Sycco

Sycco
Birth nameSasha McLeod
Born (2001-08-26) 26 August 2001 (age 23)[1]
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • production
Years active2018–present
Labels
Websitesyccoworld.com

Sasha McLeod (born 26 August 2001), known professionally as Sycco (SIGH-co[3]), is an Australian singer-songwriter and producer from Brisbane. She was nominated for Triple J Unearthed Artist of the Year in 2020, having released the pop singles "Nicotine" and "Dribble" in the same year.

Early life

McLeod grew up in Brisbane, Queensland.[4] McLeod is Indigenous Australian, having reconnected with her Indigenous identity through her Torres Strait Islander descent in her teens.[4]

Career

McLeod's father taught her to play the guitar at seven years old. She began making music from an early age, having created an album at the age of 15,[4] and adopted the artist name Sycco as a reference to psychedelia.[5]

Sycco's debut single "Starboard Square" was released in August 2018.[5] She also released "Tamed Grief" and "Peacemaker" in 2019.[3] In 2020, Sycco released the singles "Nicotine" and "Dribble", leading her to be nominated for Triple J Unearthed Artist of the Year at the J Awards of 2020.[6]

Sycco has performed at St Jerome's Laneway Festival,[1] and supported Vera Blue, Spacey Jane and Glass Animals on tour.[4] She also covered Tame Impala and Pnau for Like a Version.[7]

In March 2022, Sycco released "Superstar". Of the song, McLeod said “I’m really proud of this song... the lyrics are satirical obviously – I used to work at a grocery store and it was fun to imagine a glowed-up future me having a tantrum in there."[8]

In September 2022, Sycco released "Ripple". In a press release, McLeod said the track was "really fun" to make and "came together super quickly". McLeod said Flume and Chrome Sparks "did such a great job on the prod[uction]", developing what she describes as "a beautiful environment of synths and drums that evoke such a nice feeling of ease but also discomfort at points".[9]

In July 2024, Sycco announced the forthcoming release of their debut album, Zorb.[10]

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with release date and label shown
Title Album details
Zorb

Extended plays

List of EPs, with release date and label shown
Title EP details
Sycco's First EP

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with year released and album name shown
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot
[12]
"Starboard Square"[5][13] 2018 — Non-album singles
"Tamed Grief"[3][14] 2019 —
"Peacemaker"[3][15] —
"Nicotine"[16] 2020 —
"Dribble" — Sycco's First EP
"Germs"[17] —
"My Ways"[18] 2021 26
"Time's Up"[11] —
"Past Life"[19] —
"Weakness"
(with Alice Ivy)[20] 		— TBA
"Superstar"[8] 2022 —
"Jinx"[21] —
"Ripple"[9]
(featuring Flume and Chrome Sparks) 		37 Zorb
"I'd Love to Tell You"[22] 2024 —
"Swarm"[23] —
"Touching and Talking"[10] —
"Monkey Madness"[24] —
List of singles, with year released and album name shown
Title Year Album
"Love Affairs"
(DJ Picolo featuring AJ Mitchell and Sycco)[25] 		2021 Non-album single

Promotional singles

List of promotional singles, with year released and album name shown
Title Year Album
"Embrace"
(Triple J Like a Version)[26] 		2020 Non-album singles
"Dribble"
(Live for Like a Version)[27] 		2021

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 herself Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year Nominated [28][29]
2023 "Superstar" Most Performed Alternative Work of the Year Nominated [30]

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (known colloquially as the AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2021 Herself Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year Nominated [31][32]
2022 "Weakness" (with Alice Ivy) Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single Nominated [33][34]

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual award ceremony event celebrating the Australian music industry.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2024 Zorb Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist Pending [35]

J Awards

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2020 Herself Unearthed Artist of the Year Nominated [36]

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2021 Herself Artist of the Year Nominated [37][38]
"Dribble" Song of the Year Nominated
"My Ways" Film Clip of the Year Nominated

