Sydney Jo Jackson Talks New Single, Her Voice And More

 Sydney Jo Jackson is a Birmingham-born, London-based soul-funk singer-songwriter whose music blends raw storytelling with the grooves and grit of classic soul. Her new single, “Good at Goodbye,” is a cross-cultural duet that unites three countries in one song: the UK, Indonesia, and Germany. It features rising Indonesian vocalist Drey Henuk and we sat down with her to learn more: 

 

What is your earliest musical memory?

My earliest memory would be me performing Gloria Estefan‘s doctor beat at my primary school when I was 11

 

I had three boys from my class be my back and dancers and my mom‘s friend choreographed the whole routine and I was on stage in this nurses outfit, which is actually quite funny to think about now And I was busting out Dr. Beat for a talent show and I believe I won lol

 

When did you begin songwriting?

 

I’ve always written things on the back of old birthday cards on magazines on napkins on little scraps of paper and I wasn’t sure if they were poems thoughts or what they were but a lot of it translated to music because I remember learning my times tables via music and I used to put words to music and that eventually obviously translated into song it was the way I would remember things so I think I would probably say I’ve been writing since I was probably 10.

 

You have your new single ‘Good At Goodbye’ out now. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?

 

I wrote this on the stairs in my house. I played the initial beat my mum on the phone and I was like wow do you like this beat and she’s like yeah it would sound cool as a duet and I hadn’t really thought about it so I started writing the track with a male vocalist in mind and when I came up with the idea, I just kind of sang into my phone with voice note as per usual, which was a load of random melody and then I just somehow came up with a concept like I’m good at goodbye

 

And I think that came from me always having to move all the time and I have temporary connections with people and sometimes I wish they could be longer, but I’m never actually able to stay because I’m always on the move and I wanted to reflect that in this song.

 

Did you solely write the track or was it a co-write?

 

I did write the song on my own because I enjoy being able to craft things without any one putting boundaries or their impression on my idea however, I do enjoy collaborations at times, but this was a record where I personally felt like it didn’t need any external help to send a message that it does

 

Was it a difficult song to write?

No, it wasn’t actually. I find that with my music I don’t like to take too long because it takes away from the authenticity. I’m not the kind of person that takes multiple weeks to write something. I like to write what I’m feeling and then I can come back in a day and maybe fix that but it is kind of like you get what you’re given with me because that’s how I’m feeling at that moment and that’s what I want it to exude.

If I spend more than two days in a record, it’s usually gonna be forced or something that I won’t like

 

The single is a duet with Indonesian artist Drey Henuk. How did that collaboration arise?

I was at a place called Bingin Beach in Bali and I heard Drey’s voice and I was compelled to come and find out Who Who was that voice belonging to so as I entered the place where he was thinking, I was just blown away by this guy chilling with his brother in the corner of the room, captivating everybody and the texture and power of his voice honestly was just mesmerizing.

 

So I sat there in Alain filming him, and I then got the guts at the end to ask him for his social media and I just kept in touch with him and whenever I wrote this song, I couldn’t think of another Vocalist that I wanted on it it had to be him and it felt like the reason that I met him was for him to be on this song.

Luckily, he agreed and here we are today

 

Is the single accompanied by a visualiser?

I’ve made a lot of short format content for the song, and Dre also has participated in that I know that music videos are not really that much of a thing as an independent artist. So there’s a lot of visuals on social media platforms, which can keep you entertained.

 

Where did you record the single and who produced it?

Jonas Beauer is the producer of the song he is from Germany and someone of worked with previously on my songs You Should Be Here and Stone Cold.

 

I recorded it in Bali at my favorite studio with a great engineer called Kadek. He really gets me and how I work so it was very easy to get it all completed .

 

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

I mean I always curse so I get frustrated with myself sometimes if my voice isn’t doing what I wanted when I want and I end up shouting swear words into the mic and this is always really funny because my Engineer was like what is going on while I’m having like full breakdowns at the microphone screaming and just berating myself. He’s learnt to deal with it now he just kind of ignores me and he’s like should we go again and I’m like yeah thanks lol

 

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

 

No, I didn’t. I love a bit of autotune and I love a good saturated EQ to make things sound full. But I kinda just get on with it. I’m like let’s get a microphone and let’s sing into it. Let’s make the track. I’m not that complicated.

