Sydney Irving is one of Central New York’s fastest rising up-and-coming musicians. With mature lyricism and a natural knack for music, she has worked her way up in the state’s rock and country scenes. After years of recordings and live performances across New York under her belt, she is poised to be the next big thing.
Irving’s musical journey began in Syracuse, in the heart of New York State. A steady musical diet of Tom Petty and Taylor Swift inspired her to take up songwriting at a young age. Her musical career truly began at age 13. After receiving a Breedlove acoustic guitar as a gift, she quickly took to penning tunes.
At only age 14, Irving recorded her debut album Hello Stranger. The album exudes youthful energy, with surprisingly complex lyrics for such a young songwriter. The title track is an upbeat ukulele-driven indie pop number, discussing an enigmatic and lost person.
Irving followed up her debut with 2018’s The Halfmoon Sessions. This sophomore effort reflects a rapid musical maturation. The record featured much more lush, acoustic instrumentation compared to her debut. The track “Where Do I Stand” reflects this musical evolution. A driving drum beat supports Irving’s acoustic guitar. Her lyricism also evolved, with the track discussing someone trying to change their fate regardless of the uncertainty it might bring.
She wrapped up the 2010s with a pair of EPs titled Greene and Ronan. Irving recorded these EPs with her band The Mojo in a rural log cabin. This change in scenery reflected a change in sound. These EPs saw Irving experiment with rock elements, such as on the track “Look What You Do to Me.” Songs like this marked a pivotal change in Irving’s career that would launch her to fame in the 2020s.
Sydney Irving kicked off the 2020s with a bang, releasing the singles “You Can’t Forget About Me” and “Seasons Change.” These songs quickly soared to the top of Music Mafia Radio Top 30 Countdown, propelling Irving into the spotlight. The track “Seasons Change” is the culmination of all Irving’s previous work. It has a driving country-inspired rock groove that feels straight out of the 1970s. The lyrics about how fast life can change are supported by a catchy chorus that sticks with the listener. Alongside success on the charts, Irving received growing critical acclaim for these songs. In 2020, the International Singer Songwriters Association named Sydney Irving the Young Adult Artist of the Year. Two years later, these accolades continued with Irving winning Best New Artist at the 2022 SAMMYS.
2023 proved to be an especially important year for Irving, seeing the release of her 6th record, live shows, and countless awards. At the center of this year was her release Unfashioned Creatures. The album featured some existing tracks, like the aforementioned “Seasons Change,” with a host of new songs. This album takes all of Irving’s influences and hones them down into a solid pop record. Tracks like “You Can’t Forget About Me” and “Rain” continue her explorations into Tom Petty-inspired heartland rock. The song “Find Me” is a highlight of the album, sounding straight off of a folksy Taylor Swift album. Unfashioned Creatures illustrates Irving at the top of her songwriting game, and has likewise only increased her notoriety.
In addition to her new release, Irving toured nonstop throughout 2023. Of special note was her performance at Binghamton’s Spiedie Fest. She took the stage on the final day of the festival in support of headliner Gavin Degraw. During her set, Irving had the audience captivated in no time. Across her original songs and covers of Ramones and Taylor Swift, Irving kept the audience clapping and singing along. Shows like this illustrate that Irving, while just getting started, already has the stage presence and charisma as a veteran touring musician.
Her newest album and touring have helped make a name for Irving among music critics. In 2023, she was recognized as the Best Pop Artist at the Mississippi Music Awards, showing just how far her music has reached. Back home in Syracuse, Unfashionable Creatures also won Best Pop Album at the 2024 SAMMYS.
This year, Sydney Irving has continued to release music, with a cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” Parton’s music has been a major inspiration on Irving’s songwriting. In many ways, the choice to cover this song reflects Irving’s aspirations in the music industry. She said “I could only hope to someday be able to write as many extraordinary songs that strike a chord in a listener the way Dolly has done. She is a lyric goddess!” Shannon Steele of Kickin’ Kountry 101 radio called Sydney Irving’s cover “the real deal.”
This massive success has only increased Irving’s hard work. Throughout July and August 2024, Sydney Irving will be performing near daily concerts across Central New York. With shows hitting the big cities of Syracuse and Binghamton, and small towns in the Finger Lakes and Adirondacks, fans across the state can witness her songs in person. These shows also illustrate Irving’s ability to conquer the stage, no matter the size. She will be performing everywhere from local breweries to large outdoor festivals, even doing a set at the Utica Zoo.
With so many albums and concerts already under her belt, Sydney Irving has nowhere to go but up. She already illustrates a mastery of pop melodies and emotional songwriting, matched by a glowing stage presence. Keep Sydney Irving on your radar, as she is one of the fastest up-and-coming musicians in all of New York State.
For more information on upcoming shows and releases, visit Sydney Irving’s website here.
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