artist, and you're watchingsomebody like a Martina McBride,
what is it that you're watchingfor?
Speaker 2 (28:07):
I like to watch how she moves on stage.
I like to watch the way thatshe speaks to the audience
between songs.
She's got a very eloquent waywith words and everybody
watching her is just like eyesglued to her.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
She's such a star and what a voice, my dad, or a
little woman, a big voice, justjust golden.
Did you meet her husband, john?
Speaker 2 (28:35):
I did not know.
It was like everything was verylike yeah, go to the stage
player set and just make sure Imean, obviously I mean she's a
performer, so she's taking careof her health and making sure
that she doesn't get under theweather.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
Yeah, no, exactly.
If you do go to another MartinaMcBride show, more than likely
behind the soundboard that'll beher husband.
Oh, really, yeah.
Yeah, Not kidding, it's notabout me, it's about you.
But another trip to Nashville.
We went to Martina's house.
We had get this, we had whatthey call martinis with Martina.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
Wow, that's so fun.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
And it was so cool because we were able to hang out
at the house, hung out aroundthe pool.
Her husband, john, has one ofthe biggest Beatles collections
you'll ever see.
He took us down into thebasement and it was just all
Beatles, the records, albumafter album after album.
Just crazy, crazy, wow yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Beatles stuff is pretty sought after, so that's
yeah he's got really collection.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Yeah, I'm sure you know doesn't just let anybody
down there, but it's a wholedifferent event which is kind of
crazy.
You said your parents have askating rink.
Speaker 2 (29:54):
Yeah, black Mamba skate park, like the snake, and
it was opened up.
I grew up all around it.
So my mom tells me a story allthe time that when I was little,
I was like little little, likethree years old and I wanted to
play Barbie dolls and the boyswho would come to the skate park
, they would play Barbies withme on the ramps.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
So you're talking and not a roller skating, it's.
You got the ramps, the flipsand the all the extreme sports.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
So it's both.
Now we have a roller rink andwe have a skate park now.
But, it started as a very smallskate shop with some ramps in
the back room.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
How very cool, were you into extreme sports at all.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
No, not even close.
I tried to skateboard and thatwas it.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
I tried.
Speaker 2 (30:46):
No, tony Hawk, absolutely not.
Well, I got into guitar.
I couldn't hurt my hands.
No, exactly.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
And yet, look where you are now and you're doing
very well.
But, uh, yeah, I married intothe family of Dave Mara, who, uh
, was the BMX bike rider.
He's no longer with us but, uh,he has the more the extreme
sports on, more gold medals thananybody holds.
All the records for that, butit was great.
That's why I was asking yeah,he's got his own.
(31:14):
Well, he's gone now, butthere's a park named after him,
north Carolina, which is prettycool.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Oh, that's so nice.
Speaker 1 (31:21):
Pretty cool, yeah, pretty cool stuff.
So where do you see yourself infive years?
Talk to me.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
I see myself playing lots of shows.
I want to play all the time Ialready am, but I could totally
play more and I want to releaselots of music.
I actually am writing a lotright now and I can't wait to
get back in the studio.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
I love that.
And how do you handle criticism?
Because you know you and I bothknow whether it's doing what I
do or doing what you do.
You know there's a lot of thereknow whether it's doing what I
do or doing what you do.
You know there's a lot ofthere's everybody thinks there's
an expert.
Some people will say you suck.
Other people are going to sayyou're great.
How do you handle criticism?
Speaker 2 (31:59):
I think the biggest thing is to look at it and say
music is totally subjective youknow, so some people are going
to like it, some people aren'tgoing to like it.
It's the same way that somepeople like, so some people are
going to like it, some peoplearen't going to like it.
It's the same way that somepeople like ketchup and some
people like mustard.
You know, it's just kind ofwhat it is.
I do think that when you havelike music that you write and
(32:23):
you put so much heart into it,definitely is it's really close
to your heart.
So if someone isn't totally thekindest about, it, it does hurt
your feelings a little bit, butyou have to look at it like it's
totally subjective and it's notcool for people to be mean.
But you know, all you can do isjust put niceness into the
world and and hope that you getit back.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
If you could collaborate with anybody.
