Sydney Miller returns with dark alt-pop cut, 'Left Out'

Melbourne producer/singer/songwriter, Sydney Miller returns with a new single in the dark alt-pop cut, ‘Left Out’. Following from the introspective single, ‘Behind Closed Doors’, ‘Left Out’ juxtaposes the hopeful character of the former release with a fierce and bitterly-painted narrative of feeling socially isolated.

‘Left Out’ engulfs the listener with its stimulating soundscape characterised by the confidently maximal percussive elements and hypnotic synths, enticing them to stay in Sydney’s toxically-painted world - emphasised by its visceral lyrics and grounding vocal performance. All of this is complemented by the cleverly crafted pulse of a door knock; a constant thud rattling the listener into an isolating trance.

‘Left Out’ is twisted alt-pop, dark and mind-bending, packed full of so many percussive and synth textures, which, coupled with Sydney’s layered-up, almost RnB-tinged vocals, itches its way to the back of your brain. It brings to mind the tribal-beat, synth-heavy Bristol tones of Kosheen, mixing sweetness and menace into a completely captivating take.

Listeners will also notice the myriad of abrasive chair and furniture sounds which hint at the paranoid context of the track. Whilst still reminiscent of the effervescent production present in her earlier work, Sydney has maturely refined her craft to portray Left Out with more sensitivity.

“I rarely write songs with undertones of such self-wallow and biassed blame. It was important for me to continue moulding the production until the soundscape framed the context of Left Out in a way which was less shallow and more evocative. Left Out has undergone the most significant editing process of any piece I have ever made - at least 5 stages of very different final drafts,” she says.

The fruition of this enigmatic production technique and intrinsically vibrant sound can be attributed to Sydney’s unique creative approach, which she has retained since her very first release back in 2020.

“I always gather a collection of object recordings specific to the song I’m writing before I begin fleshing out the production. I’ll make sure I have a solid variety of sounds that cover a range of textures, harmonic/melodic qualities, and lengths, to somewhat replace traditional instrumental sounds you would expect in a song… like drums, synth lines.

“I can’t really explain what happens after that point except that I’ll piece different things together until I figure out a beat or phrase I like. Then I’ll fill the gaps with synths, kick, and whatever else I feel like is missing. I’ll usually layer these with samples too though!”

Sydney Miller has truly tested the boundaries of her sound and added a dimension of depth and versatility to her current discography with the addition of Behind Closed Doors, and now Left Out. But not to fear - Sydney doesn’t view this as a departure of any sort from her recent releases.

“I want to be a better artist and individual, and I feel like the best way for me to do that in my practice is by challenging myself to try new and more approaches, and extending my technical and creative potential.”

For Sydney, this includes pushing the potential of her music with her 5-piece live band, featuring a hybrid of acoustic drums, synths, keytar and live object sampling.

She will hence be reengaging her band after a year-long hiatus to put on her liveliest and most eclectic set yet at The Leadbeater Hotel on the 31st August 2023. This performance will officially launch 2023’s recent and upcoming releases for Sydney Miller, including Behind Closed Doors and Left Out. Sydney Miller and band are humbled to be supported by local talents Indigo King and Joane. Tickets can be purchased on the door or via oztix.

‘Left Out’ is available for streaming on all platforms now.