What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
I always had a keen interest in music since I was a kid. Since I saw my brother perform a drum piece at an annual primary school concert, I wanted to take up drums in school, then it snowballed from there. Music became more of a concrete idea to me once I started using DAWs and producing my own music. In college I was first introduced to Cubase and I loved being able to experiment with synthesis and using different plugins to my own accord.
Introduce us to all to the members and your musical history.
I’m Joel, I go by SYLLO. I’m a solo artist from Liverpool. I used to play drums and produce in a Synth Pop band called Hanover, but I now create Synth Pop music for myself.
Name me your 3 favorite Albums.
Peripheral Vision – Turnover
Dive – Tycho
S/T – This Will Destroy You
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
Ever since I first heard Luna by Bombay Bicycle Club I knew there and then I wanted to make upbeat, Festival-esque indie music that puts a smile on people’s face.
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in, How do you feel you are doing?
I feel like I’m still at the embryonic stage of releasing music and playing small local shows at the moment and I’m having a lot of fun doing so. I feel like the most important factor of doing anything is ensuring that you’re having fun doing it, regardless of if you “make it” or not. I really enjoy making music and I’ll always have that about me, be it making my own music or even just playing a function gig playing covers and making people happy.
I’m seeing a lot of debate about women not feeling safe at music gigs, any thoughts on what we need to do to help?
I feel that it’s important that we educate men on the correct protocol and behaviour within a live music setting, and in general for that matter. Everybody should be able to go to a gig and feel that it is a safe space. People making others feel uncomfortable should know that there are boundaries to be set and that no means no.
As you develop as an artist and develop using socials what ways do you get new ears on your music? Any tips?
I recently saw a surge in my own monthly listeners on Spotify through posting regular content on TikTok. Although this may not work for everybody, I feel that making sure that you stay current and post engaging content with people, that will connect with you as an artist and support your music.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
I used to be a frontman in a metal band
I have a spatula tattooed on my arm
I once killed a man with this thumb
What’s your thought on Spotify monopoly on the music industry?
I feel like 0.006p per stream isn’t enough when budding artists are spending x amount on recording fees/touring fees/money on gear etc
Do you sign up for any conspiracy theories?
I do not.
Did you buy anything you don’t need during the pandemic?
I didn’t buy anything unnecessary in the pandemic, no, I suffered quite badly with my mental health during lockdown though, but I wrote a few songs about that. Those songs are all on my debut EP, A Love Story With Oneself.
What was the worst experience on stage?
I once played a show, with backing tracks using a Roland SPD-SX and I wasn’t able to hear the tracks through my monitors, so I had to keep in time by taking visual cues from the light conning from the click track on the SPD. Not one of my proudest moments.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I can make the sound of a water drop with my mouth. (I should probably record it and put it into a song)
What makes you stand out as a band/artist?
I write, record, mix, and master everything myself and I write about life experiences including my own struggles with mental health and romantic and platonic relationships.
I hear you have new music, what can you tell us about it.
I have a brand new EP out that has five tracks, each with their own standpoint. A Love Story With Oneself overall though is about self care, self love and putting yourself first before you choose to offer yourself to others.
Talk me through the thought process of the new tune/s.
I went through an experience with psychosis during the lockdown. I was taking multiple panic attacks daily and I ended up being sectioned for 15 days. Despite this, I received amazing support from my family and my girlfriend whilst in the hospital. Once I was discharged from hospital and when I was ready to, I began writing songs about the relationships I had with them, and retrospectively looking back on relationships I had with other people that I no longer had and seeing that as a positive.
What was the recording process like?
Recording A Love Story With Oneself was the most cathartic experience I’ve ever had with anything.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
When I first started SYLLO as a project, I was writing songs to express feelings of suppressed anger and frustration, so these songs were consequently more angsty and heavier both musically and emotionally. I feel like the music I have been writing more recently though has been so much more enjoyable to create as I no longer have reasons to be angry or frustrated, it’s all love really, so the songs are a lot happier and easy on the ear I feel.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
If I were to change anything on the EP, I would have loved to have collaborated with another producer just so the production could have been worked on from another perspective.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
A Love Story With Oneself is out now on all streaming platforms, I hope it connects with people in one way or another! With that being said, I’m currently writing new music that I’m extremely proud of and I can’t wait for people to hear it, be it at a gig or when it eventually gets released. Thank you so much for having me RGM!