Syd Reflects on Odd Future, The Internet, and Solo Music

Singer-songwriter Syd, born Sydney Bennett, reflects on her musical journey, including her time with the influential rap collective Odd Future and the R&B band The Internet. Bennett, now 34, was a member of Odd Future alongside artists like Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean, and Earl Sweatshirt. In 2011, she co-founded The Internet with Matt Martians, releasing acclaimed music and earning a Grammy nomination. Despite past collaborations with artists such as Beyoncé and Kehlani, and two solo albums, Bennett found personal satisfaction after purchasing a home in her childhood neighborhood of Mid-City, Los Angeles, which she states brought her happiness.

Bennett expressed a desire for recognition and tangible achievements around the time of her last album, "Broken Hearts Club," released in 2022. However, this pursuit shifted after she bought a house. She humorously described the simplicity of this transition, indicating that achieving personal contentment was more impactful than external validation. This sentiment suggests a re-evaluation of her priorities and definition of success in her career.

During the interview, Syd also touched upon her experiences within group dynamics, particularly her involvement with Odd Future. She characterized the group's collaborative process as minimal, stating, "We only had three meetings as a group and I called two of them." This comment highlights a potentially disjointed or infrequent engagement within the collective, contrasting with the more cohesive nature of her later projects. Her solo work is now characterized by her independent production, as she realized she "didn’t like anybody else’s beats," indicating a strong preference for creative autonomy in her current musical endeavors.