OurStage Snapshot: Sydney Wayser

Posted on Apr 15th 2008 2:00PM by Kim Davis

Hometown: Los Angeles

Sounds Like: Cat Power, Beth Orton

Her Story: While growing up, Sydney Wayser split her time between Paris and Los Angeles, developing an appreciation for adventure and culture at an early age. Her resultant worldly nature has played an integral role in the music she creates, as evidenced on her 2007 album 'Silent Parade,' which finds her bandmates playing everything from saws and toys to wine glasses. Wayser has consistently reached the Top 10 in both the Acoustic and Singer-Songwriter monthly contests on OurStage, and recently won the chance to open for Moby and Kaki King at this year's SXSW festival. Following the festival, she supported King on the guitar virtuoso's East Coast tour dates.

Our friends at OurStage recently sat down with Wayser for a chat about her influences and what she considers a perfect day. Enjoy the excerpt below and read the entire interview here.

Are you influenced by any French musicians?

I feel that I have been greatly influenced by French artists. To name a few: Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg and Raphael. My influence from France has been more than simply music. My influences stretch from architecture, to painting, to parks, weather, the specific light of the sun that only Paris has, the sound of the ambulances through the thin streets, historic events, writers ... the list goes on.

What would a perfect day in your life look like?

Picture Paris. It would start out at 6am because I would be jet-lagged. I would go for a run with the silvery light Paris has in the morning. On my way back to the apartment, I would pick up some fresh breakfast form the pattisserie across the street, spend the next hour or so reading a good book, then make a picnic and eat at one of the benches in the Palais Royal. I would go for a long walk across the river. Explore, get lost, find used books stores, old print shops until eventually I made my way back home for a nice meal. After dinner, I would go to the Pont des Arts and listen to music as the sun goes down. I would see a great film either in the theater or in bed before I go to sleep (most likely around 11pm).