Sasha McLeod (born 26 August 2001), known professionally as Sycco (SIGH-co[3]), is an Aboriginal 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.
Sycco | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Sasha McLeod |
| Born | 26 August 2001[1] Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) |
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| Years active | 2018–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | syccoworld |
Early life edit
McLeod grew up in Brisbane, Queensland.[4] She confirmed during a performance in Melbourne, she has a Virgo Sun, Sagittarius Moon, and Capricorn Rising. Has also developed an interest in bakeries.
Career edit
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]
McLeod'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]
McLeod 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, Sycco 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, Sycco said the track was "really fun" to make and "came together super quickly". Sycco 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]
Discography edit
Extended plays edit
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Sycco's First EP |
|
Singles edit
As lead artist edit
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ Hot [11] | |||
| "Starboard Square"[5][12] | 2018 | — | Non-album singles |
| "Tamed Grief"[3][13] | 2019 | — | |
| "Peacemaker"[3][14] | — | ||
| "Nicotine"[15] | 2020 | — | |
| "Dribble" | — | Sycco's First EP | |
| "Germs"[16] | — | ||
| "My Ways"[17] | 2021 | 26 | |
| "Time's Up"[10] | — | ||
| "Past Life"[18] | — | ||
| "Weakness" (with Alice Ivy)[19] |
— | TBA | |
| "Superstar"[8] | 2022 | — | |
| "Jinx"[20] | — | ||
| "Ripple"[9] (featuring Flume and Chrome Sparks) |
37 | ||
| "I'd Love to Tell You"[21] | 2024 | — | TBA |
As featured artist edit
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Love Affairs" (DJ Picolo featuring AJ Mitchell and Sycco)[22] |
2021 | Non-album single |
Promotional singles edit
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Embrace" (Triple J Like a Version)[23] |
2020 | Non-album singles |
| "Dribble" (Live for Like a Version)[24] |
2021 |
Awards and nominations edit
APRA Awards edit
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 | [25][26] |
| 2023 | "Superstar" | Most Performed Alternative Work of the Year | Nominated | [27] |
AIR Awards edit
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 | [28][29] |
| 2022 | "Weakness" (with Alice Ivy) | Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single | Nominated | [30][31] |
J Awards edit
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 | [32] |
National Indigenous Music Awards edit
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 | [33][34] |
| "Dribble" | Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
| "My Ways" | Film Clip of the Year | Nominated |
Queensland Music Awards edit
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 | [35] |
| Pop Song of the Year | Won | |||
| 2022 | "My Ways" | Song of the Year | Won | [36] |
| Pop Song of the Year | Won | |||
| 2023 | "Ripple" | Electronic / Dance Award | Won | [37] |
References edit
- ^ a b "Sycco Is an Infectious Dose of Sonic Sunshine / Ones To Watch". Ones To Watch.
- ^ a b "Rising Bedroom Pop Singer Sycco Signs With Future Classic: Exclusive". Billboard.
- ^ a b c d "Sycco shares new single and video 'Nicotine'". NME Australia. 17 March 2020.
- ^ a b c Byrne, Declan (15 July 2020). "Meet Sycco: From milkshakes with Mallrat to the Laneway main stage". triple j.
- ^ a b c ""I'm excited by the unknown": Brisbane's SYCCO Talks New Single "Dribble" & Making Colorful Music". 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Baker Boy, Sycco, And More Are Dropping Live Sets On TikTok For NAIDOC Week". Junkee. 9 November 2020.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "Sycco Shares New Single, "Superstar"". Prelude Press. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart:
- "My Ways": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- "Ripple": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
- ^ "Starboard Square – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "Tamed Grief – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "Peacemaker – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "Nicotine – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "Germs – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "My Ways – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ "Sycco named as Apple Music's latest Up Next Local artist". The Music Network. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "First Play: Alice Ivy & Sycco collab 'Weakness' showcases their combined strengths". ABC. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
- ^ "Listen to Sycco's new single "Jinx"". NME. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Sycco – I'd Love to Tell You". Fem Music. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Love Affairs (feat. Sycco & AJ Mitchell) – Single by DJ Picolo on Apple Music". Apple Music. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ "Embrace (triple j Like a Version) – Single by Sycco on Apple Music". Apple Music. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Nominees Revealed for 2022 APRA Music Awards". The Industry Observer. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ "40th APRA Music Awards celebrates songwriting superstars". APRA AMCOS. 3 May 2022. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "Nominees revealed for the 2023 APRA Music Awards". APRA Awards. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "2021 AIR Awards Winners". Scenstr.com.au. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "Nominees Announced For AIR Independent Music Awards 2022". musicfeeds. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- ^ Tyler Jenke (5 August 2022). "Genesis Owusu Wins Big At The 2022 AIR Awards". MusicFeeds. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Cashmere, Paul (8 July 2021). "NIMA Nominees Revealed". noise11. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
- ^ "The Kid LAROI, JK-47 lead National Indigenous Music Award winners". ABC. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "2021 Queensland Music Awards Winners". Scenestr. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "2022 Queensland Music Awards Winners". Scenestr. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Thelma Plum, Ball Park Music win top gongs at 2023 Queensland Music Awards". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.