Fast-rising singer/songwriter Sydney Rose opens up about starting over, the healing power of honesty, and the quiet strength behind her soul-stirring EP ‘I Know What I Want’ – a stripped-back, intimate collection that captures both a personal reckoning and an artistic rebirth.
Stream: ‘I Know What I Want’ – Sydney Rose
I want to try to be as real and as vulnerable as possible. It’s the only way I can really feel connected to my own music. I think the more honest I am with my music, the more people relate to it.
* * *
In an age of overproduced heartbreak anthems and shout-it-from-the-rooftop self-discovery songs, Sydney Rose does something much harder: She whispers.
Her new EP I Know What I Want is a gentle but firm declaration – not just of who she is as an artist, but of what matters when everything else falls away. Known for her stripped-back arrangements, vulnerable lyrics, and the kind of voice that feels like a late-night phone call, Rose invites us into her world with open palms and a quiet kind of courage.
After being dropped by her previous label, she could’ve easily stepped back from the spotlight. Instead, she leaned in – to stillness, to honesty, to herself. Out now, I Know What I Want isn’t just a sonic evolution; it’s an emotional one. With over 40 million streams on the viral hit “We Hug Now,” and a new home at Mercury Records, Sydney Rose proves that there is strength in softness – and power in staying true to your voice.
Sometimes I go to sleep
And I’m still 17
You still live down my street
You’re not mad at me
And in that dream,
I will say everything I wanted
That every day after May,
I haven’t found what I needed
No one has come close to you
And I don’t think anyone will
– “We Hug Now,” Sydney Rose
We caught up with Sydney Rose to talk about starting over, the stories behind her songs, and the beauty of one-take recording sessions in the Catskills.
— —
:: stream/purchase I Know What I Want here ::
:: connect with Sydney Rose here ::
— —
Stream: “We Hug Now” – Sydney Rose
A CONVERSATION WITH SYDNEY ROSE
Atwood Magazine: Your EP I Know What I Want feels like a mirror – not just for you, but for anyone listening. What moments in your life sparked these songs, and did writing them help you better understand yourself?
Sydney Rose: I moved from Georgia to Nashville almost two years ago and it was the scariest thing I ever did, but it was also the best decision I ever made! I wrote a lot of I Know What I Want over the first year of being in Nashville. Sometimes songwriting is the only way I can process through things. So usually after writing a song I’ll be like, “oh!!!! that’s how I felt!”
The title alone feels like a declaration. Was there a specific turning point where you realized you “knew what you wanted,” or was it more of a slow realization through writing and performing these tracks?
Sydney Rose: The first song I wrote for the EP was “Dogs I Pass On The Street.” It was also ironically written on the first day I moved to Nashville. The idea for the EP title came from that lyric because I moved to Nashville because I knew what I wanted to do with my life.
Your songs often capture universal feelings – heartbreak, longing, self-discovery – but they feel incredibly personal. How do you balance writing for yourself versus writing for others to see themselves in your music?
Sydney Rose: I try to write mostly for myself because I know there are people out there who are feeling the same way as I do. I want to try to be as real and as vulnerable as possible. It’s the only way I can really feel connected to my own music. I think the more honest I am with my music, the more people relate to it.
Your sound blends warm indie folk textures with soft pop melodies, creating something intimate but instantly accessible. How did you find that balance while shaping this EP?
Sydney Rose: With this EP, I wanted to go back to my roots. I started with only releasing raw voice memos. I loved the way it sounded and I’ve always been drawn to that kind of stripped-back sound. I wanted to go for a Big Thief sound, and that’s how I started working with Sam Evian on this project!
What did your songwriting process look like for I Know What I Want? Did these songs come together in one chapter of your life, or were they collected from different moments?
Sydney Rose: They were written over the first year of me moving to Nashville. They all came from different moments, but all from the same feelings. I didn’t rush the process. I let it come naturally.
If you had to pick one song from the EP that feels the most like “you,” which one would it be – and why?
Sydney Rose: Probably “Dogs I Pass On The Street.” I feel like it’s the overall feeling of the EP. It’s kind of melancholy but ultimately hopeful. I like to be hopeful.
So many listeners describe your music as comforting – like it gives them space to breathe and feel. What do you hope I Know What I Want offers to someone who’s hearing your music for the first time?
Sydney Rose: I hope it offers some kind of relatability. I want people to hear my songs and think “oh, that’s exactly how I feel.”
How do you stay grounded and connected to your art while sharing so much of yourself with the world? Is there a ritual or mindset that helps you keep that balance?
Sydney Rose: I’ve been writing for so long and every time I’ve been fully honest. That’s what has gotten me this far. I love my music because I feel like it’s a part of me. I wouldn’t like my music if I was faking it all.
Your music often feels like a quiet conversation, as if you’re singing directly to one person. Is that intimacy intentional, or just how your songs naturally take shape?
Sydney Rose: I love music that’s stripped and simple and I think that’s what I’ve always been drawn to. Even with my own favorite artists. I love it when it’s very intimate and vulnerable. It’s what makes me feel connected to the song.
Who are some artists, past or present, that have shaped your sound or your approach to storytelling?
Sydney Rose: I take a lot of inspiration from songwriters like Phoebe Bridgers, Lizzy McAlpine, and Gracie Abrams. I love the way they structure their sound. And I love the lyrics that just cut right through the heart.
What’s something about I Know What I Want that might surprise people – either in how it was made, or what it means to you?
Sydney Rose: Every single song was a one take! (Apart from “We Hug Now.”) I’ve never done something like that. Working with Sam Evian was a dream. I felt very lucky to stay with him at his studio in the Catskills. I wasn’t distracted by anything at home. And I felt very at peace.
Looking ahead, what’s next for you after this EP? Are there live shows, new projects, or dream collaborations on your horizon?
Sydney Rose: So many live shows coming up! In the meantime, I’m working towards new songs and exciting collabs!
— —
:: stream/purchase I Know What I Want here ::
:: connect with Sydney Rose here ::
— —
— — — —
Connect to Sydney Rose on
Facebook, 𝕏, TikTok, Instagram
Discover new music on Atwood Magazine
© Sofia Valladares
© Sofia Valladares:: Stream Sydney Rose ::
