Southern Californian Sydney Quiseng may just be breaking out into the Country/Americana scene as a solo artist but she already has a highly impressive career as a member of the Indie-Pop band Echosmith. Quiseng’s songwriting abilities and soft, emotive vocals belong in the country music world. Telling stories that are raw and honest, country music fans will undoubtedly embrace Sydney Quiseng as one of their new favourite artists.

Quiseng recently released her debut EP Phases. Recorded in Franklin, Tennessee, the 6 track EP is a delightful collection of songs that touch on the different phases of her life so far. Sydney formed her band with her brothers at age 9 and was responsible for writing the triple- platinum-hit Cool Kids. Her band saw her tour the world from the young age of 16 and she also got married at aged 21. Just 28 years old now, Sydney has already had quite the busy life – living many experiences. All these milestones and experiences make for some very interesting song topics and she shares those within this EP and in her future music.

Starting with the song I Need Findin’, the song speaks of losing oneself and having that feeling of loneliness. Many of us go through a phase of feeling completely lost and not being able to explain, even to ourselves, what it is that we are feeling and why? It’s hard to chase the feeling of happiness and find a solution to our melancholic feelings. Quiseng touches on this really well in this song. Her lines about finding solace in music is very relatable as we use music to make us feel something, anything.

I love songs that make me go quiet
Something’s got me close to crying
Someone up there knows I need findin’
I’ve been holding a grudge towards the silence
But I put myself on an island
Someone upstairs knows I need findin’
And I kinda like it

What is clever about the song is that sonically it doesn’t match the lyrics. The track is actually quite upbeat, a positive melody that in my view says “I embrace these feelings, I accept them and am looking forward knowing everything will be ok”.

Second track Wonder talks about a past relationship and the late night thoughts of “what could have been” and are we alone in these thoughts? does the other person also think of us from time to time? Regardless of how happy we may be, those thoughts are sometimes hard to avoid.

Leftover Coffee is the song that sparks the most curiosity in me as could have so many deeper meanings. Seemingly about unfinished business and finding the motivation to do the simple things in day to day life. It’s so easy to find it the most difficult thing to follow up on plans, get out of the house and quite simply, just look after oneself.

Phases, the most beautiful melodically, is sweet- sounding and gentle to the ears. Another song about being lost but in this case, having someone stick by you no matter what. The song speaks of unconditional love and being patient with each other’s temporary challenges in life.

Guilty for me, is a song that many of us face and that is feeling a massive sense of guilt for taking time for ourselves whatever that may be. Selfish is a word that is misused many times. This is especially relevant in motherhood when we feel guilty for even going to the cinema alone. Quiseng’s story behind the song will of course be her personal story but the beauty of music is finding your own narrative within a songs lyrics. The simplicity in the songs melody at the start then builds to a more energetic level to, in my mind, embrace that feeling of strength and finally allowing yourself to be selfish from time to time.

Closing the EP with Afterglow, the track opens up with a voicemail from Sydney’s Grandpa. The hypnotic ballad is the perfect close as it speaks of the afterglow of our experiences whether they be positive or negative ones. You never know what is around the corner so it’s important to look onwards and upwards. I love an EP that ends on a soft ballad with words that leave you with thoughts and emotions long after the song has finished.

I love songs that make me go quiet
Something’s got me close to crying

This is exactly how I feel about Phases.

Phases is a stunning collection of tracks that will get the emotions flowing and leave you quiet within your thoughts. It brings positivity to negativity and inspires the individual to look ahead with a smile.

Listen to/ Stream Phases here