Sara Syms and Her Graveyard Tale

by Jessica Nguyen

Once in a while there is an musical artist with such a talent that it makes you step out of your normal musical comfort zone and explore their world. Sara Syms is one of those artists, one who makes you turn off your regular play list and try something new. One who makes you want to step into a specific genre more and explore what else is out there.

Syms recently released her new album, Fade to Blue. “It took about six months to write and record the album, in studio called Dreamland in Woodstock, New York,” says Syms. “Dreamland is also set up in an 19^th century church.”

In my research of Syms and her music, one song in particular, “Dance on My Grave” stood out.  Syms lost her mom while she was in college and when she sat down to write this song,  she wrote as if her mother were talking to her. “When I do pass away, don’t be sad. Celebrate the happy times we had,” Syms explains.

“We shot the video in a graveyard at night,” Syms said of the song. Hmmm…is that legal? “Not really,” she continues. “Most graveyards, you can’t be in at night.” However, Syms found one in Staten Island that allowed her access, an old ship graveyard where vessels from all decades in the 20th century are decayed and rusting. When Syms told her father where the video was filmed, he told her a story about her mother. One she never knew. Syms’ mom used to sing in graveyards at night because she was to afraid to perform in front of people.

In writing and recording this album, Syms was able to reconnect with her mother.  However, Syms admits she has no signs of stage fright in her body.  She’s a ham who loves to perform and be on stage. Syms had a lot of practice, being in many bands over the years. “I never really wrote by myself. I am a perfectionist and I have a dark side,” she says.

Syms is very honest and sincere in her answers when we spoke, she’s a realist. “There is no such thing as perfect and I got out what I wanted to get out.” She has also made a decision to make music her main priority. In her day job, she’s a graphic designer and often struggled back and forth, trying to do music full time.

“Music is something I don’t know how to do without. Music, it takes me to a different place- a different state of mind and euphoria. With music, I am sharing my message. I am a story teller and I can connect with so many different people.”