Echosmith frontwoman Sydney Quiseng already began to make name for herself with a solo single release earlier this month, but today the singer announced a full solo EP coming next month. That’s My Baby!, set for release on February 20th, will be the first solo album by the singer (and expecting mother). As part of the announcement, the singer shared the title track, “That’s My Baby! (On Main Street),” which can be found on her YouTube channel.
Following her last single, Quiseng continues the pop-country style in this celebratory and upbeat track, with lyrics that “celebrate both the love I found with my husband and the love I already have for my baby.” The singer also shared that it felt extra special to release the track at 8 months pregnant with her daughter. “This EP was inspired by my pregnancy,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to become a mom and I’m finally getting to step into that. It’s been really encouraging to continue to write, record, and even perform throughout my pregnancy and the making of this EP. I used to be scared of taking this next step because I really do love being an artist so much, so it’s been pretty amazing to be able to make these memories while a baby grows inside of me.”
In particular, the newly released single not only captures the singer’s love for her child, but her husband as well. “I’m very blessed to be married to somebody that I love so much, so it’s really natural for me to write songs about him,” Quiseng said. “I’ll show my husband a new song that I wrote and tell him, “this one’s about you” and he’ll say, “they’re all about me“ and we laugh. If a love song is born from a place of truly being in love, then I don’t think you can go wrong.”
That’s My Baby! is set to continue the singer’s exploration of more country and Nashville-inspired sounds with her solo career. “I’ve come to love and appreciate country music even more since coming to Nashville more often,” she said. “It’s been really fulfilling to just let myself grow into someone new, both in my music and my personal life. When you’ve done one thing for so long it can be hard to make room for change, but that’s exactly what I’ve been able to do with releasing music under my married name.”
The EP is also set for release on February 20th, which will also mark an important time for the singer. “I will only be a week and a half from my due date when my EP comes out,” said Quiseng, “so I’m planning to have a cozy night at home with my husband and friends filled with good food, a great mocktail, board games, and a fire pit. To celebrate the birth of our little girl, I’m going to take a few months off to really be present with her and my husband. I’m currently counting down the days till we get to meet her.”
Here’s more of what Sydney Quiseng had to say about the new EP, her pregnancy and solo career in an exclusive interview with mxdwn’s Greg Poblete:
mxdwn: It seems like with this solo musical journey, you are approaching the creative process with a refreshed and new appreciation for songwriting. What has been the most fulfilling part about releasing music under your own name?
Sydney: It’s been really fulfilling to just let myself grow into someone new, both in my music and my personal life. When you’ve done one thing for so long it can be hard to make room for change, but that’s exactly what I’ve been able to do with releasing music under my married name. Songwriting and bringing the song to life in the studio has become my favorite part of the whole process. I’m fully embracing who I am now in this new phase of life and I love getting to share that journey through my songs.
mxdwn: With Echosmith, the music is wrapped in illustrious and grand pop production while your solo material takes on a more intimate country-tinged approach. How did you realize that country music was the genre you wanted to explore on this new project? What has been the scariest part about making this creative shift?
Sydney: My solo music is really just a combination of everything that I love: the feeling of plugging in and playing with a band, the country feel of acoustic guitar and banjo, steel guitar from Hawaii, and that nostalgic California coastal feel. This sound feels really natural for me and that’s a result of what I love listening to – Kacey Musgraves, Fleetwood Mac, George Harrison, Johnny Cash, and Paul Page. Spending more time in Tennessee the past few years has also been a big influence for me. The scariest part of doing solo music has also been the most exciting part. I’ve been in the music industry since I was 15 but, with this solo journey, I’m able to do things for the first time all over again. Whether it’s putting out my first song, my first EP, or playing my first show as Sydney Quiseng, it’s all been extra special.
mxdwn: “That’s My Baby! (On Main Street)” is a fun, upbeat track that has a carefree attitude expressing love through bright guitars and bubbly lyrics. In your opinion, what does it take to craft the perfect love song?
Sydney: I think the key is to not overthink it. I’m very blessed to be married to somebody that I love so much, so it’s really natural for me to write songs about him. I’ll show my husband a new song that I wrote and tell him, “this one’s about you” and he’ll say, “they’re all about me“ and we laugh. This one feels like the type of song you want to blast in your car with your favorite person. If a love song is born from a place of truly being in love, then I don’t think you can go wrong.
mxdwn: From hearing this track, it sounds like the intended way to pronounce the title of the EP is in an excited tone, That’s My Baby! How do you feel like the rest of the songs on the EP channel this excitement through their production and songwriting?
Sydney: This EP was inspired by my pregnancy. I’ve always wanted to become a mom and I’m finally getting to step into that. I wanted this project to capture my excitement for where I’m at right now, and that’s starting a family.
mxdwn: What has been the most surprising piece of self-discovery when working on this latest project? Have you gained any insights about your songwriting abilities as a solo artist?
Sydney: It’s been really encouraging to continue to write, record, and even perform throughout my pregnancy and the making of this EP. I used to be scared of taking this next step because I really do love being an artist so much, so it’s been pretty amazing to be able to make these memories while a baby grows inside of me. I’m also really grateful for all the collaborators I’ve found over the past few years. It makes making music so much more fun when you make it with people you really care about and have musical chemistry with.
mxdwn: Whether it’s Main Street or Kyoto, it seems like your songwriting lately has been inspired by real places. From a songwriter’s perspective, what is the importance of establishing a setting or location in the lyrics that you write?
Sydney: Listening to a song is like watching a movie. I want people to feel like they’re a fly on the wall when they listen to my lyrics. If you can bring the listener into the setting of the song, then they can feel what you feel.
mxdwn: How do you feel like the city of Nashville has helped inspire the sound of this new EP?
Sydney: I’ve come to love and appreciate country music even more since coming to Nashville more often. It’s so important who you’re in the room with when you’re being creative. Every songwriting session, whether the song is out in the world or not, is part of my journey of finding my sound and what I want to say and finding people who help me say that in the most authentic way.
mxdwn: You recently threw a gender reveal show in LA recently while announcing you would be having a girl in the middle of performing “Cool Kids.” Why was it important to share this personal moment with Echosmith fans? What was the main difference performing at this show compared to other Echosmith shows?
Sydney: I started touring when I was 16 and I feel like I really grew up with our Echosmith fans, so I wanted to celebrate this moment with them. It was so special to have an in-person sendoff like this before I take some time at home with my baby. Getting to announce the gender on stage during “Cool Kids” was a crazy moment that I’ll never forget.
mxdwn: With having a daughter on the way, has your perspective on writing music changed knowing that she will potentially listen to your music once she gets older? When going back to older songs you’ve written, has your perspective on these songs changed at all?
Sydney: I’m really excited to sing to my baby and show her my music as she gets older. I also can’t wait to bring her with me when I start playing shows again. A song like “Tell Her You Love Her” from my first album with Echosmith hits different now that I’m about to have a daughter. I want to be so intentional with telling my daughter how much I love her and it’s crazy that my 15-year-old self could remind my 28-year-old self how much your words matter all these years later. It’s amazing how you can grow up with your music and how the meaning can change through the years.
mxdwn: The release of the EP lines up almost perfectly with your due date. How do you plan to celebrate both releases?
Sydney: I will only be a week and a half from my due date when my EP comes out, so I’m planning to have a cozy night at home with my husband and friends filled with good food, a great mocktail, board games, and a fire pit. To celebrate the birth of our little girl, I’m going to take a few months off to really be present with her and my husband. I’m currently counting down the days till we get to meet her. 🙂
Contributed reporting by Greg Poblete
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