After stepping away from releasing music to reconnect with herself creatively, SYLPH is entering a bold new era defined by intuition, experimentation, and uncompromising artistic vision. Blending haunting surrealist aesthetics with emotionally charged sound design, her latest single “SYSTEM” marks both a return to her roots and a fearless embrace of vulnerability beyond genre boundaries. SYLPH’s evolution has become deeply intertwined with trusting instinct over industry pressure.
In this exclusive Electric Hawk interview, SYLPH opens up about creativity, horror-inspired worldbuilding, and what fans can expect as she prepares for her highly anticipated headline show at Denver’s Black Box on August 1st. Connect and get to understand further who SYLPH is with us below!
In Conversation with SYLPH
seradopa: After taking a step back from releasing music for a while, can you take us back to the very beginning of SYLPH — what sparked the vision for the project, and when did it first start feeling like something bigger than just music?
SYLPH: The SYLPH project started when I released my first EP, Alien Speak, with The Rust. It was my senior capstone project for my music technology degree, and written during a pivotal time in my life. I’d also been very inspired by astronomy, physics and psychology at that time. Aesthetically, I’d always been drawn to darkness, ethereality and tension.
Music was an escape for me for nearly as long as I can remember, and making music felt like creating my own universe to step inside of. Over time, that expanded outwards, but the music remains the driving force.
Doing livestreams during the pandemic, I got a deeper sense of what I wanted my sets to sound like. High energy, high tension, big sound systems…this context informed my music and the project immensely, and what sparked my love for drum and bass.
When I started making music, it was just for myself. When I started DJing, I was focused on making functional club music. But recently, I’m bringing the two together into something new.
seradopa: What changed during your time away that helped clarify exactly what SYLPH is supposed to represent?
SYLPH: These are good questions.
I’ve been honing my skills a lot as a producer, and that’s seeping outwards into other areas of my life and project. I’m getting more clarity and acceptance about my creative process and my vision overall. It’s just a facet of time and understanding myself a little bit better It takes time to step back and be a little bit quieter.
seradopa: Were there any big personal lessons or artistic lessons you learned during your time?
SYLPH: The culmination of a lot of time just spent being quiet, which is: I don’t have control over how, it sounds kind of woo-woo, but I don’t have control over how creativity moves through me. And it’s not my responsibility to try to figure out how that will be perceived.
The most important thing is to just stay in contact with the sensation of what I’m doing in the moment, and what feels good for me in the moment, and to not question it. To follow my intuition more, which is a more succinct way of saying that.
seradopa: A lot of artists talk about feeling pressure to constantly feed the algorithm or keep up with industry momentum. How empowering has it been to now approach every release with intention instead of chasing the pace of the music industry?
SYLPH: It’s been empowering to find my rhythm and to build momentum out of inspiration rather than external pressure. You can apply discipline, but you can’t rush or sidestep the process.
seradopa: Your newest single feels incredibly deliberate sonically and visually. How important was it for your comeback release to fully embody the world of SYLPH rather than simply releasing music to stay active?
SYLPH: I love this track. It showcases a sound that feels unique and distinctly “me”. And it was revealing of an evolution that’s taken place in private. It’s also my interpretation of the halftime genre, which has a special, longstanding place in my heart.
It was more vulnerable than previous tracks, because even though it technically is a halftime track, it’s kind of in a different lane. It has less of that swingy hip hop swagger and more of a grunge punk/pop feel to it. In that way, I guess it harkens back to my adolescent singer-songwriter days before I ever touched a DAW. It feels like I’m simultaneously reclaiming parts of myself I’ve suppressed and incorporating the novelty, refinement, and knowledge of where I’m at now.
I also felt…the track is a bit “weird” and intense. Even though I was stoked on it, I wasn’t sure if it would resonate with anyone else. But it’s been well received, which is a great feeling!
seradopa: Why is “SYSTEM” vulnerable to you that the audience might not recognize?
SYLPH: Part of it is being a more underground niche type of track.
