The Internet Announces Collective Comeback with Simultaneous Solo Releases and Upcoming Album

The music world experienced a significant jolt last Friday as The Internet, the acclaimed neo-soul collective, not only confirmed their impending return but also unveiled a remarkable trifecta of solo projects from three of its core members: Syd, Steve Lacy, and Chris Crispy. This synchronized release, marking the band’s first new material in eight years, arrives as they meticulously finalize their next studio album, a project that has been in development for the past five years. The anticipation for this collective effort is palpable, especially for Syd, the band’s co-founder and charismatic frontwoman, who exuded enthusiasm when discussing the new material.

“We’re excited to drop this next album,” Syd shared during a video conversation from her Los Angeles garage, her voice brimming with anticipation. “We’re in a good place with it. We’ve got a lot of it done. It’s foundationally there and built. Matt Martians [the band’s fourth member] has taken the lead on writing this Internet album. Since the three of us have all been finishing solo projects, Matt has been masterminding the album and bringing things to me to record. Honestly, this album is going to be one for the books.”

The simultaneous release of solo works by Syd, Steve Lacy, and Chris Crispy is a testament to the individual artistic growth and creative output of The Internet’s members during their hiatus. For Syd, this past Friday marked the release of her third solo album and notably, the first she has put out in her thirties. Now 34, she reflects on a transformative period in her life that began with her milestone thirtieth birthday.

“The biggest difference is that I spent my 20s really suffering from depression,” Syd candidly revealed. “I started therapy in my late 20s, which helped me to seek out psychiatry and that really helped me. Now I feel like I’m on even footing with everybody else. One thing that made me really content was buying a house. Having a backyard, having a garage – I realized that being a homeowner was one of my biggest dreams.” This newfound sense of stability and personal fulfillment appears to be a significant influence on her current creative output and outlook.

A Journey Through Music and Identity

Syd’s personal journey is deeply intertwined with her musical roots. Raised as Sydney Bennett in California, a mere ten minutes from her current residence, she grew up in a household steeped in music. Her mother, a city clerk with aspirations of being a DJ, fostered a love for reggae and soul through extensive playlists, while her father worked in sales for a toy manufacturer. Her paternal heritage, rooted in Jamaica, further enriched her musical upbringing.

Her foray into music began at the young age of 14. The following year, she became a foundational member of Tyler, the Creator’s influential alt-hip-hop collective, Odd Future. This early immersion in a creative incubator proved pivotal. Four years later, in 2011, she co-founded The Internet alongside producer Matt Martians, birthing a band that would go on to achieve critical acclaim and a Grammy nomination for their fourth studio album, Hive Mind, released eight years ago.

During her teenage years, while laying the groundwork for her musical career, Syd also grappled with personal insecurities, particularly concerning body image. “I was very, very self-conscious about my appearance,” she admitted. “I was a hairy kid.” Syd has publicly shared her experience with PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome), a hormonal imbalance affecting approximately one in eight women globally. A key symptom of PMOS is increased hair growth, often presenting where men typically grow facial or body hair. “One of the symptoms is hair growth – where most men would grow hair, we get either hair or acne. My mum never told me to shave. I wanted to, because I went to school and was hairier than all the other girls, so I went home and asked how I could fix that.”

After decades of managing this condition through shaving, Syd has embraced a new relationship with her body hair, including the fine hairs on her upper lip. This personal evolution directly inspired the title of her latest solo album, Beard. The album’s original working title, Peach Fuzz, stemmed from her decision to allow these fine facial hairs to grow. “Because lately I’ve been letting my peach fuzz grow!” she exclaimed with a laugh. “I identify as a woman so it’s kind of weird, because as women we’re told that we have to shave that. But I feel very much a woman and I also very much like my moustache.” This embrace of her natural appearance signifies a profound shift in self-acceptance.

Shifting Priorities: From Ambition to Love

The song "2 Many Days," the final track on Syd’s new album, offers a poignant reflection on the evolution of her aspirations. She acknowledges that her youthful ambitions were largely driven by capitalist ideals, primarily centered on accumulating wealth and achieving fame. Today, her perspective has dramatically shifted. “If we’re lucky, we realize before it’s too late that that stuff isn’t as important as being loved,” she stated with deep sincerity. “As someone who has lived with suicidal ideation, being loved and knowing that you’re loved is of ultimate importance.” This profound realization underscores a prioritization of emotional well-being and genuine human connection over material success.

