It’s hard to think of an OurStage artist with more momentum right now than Sydney Wayser. After reaching the top-ten four times this past year, the eclectic singer/songwriter played the Starbucks Musicmakers competition and was featured in Paste, CMJ, and Relix magazines. But perhaps her biggest accomplishment via OurStage came when she played South By Southwest this past month, opening for Kaki King and Moby at Stubbs in Austin.
Check out this video from the event. Then read more about Sydney below from a recent phone interview:
I caught up with Sydney yesterday for a quick update on recent developments, her favorite books, and her French connection:
Quinn Strassel: It seems like you’ve kept pretty busy since South By Southwest. What’s new since we last talked?
Sydney Wayser: A lot has been going on since SXSW! This coming week we are opening three dates with Kaki King! And tonight we started our month long residency at the Rockwood Music Hall in the lower east side. Last week we played on WERS in Boston which was a lot of fun and it turned out I went to high school with Sam, the interviewer.
QS: Your dad is French and you’ve spent a lot of time in France. Are you influenced by any French musicians?
SW: I feel that I have been greatly influenced by French artists. To name a few: Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg, and Raphael… that is kind of a list from older generation to newest. I think my influence from France has been more than simply music. I think my influences stretch across from architecture, to painting, to parks, weather, the specific light of the sun that only Paris has, the sound of the ambulances through the thin streets, historic events, writers…the list goes on.
QS: What would a perfect day in your life look like?
SW: Picture Paris.. it would start out at 6 am because I would be jet-lagged. I would go for a run with the silvery light Paris has in the morning. On my way back to the apartment I would pick up some fresh breakfast form the pattiserie across the street, spend the next hour or so reading a good book, then make a picnic and eat at one of the benches in the Palais Royal. I would go for a long walk across the river. Explore, get lost, find used books stores, old print shops until eventually I made my way back home for a nice meal. After dinner I would go to the Pont des Arts and listen to music as the sun goes down. I would see a great film either in theaters or in bed before i go to sleep (most likely around 11).
QS: You mentioned last time we talked that you’re a big reader. What are your top 5 books of all time?
SW: Some favorites of mine… The Time Travelers Wife, The Life of Pi. I have to say Harry Potter will always be [a favorite], Dr. Seuss anything, Alchemist.
QS: And what are you reading right now?
SW: Ficciones, a book on greek mythology, and a book on optimum health because everyone needs to be healthy…
This blog written and maintained by Quinn Strassel
