Wombo
Images by Athena Mary
We still can’t figure out exactly how Wombo writes their songs.
A lot of their songs sound frantic and forward pushing - like a train zooming by from the perspective of a passenger on the platform. They are often sung with a distinct, underpowered but determined looseness that one might use when waking up in the night and trying to recall a dream they just had to a snoozing sleep partner. Their songs are good. I’m concerned that this description makes them sound like we aren’t in love with them when actually, we are. In love, fascinated, nodding along to their rhythms. Well done, Wombo. Find their brand spankin’ new EP, Slab, here.
Who are you?
I am Sydney. I play bass and sing for Wombo.
What do you do?
I make music with friends, bartend, draw/paint, journal and read over coffee, follow my cat around to see what she’s up to, that kinda stuff.
How long you been doin’ that?
Ever since I can remember, except the bartending part.
What is your favourite song right now and why?
My favourite song right now is ‘Rose Blood’ by Mazzy Star from the album Among My Swan. I use to have it as a cd (along with The Bends by Radiohead) in my car when I was younger and so I have recently just nostalgically been listening to it with the windows rolled down since it’s getting to be spring again.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
I’d lay down and die. That was dramatic.
What is a bit of slang that you often catch yourself using lately? (ie. ‘that slaps’)
Buckwild.
What do you do outside of music and how does that influence or affect your work?
I bartend. It keeps me social and on my feet and helps me kind of snap out of my introverted ways. You are always on display as a bartender, and same with being at shows, talking to people every night, running merch, playing on stage. I was a painfully shy young adult and kid but being In the service industry for so many years now has forced me out of a shell. Sometimes it can be exhausting though.
What is the best thing about your industry? The worst?
The best thing is the people I meet and travelling. The worst thing is Capitalism.
What is something you’re very proud of?
I’m proud of my band mates and myself and the little life I’ve made for myself so far.
“I don’t know if I have a hidden talent that’s not related to music in some sort of way. When I start books, I finish them. That’s a pretty solid one maybe? ”
Something anyone can do today to make the world a better place?
Make art. Like draw something or anything and share it with people if you want to. I am inspired and hopeful when I see people making things.
What are your aspirations? How do you define success for yourself?
I just want to travel more and keep making music but not have to worry about feeding myself while also worrying about paying bills while I’m on the road or stressed about taking time off of work to record. Success is something I try not to think too hard about. We’ve reached many levels of success as a band together already.
Did you have an inciting moment where you knew for sure that you wanted to make music?
Music is something I've been surrounded by my whole life. My grandmother taught me how to do the Carter scratch on guitar so I learned from playing old country and western songs. My family has very southern Baptist and Kentucky roots and there was singing and guitar and piano playing all the time. Growing up in that environment had its strangeness but the music part was instilled in me and proved to be very useful. I’m grateful for it. It took me some time to come around to finding out what that meant for me but I think I did that and continue to explore it.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome so far in your industry?
Just the logistical business type stuff is overwhelming sometimes. That’s not my area. Also just stage performances are scary for me but I feel like I’ve learned to somewhat manage my stage fright.
What was surprisingly easy to do?
Performing sober.
What advice might you give to you from five years ago? Ten years ago?
Not to make this about sobriety but I’d say the drugs and alcohol are not worth the trouble and that you’ll write better sober and be more in tune with your band mates and touring will be easier. and I’d say to just be kinder in general to myself as well.
What is your hidden talent or thing you are good at that is completely unrelated to the thing we are interviewing you about?
I don’t know if I have a hidden talent that’s not related to music in some sort of way. When I start books, I finish them. That’s a pretty solid one maybe?
Who do you think is doing it the best/coolest in your industry right now/biggest influence?
There’s a lot of bands I think are doing cool stuff. I think the industry kind of pushes people to play it safe but there is surge of bands right now that are really unique. Anyone who says there isn’t any good new things whether it’s music or film or art of any kind, are not looking hard enough.
Image by Kyle Berger
