Sydney Sprague is making music for the end of the world.
The 30-year-old singer/songwriter, now a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, was encouraged by her parents to pursue songwriting early-on. She spent her formative years daydreaming alone in her room (decorated lovingly with Britney Spears and *NSYNC posters) and unknowingly incubating a talent that would ultimately lead to her future music career.
Backed by familiar-yet-surprising hooks and hard-hitting, topical lyrics, Sprague’s songwriting continues to evolve. With eyes on contemporaries like her 90’s idols, notably Avril Lavigne, she flawlessly carries that same fire, creativity, and wit into her 2021 release – maybe i will see you at the end of the world.
Sprague knew exactly who she wanted to produce her next record: Sam Rosson (Death Cab For Cutie, Mac Miller, Pedro the Lion) at Hall of Justice (Seattle, WA). The album creates a world of Sprague’s own creation: Every detail, down to the apocalyptic artwork, was deliberately painted so that the disparate parts become most vibrant when viewed as a whole.
Though not birthed in 2020’s quarantine, the album goes a long way towards helping listeners deal with our new reality. That’s because Sprague can only be authentic: “maybe i will see you at the end of the world is my bucket list all checked off. It was my life goal to make this album at this studio with these people, and now that it’s done, and in your hands/ears – I can breathe easy.”
Sprague announced that she had signed with Rude Records in October 2020. With an exciting team by her side she released two singles – “i refuse to die” and “steve” – both of which received a sweeping of support from the press, notably landing features in Substream, Refinery29, NPR, UPROXX, GIG GOER, Alternative Press, Rock Sound, and Phoenix New Times.
ToneDeaf praised Sprague’s outspoken lyrics and mature sound, declaring that the record is perfect “for those in the mood for some introspective indie rock by someone who isn’t afraid of speaking out” and calling ‘steve’ “your next must-listen.”
Sydney Sprague’s debut LP – maybe i will see you at the end of the world – dropped February 26th on Rude Records.
Wheelwright
WHEELWRIGHT BRINGS A SOUTHWESTERN SOUND OF POP AND GRUNGE FROM THE SPRAWLING DESERT CITY OF PHOENIX, AZ. NONE OF HIS SONGS ARE IDEALISTIC. NO LIGHT WITHOUT DARKNESS, NO LAUGHTER WITHOUT AT LEAST SOME SUFFERING, NO THOUGHTFULNESS WITHOUT SOME RECKLESSNESS. WITH DEVIL MAY CARE SPIRIT, AND A MESSAGE OF HOPE, FRUSTRATION, AND LOVE, WHEELWRIGHTS MUSIC CONTRASTS BETWEEN WORLDS OF WANDERING EXISTENTIALISM, THE STRIFE OF MODERN RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE SHREDS OF HOPE THAT CAN BE FOUND IN DARKEST AND MOST BROKEN PLACES OF OURSELVES. SONGS OF ACCEPTANCE, HARD LUCK, AND LOVE WITHOUT ALL THE KUMBAYA BULLSHIT, BUT RATHER THE IDEA THAT WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL AND FLAWED, STUCK HERE TOGETHER, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT. HIS SONGS ARE SELF ADMITTING AND ALLOW LISTENERS TO MEET HIM WHERE THEY TRUTHFULLY ARE. IT’S BRASH AND IT’S HONEST. IN HIS WORDS, “EVERYBODY HAS THINGS ABOUT THEMSELVES THAT THEY DON’T LIKE, THEY HAVE THINGS THAT THEY WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THEMSELVES, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE SPIRITS, AND HOPES, AND DREAMS AND LIGHT INSIDE OF THEM DESPITE THE DARKNESS THAT SEEMS TO HANG OVER US AS WE MARCH INTO THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT’S NEXT.”
Fastest Fox Alive
Fastest Fox Alive (FFA) is a musical project born out of the need to make music and the love of collaboration.
Their songs reflect the diverse range of influences that have shaped the band’s sonic identity, drawing inspiration from bands like Counting Crows, Keane, Third Eye Blind, and Death Cab for Cutie, while adding their own modern twist.