SW: You have a unique and ethereal voice. What was the process to finding your voice? What female vocalists have influenced you?
SB: I really like music that is somewhat spacey. I grew up listening to the Beatles, David Bowie, Talking Heads, The Eurythmics. As far as bands with influential female singers, I love Broadcast, Stereolab, Cat Power. I always sang as a kid but didn’t pick up a guitar until I was 15 — thems were Nirvana days, but I guess that’s how I started songwriting, listening to the Cure and the Smiths and Nirvana, and being a really depressed teenager. It was a LONG adolescence.
SW: How is your solo music different from working with other bands?
SB: Well, most of the “bands” I’ve worked in have just been various back-me-up projects that only lasted a few months. I have done many shows with many local musicians and friends, such as my MEWT project, my Strawberry Shortcake amalgamation, then there was the harder indie-rock band Isodora, which kind of got caught in the cross fire of bands reforming around Extendo-Ride’s break up. Finally, I’ve done some solo shows with my friend Matt Erickson. I joined Satellite Lot last year and did some shows with them. I recently left to pursue my own stuff again, but I might still be on their upcoming album. Right now I’m putting together another band, hopefully this one will last longer than previous ones!
SW: As a local musician, what are your thoughts on Portland’s music scene?
SB: I like Portland — it has its cliques and brats though. I think it’s one of those “heaven is a place where nothing ever happens” situations where if you’re here you can get sucked into the bars and forget how fortunate you are to have so many freedoms and talented people around you. The population is small too, so sometimes there’s an illusion that you’re “nowhere.” But since I’m not from around here (I’m from Chicagoland), I know it’s just an illusion. I sometimes feel like people have blinders on here, but I guess if you’re not adventurous you can get stuck in a rut and Portland can be uninspiring. Overall I think it’s just a matter of taking off the blinders.
SW: What can we expect from the album you’re recording with Rose Ambrosia Records?
SB: More simple songwriting, emphasis on vocal harmonies and pop melodies, and a friendly show here and there. And if it picks up, that’s awesome. I’ve been around the block, I’d like some commitment!
SW: Tell us something most people don’t know about Sydney Bourke?
SB: I have a degree in sociology and my other life is in social work. And most people don’t know much about where I came from — kind of a rough neighborhood and childhood. I grew up in an African American community just west of Chicago. My family dealt with some extreme mental illness/abuse and issues of poverty. But then in high school I had a privileged life, due to my father’s independent law practice booming in the ‘90s. I think that really shaped my perspective on life, living in both worlds. Since I moved to Maine 10 years ago, I’ve made a new family of friends and artists and have gotten tremendous support. I believe artists have special powers of healing, and I love to mix art with politics. I guess that’s also why I’m into social work.