Syn Cyres shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Syn , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt pure joy was back in September of this year. Earlier in the year, I had released a song called Maraschino Cherries, which gained a bit of traction online and caught the attention of a fashion designer preparing for Fashion Week. Ironically, we both worked in the same field outside of our creative lives. She told me how much she loved the song and invited me to perform it at her show that fall. I was elated. I prepared videos, choreography, the whole nine yards!
But on the day I was set to fly out, I received a call. There had been a logistical mix-up, and I would no longer be performing. She still wanted me to walk in the show, though. I was disappointed but decided to roll with it. After all, it was Fashion Week, and I was just excited to be in New York.
That trip changed everything. Although it was my first time walking, I did swimmingly well and was invited back. I danced the night away with some of the most beautiful souls—inside and out—and explored one of the most magnetic cities I’ve ever been to. Prior to that, I had been deeply depressed. I had a stable career but felt creatively starved, isolated, and disconnected from the artistic world that once made me feel alive.
In New York, I found that feeling again. After the show, I stood outside, taking it all in, the photographers, designers, the chaos, the smoke rising from the subway grates. It smelled awful, but I didn’t care. I finally felt alive again. A tear hit the pavement as I breathed in the gratitude of being surrounded once more by creativity, warmth, and people who reminded me why I fell in love with art in the first place.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Summer Nixon, though most people know me artistically as Syn Cyres now. I’m a multidisciplinary artist. A poet, singer-songwriter, dancer, and performer. I use storytelling to explore the complexities of emotions such as solitude, sensuality, and self-discovery. My work lives at the intersection of poetry, music, and visual art; I like to create worlds that reflect feelings and emotions that no one really talks about.
My debut poetry book, Was It Something I Said?, will be released early 2026. It blends poems, essays, and photography to share my journey from ostracization to peace and acceptance. It’s intimate, visual, and deeply human. Musically, I’ve released a couple of singles this year such as Maraschino Cherries, Drive By, and Mama, I’m Sorry.
Right now, I’m working on an upcoming EP called Crush On You and my second poetry collection. Both dive deeper into themes of identity, vulnerability, love, and the masks we wear to protect what we love most. My goal is to create art that makes people feel seen, creates connection through discussion, and a brand that proves softness and strength can exist in the same breath.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I was too much. That the only way I could move through this world was to stay silent and take everything on the chin. Be obedient. Do what you’re told. Keep your head down. Don’t draw too much attention to yourself. Don’t shine too bright, or you might offend someone. I was taught to consider other people’s feelings before my own.
It took me years to realize that in doing so, I was shrinking myself into nothing. And that if I wanted to be a successful artist, I’d have to find the courage to stop letting the fear of being perceived hold me back. I think I allowed it to stop me because we fear what we don’t understand. And that applies not only to the world around us, but to the one within us. I didn’t know who I was, and that’s why I allowed myself to disappear.
Now, I no longer believe being quiet is the best way to move through life. Quite frankly, it’s the worst. I believe I am radiant, deserving, and without a doubt, an amazing woman. All the things I used to dislike about myself — my empathy, gentleness, deep observation, and sensitivity — are exactly what make me strong. I was never too much.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. When Covid happened, I pretty much lost everything. I wasn’t able to adapt to the new way of performing — online. I lost my jobs, income, and industry connections. I was too deep in survival to create. So I gave up and joined the military. I did it out of sheer exhaustion and panic. I was 28, with nothing to show for my life, and I felt like a failure. I thought maybe if I just picked a stable job, traveled a bit, got a degree, I could rebuild myself quietly.
But even as things got better on paper, something was missing. I cried so many nights trying to figure out what it was. I prayed about it. I had all these insecurities — my age, my credibility, my drive. Am I still hungry enough? There was only one way to find out.
I started saving. Bought my own studio equipment (something I could never afford before). Took online classes in songwriting and production, lived on YouTube University, learned to play the guitar, and started vocal lessons. Every step took time, and that time made me anxious. I was living in a foreign country, with little to no support. There were days I wanted to stop again. Because when you get older, all you can think about is time, and how much of it you have left.
But I kept going. I’m still learning to accept that I’m not where I wanted to be. But I am in a better place than where I was. And that means something. I’m glad I didn’t give up, because now, I have a book and an EP on the way.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Be kind. Be the person you feel the world is missing. Be human, but also, be love. Respond with love. Act with love. I used to move from a place of fear, thinking I had to earn what was meant for me. But the truth is, all you have to do is be. What’s meant for you will always find its way. Chasing only makes things run further.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Playing it safe.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://summernixon.my.canva.site/syncyres
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syncyres/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SYNCYRES
Image Credits
For the first two images credit goes to Gennifer Nicole
