The Jack of All Trades
Today’s ALL RISE series focuses on Sym, a 23-year-old singer-songwriter from Kent. In this interview, the singer talks about her singing debut, her multiple skills and her artistry.
Words & Images by Audrey Damier
Picture this. In the Southbank sea of people, the silhouette of a young black girl stands out. The sky is cloudless so her blue shade outfit brings out her outstanding aura. For a moment, you’ve lost track of time. Her side bang, her baggy jeans, her long blue nails, and her customed air forces throw you back to a golden era: the ’90s. With the sun kissing her ebony skin, her overall energy shimmers. Now you’re questioning yourself. Who is she?
Her name is Sym. She’s a 23-year-old girl from Kent. Although she comes off as reserved, Sym doesn’t shy away from her dream. She wants to be an artist. A dream that she started taking seriously about two years ago. With more than one ace up her sleeve, she’s very likely to become one. The voice? She got it. The look? She got it. The talent? She got it. The only thing missing is the success, but you know what they say: Good thing comes to those who wait.
Sym’s encounter with music dates back to a time she can’t clearly remember. ‘I feel like I’ve always been able to hold a note’ she says to me. Nevertheless, with sparks in her eyes, she recalls the first time she ever trod the board. It was during middle school. For two years, she performed musicals like FAME or Hairspray. That’s where she made her singing, acting, and dancing debut. An unforgettable experience that gave her a first taste of the artistic world.
But it’s not just school that got her into music. Actually, it’s kind of a family thing. Back in the days, Sym’s father wanted to be a DJ. So, growing up she used to see him on his desk trying to do mixes and practice his skill during family parties. She admits that it definitely helped her reinforcing her music passion.
Although they both share similar music tastes, Sym built her own music repertoire. She mentions artists like The Internet or Kaytranada as her main influence. ‘Once I found them, I was like yeah okay I LOVE this sound’ she tells me. A sound that she would describe as ‘chill’ and made for ‘late night car driving’. The same feeling that she wants to procure with her music. Neo-soul, R&B, House, or Garage, Sym sees herself in every one of those genres.
Sym is quite versatile and it shows. With a crafted look from head to toe and a talent that she nurtures with her own means. This young woman is an all-rounder. As the conversation goes on, Mahla Axon (RISE co-founder) and I are in awe of her impressive skill set.
Not only does she design her own clothing, she also paints and used to film YouTube videos. On top of that, Sym recently bought her own keyboards. With a bit more training, she hopes to produce her own beat. ‘I’m pretty much self-taught, so most of the things I’ve learned is through the internet and mostly YouTube’ she adds.
Usually, the phrase ‘jack of all trades’ is followed by ‘master of none’. Well, when it comes to Sym it won’t be necessary. Her dedication to learning everything on her own shows her commitment to the industry. When I asked why she’s doing everything by herself, her response was ‘I want to be my own boss’. She then continued and said, ‘It’s just fun to learn more and it gives me more control’.
As a Media Studies graduate, Sym knows the importance of mastering social media. Through RISE’s online classes offered by Kyle Blackburn, she learned how to market herself and make it more entertaining. But she knows that’s not all there is, her artistry always comes first.
Sade, a great singer from the ’80s, and Sym have a lot in common. Both of them are British women of Nigerian origins. They’re both fashion-oriented and, more importantly, they both have this siren-like voice.
Now I won’t pretend that I know music better than an actual musicologist. But, years of listening to music, trained my ears. As you listen to some of Sym’s released songs, you can notice her excellent volume control and her ability to go from a low range to a medium one. A voice trait similar to artists in the like of Sade, Aaliyah or more recently Sabrina Claudio. Their siren-like voice creates a mood and ambience that compliment the production.
In her song called ‘Friday,’ you can tell right away that Sym fits into that category. On a neo-soul type beat produced by Mikal Riley, the young artist sings about a relationship that inspired her. ‘I saw everything fall apart into my broken heart’ she sings in a tender whispering voice. ‘
With more than 1000 listens, ‘Friday’ makes you want to sing along with her while sipping a glass of wine on a Saturday night. For someone who never took any singing lessons and just ‘randomly got into music’, Sym is showcasing a huge potential that cannot go unnoticed.
At the moment, Sym has not released anything new yet. ‘When I fall in love, I write great music but right now it’s a bit dry’ she jokingly admits. After the roller coaster year that has been 2020, the Kent artist hopes that 2021 will turn the tides. She definitely wants to release an E.P and is currently working with new producers.
Sym looks and music are like a travel back in time. The ’90s have been a golden era for black people and black music. R&B and Hip Hop dominated the charts and black creatives were at the forefront. In 2021 artists like Shay Lia, Ari Lennox or Mahalia are paving the way for a renewal of this beloved era. Young, black and gifted, it won’t be long before the 23-year-old singer joins the list.
