Sylo has returned with his double single, “Bento Box” and “American Idea.” Aligned with AAPI Heritage Month, the Korean-Canadian alt R&B aficionado tells two different stories of love and how it is driven by his ever-evolving relationship with his heritage. Listen to both tracks now below.
The upbeat “Bento Box” is driven by a melody that begs for a summer car ride with the windows down, contrasting perfectly with the more introspective “American Idea”, which speaks to the struggle of growing up never having examples in Western media of romantic relationships that involved people who represented his culture.
Elaborating further on the theme of “American Idea” Sylo said, “I wrote American idea to reflect on my life, particularly in love and identity. First it started with my view and relationship with romance itself. I realized growing up, how love that was portrayed in media (mostly Western) really played a part in creating this unrealistic and unhealthy view of love. It also caused me to disconnect more with myself physically, as I found everyone I was looking up to and fantasizing to someday be, did not look like me. I then soon found myself digging deeper and finding even more nuanced characteristics and views I had that was so deeply ingrained with Western media in general.”
Sylo is wrapping up his tour run with MICHELLE, with a final show tonight in New York at The Bowery Ballroom. The rest of this year will see new music and new shows to be announced as Sylo continues to hit his stride.