Meet SymbaSyd | Artist and Music Business Professional

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

Hi SymbaSyd, why did you pursue a creative career?
I grew up on the south side of Chicago in a beautiful African-American community filled with culture and artistic gems. Even the elementary school I went to (Arthur Dixon Elementary) was filled with Black art. The music program there gave me a healthy outlet after school. I’ll always be grateful for the passionate teachers/mentors that inspired me to keep creating and performing more purposefully and courageously.

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 would describe my music as rugged R&B. When I was younger, my grandmother would turn on the radio to a lot of instrumental Jazz and Blues radio stations. She’d ask me, “what’s it saying, Syd?” And I’d look at her crazy like, ”Nothing, grandma.” As I got older, I started to understand just how much music speaks even without words. Each note has an emotion to it almost as if it’s speaking right to you. That’s mostly how I create too. I go with what I feel the music is saying.

I grew up under very interesting circumstances. Throughout my childhood, my family and I cared for that same grandmother who was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Lou Gherig’s Disease). That entire experience opened my eyes to the fact that everything truly does happen for a reason. It gave me lessons and stories to tell with a vision of how I want/need to express it. I feel like God has so many mysterious ways of revealing what our purpose(s) is on Earth, and I can’t help but marvel at it every time.

After high school, I attended Belmont University to further my studies in the entertainment industry. Now, I work at The MLC where I help songwriters and music publishers on a daily basis. I love the work that I do, and it helps me understand the music business even more which further assists in my career as a music artist.

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.
My favorite spots in Nashville are:

Wings:
– Ghot Wingz
– Rocky’s

Night Spots:
– Suite 1225
– Flamingo
– Old Glory
– Lipstick Lounge
– Riddim N Spice (Rum Room)

Restaurants
– Shugga Hi Bakery and Cafe
– Monell’s
– Slim and Husky’s
– Southern V

Cool Spots:
– National Museum of African American Music

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?
I have quite a few people to thank for this adventure that I’m on and how I got here today.

– Thank You, God.
– My parents/grandparents for raising me and providing for me no matter what. They advocated for my success by any means and I will forever be grateful for this.
– Diane “Lil Sax” Ellis and Tony Smith for teaching me all I know about music.
– Orbert Davis and The Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Jazz Academy for teaching me improvisation; a skill I use in multiple aspects of my life.
– Cidney Grady, the best artist manager in the world.
– Fear Ear, the collective I am a part of who has become family to me.

Website: https://www.symbasyd.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/symbasyd/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneyevans1/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Symbasyd

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

Image Credits
@thephotojojo @he.films