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

Hi Sydney, what do you attribute your success to?
Authenticity

When it comes to the non-profit and with our music, if we weren’t completely authentic about who we are and where we are in our own mental health journeys, we most definitely wouldn’t be where we are today.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Was it easy? No. Was it worth it?…Is it still worth it? Yes.

Back in 2019, I traveled to 42 states with my family, sharing the message behind the nonprofit I started, called Be The Change Youth Initiative. Its focus is mental health advocacy and youth empowerment. While on the road, my brother and I started performing together. (I had been pursuing music separately a few years before this.) During one of our first shows in Austin, TX, Brayden decided to share a song he wrote about his struggles with depression and suicidal ideation. There was a middle-school student who approached me after the event saying she was encouraged by Brayden sharing his story cause it reminded her she wasn’t alone in her struggles. She attempted suicide two weeks prior to that show. After that moment, we knew we needed to pursue more of these conversations, share more of our stories.

During this time, I was actually in talks with a couple of producers in Nashville who had either recorded my past projects or were interested in producing new material. When I had conversations with them about writing songs that reflected doubt, the reality of mental health, suicide, they actually didn’t want to work with me anymore. And believe it or not, they haven’t been the only people in the industry who have turned us down. When you’re told “no” over and over again, your belief in self starts to diminish and for so long, I’ve been my worst enemy. I guess that’s one of the major struggles of being an artist. You put yourself out there, and sometimes, people won’t accept you for who you are and what you bring to the table. I’ve been on this long, painful journey of learning to not take those types of comments personally. And if people turn you down, that’s okay. You’ll eventually find your people who will champion you.

If I had listened to those voices, I wouldn’t still be doing music. I wouldn’t be writing the music that has healed me and continues to heal me. I wouldn’t be in schools, talking to students about my mental health struggles, creating safe spaces for them to share their stories if they feel led.

One of the stories that changed everything for me took place last September. After one of Be The Change Youth Initiative’s school presentations, a high-school student came up to me and shared a poem she had written about her sister who attempted suicide in front of her when she was eleven. After I read the poem, she looked at me and said she wanted me to write a song about her story and play it in front of adults so they know this is her, and her peers’ realities. Mental health is something that effects everyone and it should be talked about.

II’ve always wanted to use songwriting as a way to help others, but having someone blatantly say, “Share my story.”…that changed the game. I knew that is what I want to do for the rest of my life. As cliché as that sounds, I’ve healed knowing I’m helping people with what I love. Everyone’s struggling and if my art can be used in someone’s healing journey, that’s all I could ever want. To remind people they are loved. They’re not alone. That is, has always been, the goal and hope.

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.
There are several activities to do and places to visit in Chattanooga, TN, but I’m all about supporting my friends’ businesses, so…. Stop 1 – one of my favorite places to hang out is (be)caffeinated in Northshore. The coffee’s great, but the people are even better. Stop 2 & 3 – I’m all about food, so if you have time to stop by Mac’s Kitchen in Rossville, they’re phenomenal. Best Farm to Table experience. One of my other friend’s owns a burger pop-up called Smashboyz. Best smash burgers in the city!

I’m a big hiker and I feel like anyone that visits Chattanooga should checkout Sunset Rock or take a trip to the blue hole in Soddy Daisy. Best spot.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents

From starting a nonprofit to pursuing a music career, they’ve been my biggest advocates. In 2019, they sold our house in Portland, ME, my dad quit his dream job, and our family gave away 60% of what we owned to move into a RV and bring the nonprofit’s message to, what ended up being, 42 states! They’ve always believed in me and my brother and dropped everything in order to support us and our dreams for creating a more loving world in whatever way we can contribute. I’ll always be thankful.

Website: https://www.bethechangeyi.com

Instagram: Nonprofit 1) https://www.instagram.com/bethechangeyi/ Music 2) https://www.instagram.com/inthecompanyofwolvesindie/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeTheChangeYouthInitiative

Other: Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2FVDpZvMdWcowmQk8HyS1f?si=mWZo-VYgStOsSjYriTgbVQ

Image Credits
Kelly Lacy, Cara Cohn, and Jude Byrum

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