I know I'm asking a lot ofquestions, but I feel I think
this is so interesting If youcould collaborate with anybody.
I know I'm asking a lot ofquestions, but I think this is
so interesting.
If you could collaborate withanybody, who would that be?
Speaker 2 (32:57):
Can I say Post Malone , yes, I was kind of hoping you
would.
Post Malone or Midland, I loveMidland's music.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
Oh yeah, I did see that you love Midland.
This is funny because anotherNashville trip you've had a
chance to hang out with theseguys, right.
Speaker 2 (33:19):
Yeah, I got tickets and VIP passes for my 21st
birthday and there's a wholestory that goes along with it.
I've just been such a huge fanof them forever.
Speaker 1 (33:31):
I am a big fan, go ahead.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
Yeah, their songwriting is amazing.
So, anyways, for the past fewyears, I always include one of
their songs in my set list, asong called 14 Gears, which is
one of my all-time favorites.
But, fast forward.
We're at the Midland VIP eventand I introduced myself to the
lead singer, mark, and I sharedthat I'm a singer songwriter too
(33:54):
and I cover some of their songswhen I play out.
And he looked right at me andhe said, well, why don't you
come up and do one?
Then and I thought my heart wasgoing to jump right out of my
chest.
I jumped up on stage and theyhanded me a beautiful guitar.
We got right down to businessand the Midland boys backed me
up and we played 14 yearstogether.
Speaker 1 (34:13):
Oh my God, how nervous were you.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
Absolutely shaking in my boots.
I was running on pureadrenaline, but it was the most
surreal moment yet.
And just when I thought Icouldn't get any bigger, the
guys from Midland appeared to beblown away at my arrangement of
their song 14 Gears and Marksaid hey, do you want to come up
later tonight at the big showand play it again with the full
band?
I'm just so grateful to them.
(34:38):
They're such kind and wonderfulpeople.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
And they are.
But the first time I met themnot really knowing much about
them, it was in Nashville Gotinto an elevator and these guys
got in the elevator and they'reall dressed weird, I said
they're looking out of the 70s.
you know the bell bottoms andall this stuff.
I'm going, oh my God, who arethese guys?
Then, all of a sudden, we're atthe show and they go ladies and
(35:03):
gentlemen, midland.
And I go, oh my God, those arethe guys I was just in the
elevator with, going, oh my,what are they?
Who are these guys?
The way they were dressed, youknow what I'm talking about.
Anybody that's seen Midland.
They're a little different butthey're awesome man.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
They're awesome.
I think they're some of themost stylish people out there.
Speaker 1 (35:26):
Yeah, they made that known.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (35:28):
Which is pretty cool.
So anyways, you know this isgreat that we've had this
opportunity to sit and talk alittle bit tonight, but you know
you don't see yourself movingto Nashville anytime soon.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
We're talking about it.
I would absolutely love to.
It would be a dream.
Speaker 1 (35:45):
When you say we're talking about it, is that like
the family, your dad andeverybody, yeah, my team, my
family, the whole group of them.
Yeah, that's cool, that's cool.
Now tell me a little bit aboutyour team.
For example, who does yoursocials?
Do you do that?
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Yep, so I'm an independent artist right now, so
I run my social media and myteam is so wonderful and so
helpful in putting all thepieces together.
But I run my social media andso that's me, so if you comment,
it's me.
Commenting right back.
Speaker 1 (36:16):
I love it.
I love it.
That's good.
And do you welcome people tochime in on Facebook and maybe
Twitter and TikTok if somebodyleaves a comment that you
welcome that correct.
Speaker 2 (36:29):
Absolutely.
I do a live stream every weekon Tuesdays at 7.30 pm, eastern
time, and I get on and playthree songs.
It's called A Sides, b Sidesand Covers.
So I play two of my songs andthen I put one of my favorite
cover songs at the end and wetalk about whatever people want
(36:51):
to talk about.
Last week or this past week, wetalked about dessert.
I'm a huge dessert lover, so wetalked about where the best
half moon cookies come from allright where.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
I think Harrison Bakery uh, I'm gonna go with
Gaddis oh okay, oh okay, gattis.
Bakery.
Speaker 2 (37:10):
Green Hills makes a mean.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
Green Hills makes a mean.
Donuts and cookies.
