SYPHA is making waves with their darker, heavier sound and thought-provoking themes. From their latest single "Limbo" to their upcoming EP Borderland, the Brighton-based band showcases passion, evolution, and boundless creativity.
1. Your
latest single and video, "Limbo," has been well-received, showcasing
a darker, heavier sound for SYPHA. How did the concept for the song and video
come about? Were there specific challenges in bringing it to life?
The song was inspired by the manga and Netflix series ‘Alice In Borderland’
which is about a ‘limbo’ version of Tokyo where the people trapped there are
forced to compete in deadly games to survive. In our video we wanted to hint at
the themes, whilst keeping it still ‘Sypha’.
2. Your debut EP, Borderland, releases soon. Can you tell us more about the
overarching themes of the EP and what fans can expect from the tracks included?
The EP is in three chapters (songs) starting with ‘Dirty Floor’ which explores
the overwhelming themes of depression, ‘Limbo’ our latest release, which
depicts a place between life and death, drawing out your survivalistic
instincts. And finally ‘The Afterparty’ that explores a version of the
afterlife, succumbing to your dark temptations. This EP showcases a much
heavier, and darker sound for us, whilst still holding onto catchy riffs and
melodies - it is the start of our evolved Sypha sound.
3. SYPHA draws inspiration from a wide range of bands, from Avenged
Sevenfold and Deftones to Blink-182 and Marmozets. How do you blend these
diverse influences to create your unique sound?
As a band, all of our musical influences are wildly different from each other,
which is why we’re inspired by such a wide range of artists. We think that
combining these creates a pretty unique sound for us that we’re very proud of.
4. The video for "World’s End" racked up over 55,000 views and was a big moment for the band. What do you think resonated so strongly with your audience?
We were so excited to see the video do so well on Youtube, especially for our first ever music video! I think the themes of the track resonated with a lot of people and we got to display it in a very fun way, with inspo heavily taken from ‘The World’s End’ (Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright). We also have to credit the amazing work that Shaun from Loki Films did filming and editing it. We were blown away by how the final work came together and have continued to work with him for our latest video ‘Limbo’.
5. "Dirty Floor" introduced a shift in your sound, and now "Limbo" takes it further. How has your music evolved since forming in 2022, and where do you see it heading next?
We originally started off as a hard-rock band with a lot of blues injected in our songs. As fun as this style was, I think the more our love grew for modern metal artists, we just felt the pull to go darker and heavier. We really enjoy playing this style live, and sensed that this resonated with our audience too. I think we’ll always be a band that’s hard to box into just one genre, but we feel confident in saying that whilst our EP tracks are our heaviest yet… that probably won’t be true for long
6. Your live shows have been a crucial part of your success, including reaching the grand final of Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses. How does your live energy compare to what fans hear on record?
As a band, we practice our set over and over until it becomes muscle memory, so that this allows us to really let loose and have fun on stage. If we’re having a good time, our audience then mirrors this. So we like to think we have a really good balance of sounding professional whilst still giving an energetic performance. But personally, as a fan of music ourselves, you’re not going to remember if a band misses the odd note here or there, you are going to remember how you felt that night and how the band made you feel. So ALWAYS go to see a band live if you like the record, as you just can’t beat that fully immersed experience.
7. The lyrics of "Limbo" were inspired by the Manga series Alice in Borderland. Are there other stories, books, or visual media that have influenced your music and lyrics?
Yes, as mentioned previously, our track ‘World’s End’ and accompanying music video was heavily inspired by ‘The World’s End’ film (Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright). Every song we write stems from our own feelings and experiences, but those are often reimagined in the lyrics and visuals, so it’s fun to draw from themes and media that execute this well - bringing thrilling concepts to life.
8. As a Brighton-based band, how has the local music scene influenced or supported SYPHA's growth? Do you feel there's a unique energy coming out of Southern England?
Brighton is a great place to be inspired by the local music, because you can walk down most streets in town and there’ll usually be a band playing somewhere. Our local metal scene is one of the most welcoming and friendliest scenes we know, and we’re honoured to be a part of it.
9. You have a busy 2025 ahead with festival appearances at Hammerdown, Breaking Bands, and a UK tour. What are you most looking forward to about performing these shows, and how do you prepare for such a packed schedule?
A UK tour is a huge milestone for us, and we’re beyond excited to hit the road! It’s a chance to connect with new faces and make some amazing new friends along the way. We’ll be prepping with plenty of practice - because we know that if we’re all 110% locked in on the setlist, we can truly enjoy ourselves on stage and let muscle memory take over for the songs.
10. The music industry can be tough, especially for emerging bands. What have been the biggest challenges you've faced, and how have you overcome them as a band?
Like many grassroot bands, the real challenge is keeping the drive alive when things slow down or go quiet. The highs of being in a band are incredible, but the lows can hit just as hard. I think the key to overcoming this is just remembering why we started in the first place. When we stop to think about all the amazing support we’ve had, heartwarming comments on our posts and videos, and opening our Spotify for Artists app and seeing even ‘one person is listening right now’ is a truly unique and rewarding feeling.
11. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are a big part of your outreach. How do you balance connecting with fans online while focusing on creating music and performing live?
It’s tricky, especially when the band also has to balance full-time jobs on top of it. But we make it work, because at the end of the day, we’re doing this band because we love it! And pushing socials is just a part of the job description.
12. With the release of Borderland and a promising 2025 ahead, what is the ultimate goal for SYPHA? How do you envision the band evolving over the next few years?
The ultimate goal for us is to keep writing music we love and share that with as many people as we can. If we’re talking pipe dreams, then playing in Japan would be at the top of the list!
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