At the youthful age of 23, Sycco has already accumulated two pieces of prime real estate in her hometown. The Brisbane artist and songwriter (real name: Sasha McLeod) won Song of the Year at the Queensland Music Awards in successive years, with “Dribble” in 2021 and “My Ways” in 2022 – an honour that carries a plaque in the heart of the Fortitude Valley.
Sycco, who boasts Torres Strait Island lineage, started her career as a bedroom creative. Now, she’s represented by Nathan McLay’s indie music company Future Classic, which has guided the careers of Flume, G Flip, Chet Faker, and others.
In 2024, another win arrived when her debut album, Zorb, won the J Award for triple j’s Australian Album of the Year. The blissful, psychedelic collection “perfectly captures Sycco’s incredibly unique take on songwriting and production,” said triple j music director Nick Findlay, who declared her as “one of Australia’s best young artists.” —Lars Brandle
Read an exclusive interview with Sycco below. Check out the full Future of Music 2025 list here.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: How was 2024 for you? What were your biggest achievements and favourite moments?
Sycco: 2024 was an incredible year. I released my debut album, Zorb, moved city and made lots of memories with new and old friends! We also went to America a couple times and played our first shows there, which was also awesome.
Music is an increasingly crowded and competitive field. What’s one thing that makes you stand out from other artists?
I just try to follow my instincts and hone in on things that really interest me. And we put a lot of effort into our live show to create a memorable experience.
What’s coming up for you in 2025 and beyond? Any big shows, notable releases?
It has been such an incredible year so far, we have played shows almost every weekend. We just came off my headline tour, which was our first with the Sycco Extended Family DJs. We spent lots of money on an extravagant cube so we could DJ in it and get the fans in. It felt incredibly special. I’m hoping to release a lot of new music – I feel really proud of what I have in the vault. The Sycco Extended Family DJs are supporting The Jungle Giants in April which will be super fun. I’ve never supported shows as a DJ.
