Musician Syd released her third solo album, titled Beard, via Warner Records following a transition from her previous label contract with Columbia Records.
Album Production and Collaborations
Beard features production and writing contributions from several prominent industry figures. Raphael Saadiq co-produced multiple tracks and played bass on the record, while additional collaborators include the songwriting duo Nova Wav, James Fauntleroy, Van Hunt, Rodney Jerkins, Big Sean, and Jordan Ward. The album’s title stems from a request by Syd’s wife, model Simone Clay, that the musician maintain peach fuzz on her upper lip. The release follows Syd’s work co-writing and co-producing the track “Plastic Off the Sofa” for Beyoncé’s 2022 album Renaissance, which earned a Grammy Award.
Personal Shifts and Career Milestones
Alongside her solo work, Syd has continued recording with the soul-music group The Internet, sharing studio time in rural Georgia and Los Angeles with bandmates including Matt Martians and Steve Lacy. In her personal life, Syd married Simone Clay last year and stopped drinking alcohol two and a half years prior to the album’s release after recognizing that daily consumption was no longer serving her. Moving forward, the couple plans to eventually exchange homes with Syd’s parents to accommodate their goal of becoming foster parents.
FAQs
- When was Beard released? The album was released alongside new music from bandmates Steve Lacy and Christopher Smith.
- Which label released the album? Beard was released through Warner Records under the boutique label Free Lunch, overseen by Tim Hinshaw.
- What is Syd’s connection to Odd Future? Syd began her career nearly two decades ago as a member of the Los Angeles hip-hop collective Odd Future, alongside her younger brother Travis “Taco” Bennett.
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