 

Which of your new tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

 

I don’t think we’ve done a happy song yet. I need to sort that out. I think I’m just unpacking a lot of things right now, and that has always been the happiest of moments. lol

 

You haven’t heard the angriest yet have a song called FU and that’s pretty self-explanatory and a fear is really reflective of who I am as a person cause it’s how I speak and it’s very uncensored

 

My most vulnerable would be stone cold because it discusses my divorce which touches under domestic violence, so that was lot for me to put out into the public domain

 

Do you have any further music releases planned for 2025/2026?

Yes, I have an EP coming out at the end of the year which is called no fixed abode.

It will have my singles on from now and a couple of unreleased pieces.

 

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

 

For me, it’s all about connection. I want people to connect. I want people to have a good time. I want people to forget about their problems and I want people to be able to have hope and I would like to think that I could potentially be some people’s core memories.

Like you know when you go as a kid to watch a show and you’re like, I’ll always remember that moment I would like that to be something that people take back with them because I really do put my heart and soul into performing and it’s not always about being perfect for me, but it is about Having that moment of unity and really understanding the people that are watching and listening and making them feel involved.

 

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

Not really I just love a good mic with a good bit of Eco on it. I like everything to be loud and warm and I probably should be a bit more specific with the things that I like, but I am really simple. I just wanna sing and as long as people can hear me then I’m good

 

How do you look after your voice?

I’m trying really hard to do this because I didn’t know it was something I had to do lol

So recently, I’ve been doing warm-ups from YouTube as often as I can, and then I just kind of steam my voice when I can because that’s important.

Otherwise, I’m just out and about and try not to scream at Men for annoying me. I find that not shouting at men does help in preserving your voice.

 

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

 

I don’t think I know what Novel is. I think the only thing I’ve heard about a novel is that thing called War and peace, but I’ve never even read it.

I mean is a novel or something like The Little Matchstick Girl? I think I remember that film as if it was a Novel, but it was a cool film.

I also really like Annie, but I don’t think that’s a Novel

If I could write a piece of music for something, I think it would have to be Spice world! Then my fave girl group of all time, so I live and die by the fact that that’s the best movie of all time lol or actually dirty dancing. I love a bit of dirty dancing. Maybe I’d write for that.

 

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

 

I’m from Birmingham

Chicken tikka masala

Best people

(we do the best curry and I do believe that the chicken tikka masala originated from Birmingham! That might be a lie, but it’s something that I’ve been told that I hope it’s true)

 

Do you have any live dates in the UK/Europe planned for 2025/2026?

 

I’m gonna be doing Shows in the UK from June till August so I’m excited to get those underwear and get my life band practicing and get on the road

 

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

 

Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson

The Spice Girls me just absolutely innovative, unique, and trailblazers there will never be another band like them

Britney Spears is just one of the most phenomenal performers ever to walk on this planet in my opinion.

And Janet Jackson well it’s just Janet Jackson if you know you know

 

What makes Sydney Jo Jackson happy and what makes you unhappy?

Definitely happy when I’m with my dog like I have the most incredible rescue dog from Bali her name is baby and she just shows me that it’s to slow down sometimes it shows me the true meaning of unconditional love

I also love watching films with my mom. She’s quite a humorous individual and she cracks me up a lot of the time during her commentary.

Really enjoy hiking and being out doing adventurous stuff so that’s cool.

 

What makes me unhappy I would say bad people people with bad intention and people who present themselves as wanting to be friends or wanting to help, but I actually have ulterior motives

I’m a really given kind and sensitive person and sometimes I let the wrong people into my life and learn the hard way and the repercussions of that can be quite hard so the aftermath I’ll try to build myself back up can sometimes make me very unhappy

 

Otherwise, we’re a pretty happy individual 🙂

 

Feature Image Photo Credit: Alit Pramesta  

Sydney Jo Jackson’s new single “Good at Goodbye” featuring Drey Henuk is out now.

Listen Here: https://open.spotify.com/track/64rUzyT0dS0yfZRHkHEoC4?si=c2c77ab48aa14159&nd=1&dlsi=c431ef36fed04002

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