You're right there.
You're right there.
They're like out of the way forme.
So it's easier for me to eithergo to Harrison or I can scoot
over to Gattis Bakery.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
I mean sometimes you got to take the trip.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
You got to.
I know.
I know what else do you like todo in Central New York If
you're not playing music.
What else do you do?
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Well, I don't know if this is like a Central New York
thing, but I've gotten reallyheavily into making smoothies,
like I've made it an art.
So I made a strawberry smoothiethe other day and it turned out
very good.
I also made a cherry almondsmoothie, which was pretty good.
I find these recipes online.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
I was going to ask you to get them, okay.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
Well, I tried to stray the other day and I was
like I'm going to make a peachsmoothie.
It was a disaster so bad.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
They sound so good, though I mean strawberry.
I get a strawberry smoothiefrom Panera every once in a
while, but they're so good.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
That's why I started, because I'm kind of a
cheapskate.
So I was like I don't want topay that money, I'll just make
it myself.
Speaker 1 (38:21):
No, that's cool.
That's cool and you find therecipes online.
That's a great hobby.
Speaker 2 (38:27):
It's kind of a nerdy hobby.
Speaker 1 (38:31):
I it's a great hobby.
So you know, it's kind of anerdy hobby, but I don't think
it's nerdy, I think it's healthy, I think it's cool it's doing
that.
Do you work out at all oranything like that?
I do work out, I do.
Speaker 2 (38:37):
Like if you do the videos online and you just
follow along with the video.
I do a thing called B Shred andthe gentleman that runs it, his
name is Vince and he's alwayslike, yeah, pushups, and you're
like, yeah, I love pushups.
Speaker 1 (38:52):
That's crazy, but it's good stuff, definitely good
stuff.
Uh, sydney Irving has been withus here tonight on skip happens
and, uh, we're actuallyneighbors and I'm so proud to
say that I know her becauseshe's from upstate New York show
.
That's where this podcast is,that's where I'm on the air
every afternoon on the Wolf herein Syracuse.
(39:12):
So it's good to you know, wehave great talent in this area.
We have so much great talentand you've been recognized for
that.
So, and and you're continuingto grow, I can pretty soon I
know it's going to be, you'll bein our powers on radio, and
when I say a power, those arelike the best songs.
There's like five or six ofthose and they rotate every few
(39:33):
hours.
So that means you made it Like,for example, you could be in
that category with Post MaloneJust saying.
Speaker 2 (39:42):
Did you go to?
Speaker 1 (39:43):
the Post Malone show.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
I did go to the Post Malone show, Actually fun fact.
The drummer that's touring withPost Malone.
His name is Phil Lawson, and heactually played the drums on my
new single.
You Can't Forget About Me, andmy past two releases as well.
How cool, how cool.
Speaker 1 (40:20):
Oh, so cool and he's such a talent, so it was so cool
to get to see him rock out onstage with Post Malone.
Post Malone goes out on concerton a on a concert tour that
they they'll take some of thesemusicians with them.
They need a drummer, they needa guitar player, they need and
that's when they're not doingthat, they're doing stuff in the
studio.
That's how they make theirmoney.
So that is pretty cool.
That is you know.
Speaker 2 (40:44):
Yeah, it was so cool he.
He posted on his Instagram I'mgoing on tour with Posty.
I was like that's so cool, likeon his Instagram, going on tour
with posters, like that's socool, like that's so awesome,
and it's.
It just goes to show you that,like Nashville, it's where the
pros are.
You know, like I, I just can'tbelieve, like there's so many
talented people in that townit's such an honor to work with
any of them.
Speaker 1 (41:04):
What was the name of the studio that you went into to
cut the air?
Speaker 2 (41:07):
It's called Love Shack.
Speaker 1 (41:09):
Love Shack.
Was that up on Music Row Cool?
Speaker 2 (41:14):
Just off, yeah.
Speaker 1 (41:15):
Yeah, very cool.
You had the best people withyou too.
Sydney Irving, so good to talkto you, so good to see you.
I'm kind of all over the placetonight.
I'm all giddy.
It just is, you know, it's justjust is I, you know it's
because we're neighbors and Ithink, oh my God, she, we know
each other, we really know eachother.
