by Sydney J
Hi, I’m Sydney J, an indie-folk artist based in Manhattan, New York. I’ve been writing songs for as long as I can remember, but in 2025, my approach to songwriting began to shift. I became more interested in creating something open-ended, less like a straightforward retelling of events, and more like a space where multiple emotions and experiences could exist at once.
That shift is what led me to create my most popular song, “but so close!”.
Listen to the songs while reading the text.
The song came to me during a time where everything in my life just felt overwhelming. I was navigating an identity crisis, struggling with my mental health, and falling in love with one of my friends all at the same time. But instead of writing about one specific situation, I wanted to capture the feeling of all of it happening at once. I didn’t want to box the song into a single narrative. I wanted it to be something fluid, something people could see themselves in, no matter their own story.
That’s why the lyrics are so special to me. I really believe this song can mean whatever someone needs it to mean.
One of my favorite lines is: “soft and flexible, blowing in the wind, blow you the wrong way and then you bend.” I actually came up with that while walking through the city. I tend to find most of my inspiration observing little moments, especially in nature, and in a place as multifaceted as New York. That line was inspired by a willow tree I passed. It made me think about how similar we are to it. Most of the time, we’re stable and grounded but when we’re anxious, scared, or overwhelmed, we bend, we make mistakes, we become reckless, and move whatever direction that emotion takes us, just like the willow when the wind hits its branches.
I’m beyond grateful for this song and the way people have connected with it. I’m so proud of it almost like it’s something I’ve raised and watched grow into its own being. I can’t wait to see how the meaning of this song continues to grow and evolve alongside the people who take the time to listen and understand it.
Sydney’s my goat and this song is so fire