I also think using some pretty harsh sounds sometimes makes me question myself in a way where I’m like, “Is this too aggressive or is this too weird, incomprehensible, or messy,” but I challenged myself to trust the first instinct I had when I made it. Because when I first found that groove, I was like, “this is really sick,” but it’s in the aftermath that I’m questioning myself
seradopa: No, that’s very understandable. I understand that a lot, also as a graphic designer. Definitely, when you make something and then in the back of your head, “I don’t think this would be good,” and you just keep it in, then you finally share it with someone, and they’re like ‘that’s sick!’
SYLPH: It’s so counterintuitive because the weirder the art, the more it elicits in other people. And that’s the point, right? If you’re not at least a little unsure of how something’s gonna land, it might be too predictable or formulaic to leave a lasting impression. Breaking the mold is more exhilarating and more vulnerable, and the effect is more powerful. Which also means some people might hate it, but that’s cool too.
And it was kind of interesting, I was nervous about how it’d be received a week prior to release. But once it was out, I was just happy to have it out in the world. The reception felt great, but it wasn’t the point, you know?
Also speaking of visual art: I wanted to continue the world of this track and my project, so I decided to make a short visual clip to go with it. I got so into it, I wound up making a whole music video – just another example of creativity taking you where it wants to.
seradopa: The SYLPH aesthetic leans heavily into dark, horror-inspired surrealism, eerie visuals, unsettling atmospheres, and almost cinematic tension. What specifically draws you toward that world artistically?
SYLPH: Some of it has to do with experiences in my life that were dark, and that lends itself to that. Digesting and metabolizing my demons. But I also like horror movies a lot too. I find them comforting.
seradopa: I am also a horror movie fan. I’m about to see Obsession next week when it comes out. I 100% understand. I understand in a way that the world you’re building, which might be, in a way, horror or psychological-horror inspired, is comforting for you. It might be uneasy for everyone else, but you’re building this fun environment that’s cool and unique. I’ve never seen an artistic direction like yours.
SYLPH: Thank you. I am also very excited to see Obsession! Dark and intricate textures are very appealing to me, and in my music too, I lean towards that aesthetic, but I also like to find a balance of light and dark.
I’m focused on creating the tension between the juxtaposition of the two polarities. It could be silence and noise, or deep, dark bass and beautiful, ethereal vocals. disparity builds tension and surprise, and something beautiful emerges from that.
seradopa: Now you’re stepping back into the spotlight with your recent announcement of the Black Box. How does it feel to be headlining the Black Box, especially since it’s a well-beloved venue here in Denver?
SYLPH: Amazing! Like fully surreal. I resonate with the ethos of moving through sound, not hype, and the Black Box team is responsible for bringing some of my favorite UK acts over to the States. It’s a big moment for any artist to have their first Black Box headline, and I’m honored. I was also excited to curate this lineup myself and have a say in the art and promotion.
It helped broaden my vision for the project from simply the music to what I’d like my shows to sound and feel like. And ultimately, how I’d like to show up for the community, because that’s really what these shows and music in general are about.
seradopa: Without revealing too much, what should fans expect differently from this Black Box headline, rather than previous times they might have seen you at festivals or other opening slots?
SYLPH: I’d say expect even more energy, maybe more genre eclectic, and original music. But my ethos for set building is always the same. I play exactly what I’d want to hear if I were in the crowd, whether that’s as a supporting act or headliner.
seradopa: Looking ahead, what can fans expect from SYLPH throughout the rest of 2026? Are we entering a completely new chapter sonically and visually?
SYLPH: It’s hard to say, because I think things are always changing, and I am working on so much music in different genres at the moment. Some of the more drivey, dark drum and bass, liquid, and 140 tunes are my favorites at the moment. I’m excited to share that, along with some vibey breaks.
I’ve also been really inspired, like making these music videos and working on visual content, so I really want to do more of that going forward. Lots of different things in the pipeline! This chapter will feel new for sure, with more intentionality and intensity. But there’s an organic evolution propelling it forward.
seradopa: Last question, what advice would you give to other emerging artists who are still trying to find their voice and place in the scene?
SYLPH: I would say: Stay curious, trust your intuition, and protect your energy.
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