I really got to be on my A gameand when I think like that it
(41:38):
doesn't really happen, I knowI've seen you on the boat.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Yeah Well, thank you so much for having me today.
It's truly an honor to talkwith you tonight.
Speaker 1 (41:47):
Oh, absolutely.
Well, it goes right back to you.
So, and you know we've got toget together, we've got to do
some radio stuff.
I'd love to put you in front ofsome of the Wolf listeners.
The radio station is kickingass, so you know, to get you out
there.
I mean that would be so cool.
We'll have to talk about that.
We have a lot of great showscoming up, and do you know
Muscadine bloodline they'recoming.
(42:08):
Do you know that?
Yes, I follow them on Instagram.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
I love their music.
Speaker 1 (42:16):
Yep, yep Plus.
I had them on the podcast.
No way, yeah.
So look at.
You know you get bored oranybody that's watching this.
If you go to skip happens onYouTube and just go back through
the videos, let me see that.
You'll see Martina, you'll seeMuscadine, nate Smith, laney
Wilson, yeah.
So you know, like I said in thebeginning, that's what I love
about this, because it's just aconversation and whether it's,
(42:41):
you know, independence, whetherit's the big stars, I signed
with major contracts.
Speaker 2 (42:49):
we get them all on Skip Happens, so that's cool and
that's awesome.
I was yeah, I was watching theother night.
I didn't see I.
Which ones did I watch?
Speaker 1 (42:57):
Just the other night, I'm nervous.
No, no, don't be nervous.
Um just the other night I hadum Eden, uh, delia.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
Eden Delia.
I watched Eden.
I watched Lainey Gardner.
Speaker 1 (43:10):
Lainey Love Lainey.
Yeah, she's coming back on, bythe way, oh cool, and we'll let
everybody know the exact datewhen I firm it up.
But yeah, that, and yeah,there's so many good people out
there.
Lainey Gardner was justphenomenal and now she is signed
to a major label.
Speaker 2 (43:29):
Wow, good for her.
Speaker 1 (43:31):
Yeah, and she's doing a showcase next week, so I'll
get the chance to, you know,check it out and see, see how it
goes so that's amazing.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
I love her voice.
Speaker 1 (43:39):
Oh my God, so good, so good.
Yeah, Just look through anybodywatching this, or you.
You can go through all that.
There's so many videos on therenow.
So that's what I'm going to doall night.
I'm just going to be watchingall of them.
Just make sure you subscribe.
I need to get my subscribers up.
That's what I need to do.
(44:00):
But uh, Sydney Irving, you'reawesome Young lady.
You are such a talent, so muchahead of you.
It's a great road.
It's a lot of work, but I cansee you doing it all and I know
someday we're going to go.
I knew her when she lived inMarcellus.
I know this.
You know Jennifer went toschool.
I'm looking at a note.
Hang on and see if I can bringit up here.
I went to school with your dad.
Speaker 2 (44:19):
Oh, no way, Hi Jennifer.
Speaker 1 (44:21):
Yep, yep.
And let's see here, of course,ron.
Where are you, ron?
She's one, one, great, greattalent, no doubt.
Let's see what else.
I'm clicking through thesereally quick here, awesome.
And then let's see here.
It's funny because I can.
(44:43):
Got to run, we'll check.
I have no, oh, okay, all right,cool, let's see.
You know, even with this, youmight get a new fan too, or two
or three, or four Amazing Thankyou, you know what I mean.
Yeah, absolutely, Thanks forjoining us tonight.
Before we let you go, where cansomebody look at your music?
Let's say they're not from thearea and they go.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
I just want to say thank you again for having me.
It's been a pleasure talkingwith you today, and you can find
more about me at my website,sydneyirvingmusiccom.
I'm on Instagram, Facebook,YouTube, TikTok at
sydneyirvingmusic.
Speaker 1 (45:21):
Just Google.
Just go to Google, type it in,google it up.
Yeah, google it up.
Sydney Irving, thank you againfor joining us.
I want you to stay right there.
Thank you for watchingeverybody and make sure you
check her out, check out hermusic and get to some of her
shows.
I'm sure you can find them allon the website.
So there you go.
Thanks for watching Skiphappens.
Skip Clark, your host.
(45:41):
Have a.
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