SYPHA Talk New EP, Future Plans And More

Potent UK metallers, SYPHA have released their debut ‘Borderland’ EP and we chatted to them about the new release, their future plans and more:

Who is in Sypha, what do they play and how did you meet?

Sypha is Alicia on vocals, Alfred on guitar, Will on bass, and James on drums. We all met during university and have been writing and playing music together since!

When did you begin songwriting?

We’ve all been writing and performing in various bands since we were around 13/14 years old.

What is your earliest musical memory?

Probably seeing all of our favourite bands on Kerrang and Scuzz TV (RIP!)

You have your new single ‘Limbo’ which is out now. What was the inspiration/story behind the track?

The song is inspired by the manga and Netflix series ‘Alice in Borderland’, which is about a ‘limbo’ version of Tokyo where the people trapped there are forced to compete in deadly games to survive. This inspired both Limbo and the title of our EP ‘BORDERLAND’.

The single is accompanied by an official music video. What was the thought process behind the video and who directed it?

We worked with Shaun from Loki Films, who also made our first music video ‘World’s End’. He’s an amazing guy to work with and takes all of our ideas and just turns them into something incredibly exciting. With how frantic the song is, we knew that we wanted it to look super flashy and ‘in your face’, with a nod to the themes in “Alice in Borderland”.

In addition, you have released your new EP ‘Borderland’. How did you want to approach the making of the EP?

As a band, we knew we wanted to go heavier and darker with our music. So coming into this EP we wrote it in mind of the energy it could give us on stage and to the audience while playing live. I think in the end it actually ended up being a lot heavier than we first imagined – and we love it!

Where did you record the EP and who produced it?

We recorded the first single ‘Dirty Floor’ with Low Road studio in Brighton, with the other two being recorded at Raygun studio. Then the tracks were produced at Steel City studios in Sheffield. The process was super collaborative with everyone involved and we had an absolute blast recording it!

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

Jamie from Raygun studios was so helpful and amazing to work with when recording the EP. But what we didn’t realise is that he is the son of Saxon guitarist Doug! Alfred is a huge fan of the band and was so shocked when we casually bumped into him in the kitchen.

Do you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for your music?

As a band we’re not very techy (we leave that up to the people who know more than us). What we do know is that we love the sound we’ve all achieved with those that helped us.

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

Happiest – Playing the main riff of ‘The Afterparty’! It’s got an energetic punky feel that’s super fun to play live.
Angriest – Limbo – majority of the song (Intro / Pre Chorus / Chorus / Breakdown)
Most reflective – The Breakdown of ‘Dirty Floor’.

Who created/designed the EP artwork?

Each of the photos featured in the EP were taken by Alicia’s dad back when he was in university. He features in the first photo, with Alicia’s mum in the 2nd!

Was it a difficult EP to write?

Not really, the songs and riffs came together very quickly. The synths were really tricky for us to write but the guys at Steel City studios were amazing at helping us and came up with some awesome synth ideas.

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

First and foremost we want to head straight out into the crowd to say hi to those that have turned up to support local music – we would be nothing without them!
Then we want to have left our sonic mark on the audience.

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

Alfred always plays his black LTD EC1000 on stage, he loves Les Paul shape guitars so it will be a rare sight if you see him playing anything different.
Will recently splurged on a brand new Fender bass, and it’s so worth the money.

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

We’re from Brighton, UK. Sea. Vibes. Music. Coffee. Seagulls.

How do you look after your voices?

A lot of herbal teas!

Do you have any future music releases planned for 2025?

We were the process of writing new music, even before the EP was fully out. Hopefully we can share more news soon!

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?

We’re more into video games than novels in Sypha! If they ever made a film adaptation of Dark Souls, we would be all over that. The game is set in a brutal, derelict world, but within that has moments of serene beauty. I think our music would suit it as we like to mix heavy and harsh tones, with catchy harmonies and moments of calm.

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

Avenged Sevenfold, Poppy, and Bring Me The Horizon

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

Yes we have a couple of festivals booked, like Hammerdown Festival and Breaking Bands Fest. Also we are planning on heading out on our first ever UK tour soon – stay tuned!