Meet Sy Smith | Recording Artist, Songwriter, Actor, Performer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sy Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sy, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
There are so many things that make me happy, but mainly, I find joy in the small things. Seeing a hummingbird drinking from a feeder in my backyard makes me happy. Being super silly with my husband makes me happy. Playing with our doggie Djinji makes me happy. Watching my people thrive in a world that has consistently set up roadblocks to success, that makes me happy. Spending time with family makes me happy. Dancing for no reason makes me happy. Running each morning makes me happy. And of course, making music, recording, creating sounds/experimenting with my voice and performing… all of those things make me extremely happy. Especially when I am able to experience the immediate gratification of watching someone in the audience connect with what I’m offering up musically in real time. There’s no joy like that for me!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a musician first, a vocalist second. I mention this because I think it gives context on my approach as an artist. It took me a long time to acknowledge that I am a singer because I was never the girl who stood in front of the mirror with a hairbrush imitating her favorite diva. But I’ve always been a noisemaker, a member of the band, a contributor to the overall sound of whatever I’ve been a part of…

To this end, I’m now comfortable saying I’m a recording artist with 5 albums under her belt and a new one on the way. If I have to categorize what I do (which I really dislike doing), I’d say that my music spans the continuum of soul to jazz – and anything that falls between those genres (and sometimes outside of those). So listeners will hear all kinds of elements in my songs: electronic, dance, funk, go-go, hip-hop, bebop and doowop. All of it.

I don’t limit myself creatively. I really enjoy exploring all of the sounds that I grew up on, those sounds that raised me. And perhaps that’s what sets me apart from some of my contemporaries. Since my career doesn’t revolve around radio play, I don’t feel obligated to stay in a box when I make music. I just go where I wanna go. I go where the spirits of my ancestors lead me. I go to where the melodies and rhythms feel good to me, feel REAL to me. Of course, I always hope that listeners will dig what I’m doing, and I suppose that’s the challenge… that’s the rub. I would love for everyone to love everything I do musically/artistically, but I don’t necessarily create art for the sake of external appreciation. I make music because I have to. I’m compelled to by a force much bigger than me.

I’ve learned so much in my 20+ year journey as a recording artist. Patience with the process has been the biggest lesson lately. I got so used to recording quickly, having fast turnarounds and doing things without involving too many people so I wasn’t relegated to anyone else’s schedules. Nowadays though, I’ve been doing some really exciting collaborations with other artists, writers, producers and as exciting as it is, it requires a lot of patience. I’ve also learned the value of simply being my authentic self in everything I do. Authenticity is liberation. And there’s no freedom like being who you are in everything that you do.

The Sy Smith people see on stage and hear on songs… she’s the same girl at home. For whatever that’s worth. As the lyrics from my song “Aquarius Rising” say “I stay cool under pressure when others may pop. I cherish tradition, but unorthodox-ed… yeah. I’m fascinated with the future unknown, experimental when I get into my zone.” That’s me in a nutshell. LOL!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh man! I’m an east coast transplant (born in NY and raised in/around Washington, DC), but I LOVE Los Angeles! So if a friend were visiting, here’s a list of things I’d probably do with them (or recommend they do) in no particular order:

• Go for a hike in one of LA’s magnificent parks! I live in West Adams, so I love visiting Kenneth Hahn Park off of La Cienega just north of Stocker. On a clear day when you get to the top, there are clear views that span from downtown LA to Beverly Hills to the ocean. You just can’t beat it. And it’s free! Like, what more can you ask for?

• Hit up a beach! I mean, of course! I love going to the beach on the hottest days of the year… midweek when they aren’t too crowded. From Zuma Beach to Playa del Rey to El Segundo… depending on what I’m in the mood for, any of these beaches will do. It’s also lots of fun to rent bicycles in Venice and take a leisurely ride up to Santa Monica to the pier and back down to as far as your legs will take you.

• Speaking of bicycles, I love taking friends cycling. I ride from my house in West Adams a few miles west to the Ballona Creek bike path and take that to Marina del Rey and then down to Manhattan Beach. Such a nice way to see a side of Los Angeles that isn’t really represented in film/tv.

• We gotta do the Baldwin Hills Overlook (sometimes called Culver City Stairs) too. Great exercise and great views at the top! The free activities in LA are unbeatable. Bonus points if a fruit stand vendor is set-up that day. Those mixed fruit salads sprinkled with Tajin and a fresh squeeze of lime are the tastiest fruit salads you’ll ever have and the best bargains in LA!

• Ok. I know my visiting friend is tired of all of this physical activity! LOL! We gotta eat at some point. I have a few places I love. Sky’s Tacos on Pico is one of them. Yummy Mexican-inspired food with a very soulful touch. Lots of vegan options too!

• If we feel like being fancy, I’d recommend Alta on Adams. Soul food with a really refined touch. And it’s in my neighborhood, which I love!

• Highly Likely is a great spot for breakfast and lunch and it’s also in my neighborhood right on Jefferson. As you may have noticed, I really like hanging out in my West Adams haunts… I tour SO much, so when I’m home I tend to be a homebody.

• I wouldn’t limit my friend’s visit to my neighborhood though. Nothing beats a rooftop view in LA. For DTLA, I’d recommend Cara Cara, Perch or The Rooftop at The Wayfarer. If you’re on the westside, I’d recommend Elephante in Santa Monica for a rooftop experience. And if you’re in Hollywood, check out The Highlight Room for a very Hollywood rooftop experience. Pro tip: Time your reservation so that it’s about 45 minutes before sunset. Watching the sky transition is one of the loveliest things to see in LA.

• So many great museums in LA too! LACMA and the Petersen Automotive Museum are probably my top two recs in this regard. LACMA is especially fun when they have afternoon music haps, like Latin jazz Saturdays! Check their website for all kinds of cool events though.

• I’d definitely take my friends for a stroll around the Leimert Park area of LA. Especially on a Sunday afternoon when the outdoor market is set up on Degnan Blvd. Lots of fantastic vendors selling everything from one-of-a-kind jewelry to custom African-inspired designs to fresh pressed juices to gourmet ice cream!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ll always recognize my mom and dad when it comes to naming people who have been directly involved with supporting my dreams and pushing me to achieve them. But I’d like to give a very special shoutout to my high school choir director – Dr. Barbara Baker of Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, MD. Dr. Baker saw something in me all those years ago that I didn’t even see in myself and she made sure to encourage me to see myself in spaces/places where girls like me were rarely seen. She encouraged me to audition for all kinds of choirs – countywide, statewide, NATIONwide. And she made sure I didn’t slack off. Little things like making me section leader, competing in solo/ensemble classical events, and making sure I participated in musical theater, even when the productions weren’t my cup of tea… There is no way I’d ever be the vocalist/performer I am if I didn’t have Dr. Baker at the helm of my musical matriculation.

Website: https://biglink.to/sysmith

Instagram: www.instagram.com/syberspace

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sysmithmusic

Youtube: youtube.com/sysmith69

Other: Here’s a direct link to my last album: https://fanlink.to/srwgc

Image Credits
Matthew Brandon, Mike Quain, Shawn Carter Peterson, Christopher Bell