SYHR On the Making Of ‘Take Back The Night’
Image Credit: Rahim Mastafa - © 2025 SYHR Music
Can you talk about any specific themes or motifs that run throughout 'Take Back The Night?'
'Take Back The Night' is about overcoming fear, self-doubt, and reclaiming who you are. Each song explores a different facet of that journey—whether it’s battling inner voices, searching for clarity, or finding strength through music. There’s a strong contrast in the lyrics between light and darkness, between being lost and finding direction.
Musically, that contrast comes through as well—there are moments of space and atmosphere, and then moments where everything surges forward with intensity. A lot of the songs reflect my own experiences with ADHD, self-doubt, and the way music has been both an escape and a form of grounding. Ultimately, the EP is about not letting fear hold you back from what you love.
How did you approach the arrangement and instrumentation on this EP?
I wanted the EP to have a big, cinematic feel while still keeping a raw, emotional core. I also wanted to use the strengths of the musicians that play on the recordings as well, as they all bring their own personalities and interpretations of the music to rehearsals, and I love hearing the way others interpret the songs.
The songs are built on a mix of gritty, 90s-inspired rock guitars and electronic elements, with layers of synth textures, ambient sounds, and dynamic percussion.
A good example is "Drowning"—it starts with an almost hypnotic pulse before exploding into something more intense, reflecting the way music drowns out doubt for me. Then there’s "Lead Me," which combines driving guitars with an arpeggiated synth to create tension and release. Every sound was chosen to serve the emotion of the song—whether that meant stark, stripped-back moments or walls of sound that hit with full impact.
How do you feel this EP represents your artistic identity?
This EP is the closest I’ve ever come to capturing my true, natural artistic identity. When I first started writing, I leaned more towards ambient, electronic music, but no matter how much I explored that direction, I kept finding myself drawn back to something more organic—where layered vocals, intricate guitar work, and raw emotion take center stage. That blend of atmospheric textures and grounded songwriting feels the most authentic to me.
Sonically, the biggest influences are Radiohead and City & Colour, with touches of electronic elements creeping in. The layered vocals on "Skin" are particularly inspired by artists like Ry X and Bon Iver, where harmonies and subtle production choices create something intimate yet expansive.
Lyrically, this EP marks a big shift for me. In the past, I tended to write from a more detached or abstract perspective, but this time, I allowed myself to be completely honest, pulling directly from my own experiences. It’s been both freeing and cathartic to explore personal themes—struggles with doubt, ADHD, self-acceptance, and the way music has been a constant anchor for me. That honesty has shaped not just the words, but the way the entire EP sounds and feels.
In many ways, 'Take Back The Night' is both a reflection of where I’ve come from and a sign of where I’m headed. The modern influences are starting to weave their way in, and I hope that balance continues to evolve with whatever comes next.
Was there a pivotal moment in your life when you decided to follow your path as a musician?
There wasn’t one defining moment, but a series of realisations that I couldn’t NOT do this. Music has always been my way of making sense of the world, but for a long time, I held back—whether out of fear, perfectionism, or the nagging feeling that I wasn’t good enough.
For over a decade, I’ve been performing online in the metaverse, through platforms like Second Life and Twitch, and during that time, I stepped away from playing in a band in real life. But the incredible support I’ve had from my musical family all over the world has pushed me to put myself out there again. It’s been a reminder that music is about connection, and as long as people want to listen and find something meaningful in my songs, I’ll keep doing this.
Performing in the metaverse gave me the freedom to experiment, not just musically, but in how I create an atmosphere for people to experience a song, rather than just hear it. I realised that a great performance isn’t just about playing a song - it’s about drawing people in, creating a space where they can truly feel something. Our emotions respond to atmosphere, and as musicians, we’re responsible for shaping that. That understanding changed the way I write. Now, I focus on crafting songs that can be part of a live experience, where people don’t just listen, but connect.
That’s what ultimately led me to step back onto the stage in real life at age 45 - because I know my music still has a purpose. And because I realised that if I kept waiting for the “perfect time,” I’d never actually do it. 'Take Back The Night' is a reflection of that decision—to stop waiting and start doing.
What do you enjoy most about performing live and connecting with your audience?
For me, performing live is about creating an atmosphere—a space where people can truly connect with the music on a deeper, more immersive level. It’s not just about playing songs; it’s about shaping an entire experience, where every element—the sound, the lights, the transitions between songs, the energy in the room—comes together to draw people in.
I’ve had people come up to me after a show and say things like, "That song really spoke to me" or "Your music is like medicine for my soul." That’s what makes it worth it. Music has a way of reaching places that words alone can’t. There’s a quote from Toby Mac that’s always stuck with me: "Music takes words to a place that words cannot go on their own." That’s exactly how I see it—songs can express what we often struggle to say, and when performed live, they have an even greater impact.
That’s why I put so much time into preparing a show—thinking about not just the music itself, but the transitions, the dynamics, the builds and breaks, the moments of anticipation. When the band comes together, the expectation is that we already know the songs—we’re there to refine the moments in between, to craft something that feels seamless and intentional. It’s about engaging not just people’s ears, but their senses and emotions.
I love every aspect of that process. The hours of preparation, the creative decisions, the fine-tuning of every detail—it all becomes worth it when even just one person tells me a song spoke to them deeply. That’s why I do it, and why I’ll keep doing it again and again.