This emphasis on love and commitment culminated in Syd’s marriage last year to her longtime girlfriend, model Simone Clay. Their wedding ceremony was notably understated, held “at a window in the courthouse – it was like a drive-through,” Syd recalled. The decision to marry was spontaneous, stemming from a late-night conversation about the state of the world. “We were up late watching the news, and we were like ‘This shit sucks… Should we leave? Should we go somewhere?’ But where would we go and would we be able to get married there? We started looking at gay marriage laws all over the world.”

The couple quickly applied for a marriage license, and serendipitously, their approved date was just a few days away. “We got married, then I went straight from the courthouse to rehearsals for the Billie Eilish tour,” Syd noted, referencing her role as a support act for Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour. This swift union also reflects a pragmatic response to the political climate. Given the escalating global political landscape and the concerning rise of far-right movements, Syd and her wife felt an urgency to formalize their union while it was legally secure. “That was one reason why we went ahead and got married,” she explained. “With the president we currently have in office, we didn’t know if we’d be able to do it forever. We wanted rights to each other.”

A Resilient Voice for Representation

Syd’s commitment to authenticity extends to her representation of queer identity in her music. She has spent the better part of two decades actively working to normalize queerness within the music industry by openly discussing her relationships with women. “At first I was tiptoeing between trying not to pigeonhole myself as just a queer artist, and also trying to normalize same-sex lyrics,” she explained. “I never wanted to make it an ‘I kissed a girl, and I liked it!’ kind of vibe. Some of us just live like this, and it’s not a trope. I’m happy to see it become more normalized, where the queer music that exists now is not just ‘I kissed a girl, and I liked it’ – it’s just gay girls and gay boys singing love songs.”

She recalled a time early in her career when some of her lesbian peers felt pressured to alter their lyrics to appeal to a broader audience, substituting female pronouns with male ones. “I knew gay women artists who, in their songs, were directing their love toward ‘him’ or ‘he’,” she remembered. “I knew I could never bring myself to do that.” Syd’s steadfast refusal to compromise her artistic integrity and personal truth has paved the way for a more inclusive landscape in popular music. Her touring with artists like Billie Eilish and Renée Rapp in recent years signifies a positive trend of increased mainstream visibility for queer women in music.

A Grammy-Winning Catalyst for Creativity

The past year has been particularly momentous for Syd, not only marking her first wedding anniversary but also her first Grammy win. The prestigious accolade was not for her solo work or contributions with The Internet, but for "PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA," a song she co-wrote for Beyoncé’s critically acclaimed album Renaissance. This achievement builds upon her previous collaboration with Beyoncé, having co-written "OTHERSIDE" for The Lion King: The Gift album.

Syd received an invitation to a writing camp for Renaissance. While the initial sessions were disrupted by the pandemic, she reconnected with Beyoncé’s team as normalcy returned. Upon learning that the project was still in its nascent stages, Syd submitted a demo consisting of chords, a drum loop, and the chorus for "PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA." Her submission was met with enthusiasm, leading to an invitation to the studio to hear Beyoncé’s recording of the track.

“Beyoncé showed me so much love. It was a confidence booster for sure. It gave me the courage to produce this album [Beard] for myself,” Syd reflected. “’PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA’ was one of the first times I really got to produce for another artist. So that gave me the confidence I needed to trust my own ideas and produce my album. Beard is the first album of mine that I’ve produced all of. I don’t know if I would have had the courage to do that if it weren’t for Renaissance.” This experience has clearly empowered her to take full creative control of her solo projects, including Beard.

Looking Ahead: A Future Rooted in Legacy and Resilience

As Syd contemplates future accolades, she remains open to the possibility of Beard or the new Internet album earning her another Grammy. She also anticipates potential writing credits on future Beyoncé projects. For now, she is eagerly awaiting her return to London this summer, where she is slated to perform at All Points East, a festival curated by Tyler, the Creator, and headline her own show.

The artist, formerly known as Syd tha Kyd, has demonstrably matured, her artistic output and personal narrative reflecting a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and empowerment. Her decision to embrace her "peach fuzz" serves as a powerful symbol of this evolution. Furthermore, Syd is actively pursuing Jamaican citizenship, a nod to her heritage. Despite her global recognition and the allure of new horizons, she remains firmly rooted in her LA haven. “I will be the last one to go – I just bought this house!” she declared with a laugh. “This is my little patch of happiness. Get the fuck out of here. I’ve seen a lot of places, and I do believe that America is worth fighting for. I’m not leaving. You can go. You don’t like this country, you can leave!” Her defiant stance underscores a deep connection to her home and a commitment to advocating for the values she holds dear.