Syndey Sprague is a songbird out of Arizona with some serious pipes. Sure, every day life (especially dealing with political woes) isn’t as easy as it looks, but Sprague has channeled the woes of modern society into sweet croons of delicate indie prowess. Called “the Stevie Nicks of her time” by the Phoenix New Times, her EP Bad Patchwork is a mixed bag of recordings and is inspired by massive amounts of uncertainty, awkward relationships, wasted time, and the “fear of missing out”. Her songs are refreshingly relatable and full of angst in the best possible way.
Sprague lended her unique voice to universal themes like love, conflict, vengeance, and someone named “Steve”; Sprague followed up her last EP, Dark Cloud, with Bad Patchwork released under 80/20 Records. Read our interview below.
Tell me what Bad Patchwork means to you as a musician?
I named the EP Bad Patchwork because to me its random collection of songs that don’t really make any sense together. They were all written in different periods of my life and the songs are all produced in totally different styles. A friend of mine had been hand stitching album artwork for all the singles and I thought it just made sense that the EP is kind of like a poorly made quilt. None of the colors match and the stitching is bad but its art so it doesn’t matter. To follow that theme I made the album art (an actual quilt together) myself and it’s terrible but I love it.
I wrote ‘Uncomfortable’ about an obsessive crush I had on someone who wasn’t interested in me. He knew I liked him but made it pretty clear it wasn’t reciprocated by staying as far away from me as possible. He was playing in a band I was in at the time and I wrote the song as an attempt to get my feelings out in the open. It didn’t work but writing the song helped me work through those feelings and realize what I creep I had been about it.
Why did you sit on these songs? They’re so great. What was holding you back?
First of all, thank you! Honestly, procrastination. Generally when I release an EP or an album I like all of the songs to be about one time period or situation so that my emotions are compartmentalized into one physical thing. But all of these songs were kind of loose ends that never got recorded over the years for whatever reason. My original plan was to release one a month as singles in 2018 but I only ended up releasing ABOMB and Uncomfortable due to a lack of self motivation. Then in 2019 I met Mike from 80/20 records and he liked the idea of releasing the group of songs as an EP so we ran with it.
It’s extremely cathartic. I wrote “Watch You Go” when I was 14 (13 years ago), which was a chaotic time for me. I was growing and changing a lot and dealing with *romantic feelings* for the first time. This one is especially nostalgic for me and when I play it I can vividly remember how strong and bizarre all of my feelings were at that time. I had a crush on a close friend but I had no idea what to do about it if anything at all, and I was struggling to find my identity and make sense of attraction. I love being able to capture those moments in time and reflect on them later. Its cool to see how the meaning sometimes changes and I find new ways to relate to my younger self in my life now as an “adult”.
What has been the defining moment in your career thus far?
There have been a lot of defining moments but right now I would say touring has been the most life changing experience for me. It’s been incredible for me to get out of my comfort zone and play my songs for people all over the country. Its helped me realize how much music really does connect us all and at the end of the day that’s all it has ever been about for me. I grew up as an only child and I’ve always struggled with finding that connection, so when new people in places I’ve never been before hear my songs and can relate, it validates all of the work and money and years I’ve put into this. I love talking to people about the songs and how they can make sense of their own experiences through them. It truly feels like the meaning of life to me.
I would describe it as alternative/folk/pop. I’m heavily influenced by the 90s, emo culture, and pop music in general. I feel like you can hear a little bit of all of my influences in my music, which I love. I think it has the edge/raw emotion of alternative with the catchy sensibility of pop.
What have you been looking forward to since releasing Bad Patchwork?
I’ve been looking forward to the tour I just finished up with Danielle Durack, and releasing my next single “Steve”. At the end of December I’ll be recording my first full length album at my absolute dream studio (Hall Of Justice) in Seattle and I couldn’t be more excited about that.