Queensland Music Awards

The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only) Ref.
2021 "Dribble" Song of the Year Won [39]
Pop Song of the Year Won
2022 "My Ways" Song of the Year Won [40]
Pop Song of the Year Won
2023 "Ripple" Electronic / Dance Award Won [41]

References

  1. ^ a b "Sycco Is an Infectious Dose of Sonic Sunshine / Ones To Watch". Ones To Watch.
  2. ^ a b "Rising Bedroom Pop Singer Sycco Signs With Future Classic: Exclusive". Billboard.
  3. ^ a b c d "Sycco shares new single and video 'Nicotine'". NME Australia. 17 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d Byrne, Declan (15 July 2020). "Meet Sycco: From milkshakes with Mallrat to the Laneway main stage". triple j.
  5. ^ a b c ""I'm excited by the unknown": Brisbane's SYCCO Talks New Single "Dribble" & Making Colorful Music". 6 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Baker Boy, Sycco, And More Are Dropping Live Sets On TikTok For NAIDOC Week". Junkee. 9 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Excuse me but Sycco just delivered one of this year's best Like A Versions with a PNAU/Tame Impala mashup". Purple Sneakers. 12 November 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Sycco Shares New Single, "Superstar"". Prelude Press. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  9. ^ a b Robinson, Ellie (23 September 2022). "Sycco links up with Flume and Chrome Sparks on dizzying new single 'Ripple'". NME. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "SYCCO Announces Debut Album 'Zorb' + Releases New Single 'Touching and Talking'". Good Call Live. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  11. ^ a b Brereton, Greta (21 May 2021). "Check out Sycco's confident new single 'Time's Up'". NME Australia. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  12. ^ Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart:
  13. ^ "Starboard Square – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Tamed Grief – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Peacemaker – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Nicotine – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Germs – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  18. ^ "My Ways – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Sycco named as Apple Music's latest Up Next Local artist". The Music Network. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  20. ^ "First Play: Alice Ivy & Sycco collab 'Weakness' showcases their combined strengths". ABC. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  21. ^ "Listen to Sycco's new single "Jinx"". NME. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Sycco – I'd Love to Tell You". Fem Music. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  23. ^ "SYCCO'S Sonic World Glimmers On 'Swarm'". Good Call Live]. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  24. ^ "Sycco Gears Up for Debut Album with 'Monkey Madness'". Rolling Stone. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  25. ^ "Love Affairs (feat. Sycco & AJ Mitchell) – Single by DJ Picolo on Apple Music". Apple Music. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  26. ^ "Embrace (triple j Like a Version) – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Dribble (Live for Like a Version) – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 12 March 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  28. ^ "Nominees Revealed for 2022 APRA Music Awards". The Industry Observer. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  29. ^ "40th APRA Music Awards celebrates songwriting superstars". APRA AMCOS. 3 May 2022. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  30. ^ "Nominees revealed for the 2023 APRA Music Awards". APRA Awards. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  31. ^ "Details confirmed for 2021 AIR Awards as nominees announced". The Music. 2 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  32. ^ "2021 AIR Awards Winners". Scenstr.com.au. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  33. ^ "Nominees Announced For AIR Independent Music Awards 2022". musicfeeds. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  34. ^ Tyler Jenke (5 August 2022). "Genesis Owusu Wins Big At The 2022 AIR Awards". MusicFeeds. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  35. ^ "ARIA Awards 2024 nominations — everything you need to know". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  36. ^ Fuamoli, Sose (2 November 2020). "Here are your nominees for the 2020 J Awards!". Triple J. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  37. ^ Cashmere, Paul (8 July 2021). "NIMA Nominees Revealed". noise11. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  38. ^ "The Kid LAROI, JK-47 lead National Indigenous Music Award winners". ABC. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  39. ^ "2021 Queensland Music Awards Winners". Scenestr. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  40. ^ "2022 Queensland Music Awards Winners". Scenestr. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  41. ^ "Thelma Plum, Ball Park Music win top gongs at 2023 Queensland Music Awards". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.