Cyn Takes Us Through the Powerful Coming-of-Age Story Behind Her New Album, Valley Girl

If you're not already a mega-fan, pop singer-songwriter Cyn is a performer who should absolutely be on your radar as we inch closer to 2025.

Beloved for her unique brand of vibrant glitter-pop, Cyn was discovered by Katy Perry before being signed to her label, Unsub Records, in 2017. She also made a lasting impression with her viral song "Drinks," written for the dark comedy Promising Young Woman, before boldly making 2024 the year of Valley Girl.

She released the Valley Girl: Side A EP in September before dropping Side B and (nearly) completing the album on Nov. 15, and on Nov. 29, we were finally able to listen to the incredible album in its entirely with the release of Valley Girl (Extended). Consisting of the songs from both EP's with three all-new tracks—"The Smiths," "Sweet" and "Sink Your Teeth"—included for good measure, it's a coming-of-age album serving as an exploration of the many facets of womanhood, all told through a sassy "valley girl" lens.  It's brimming with style, authenticity and nostalgia, and in the interview below, Cyn was kind enough to tell us all about its creation and what these important songs mean to her.

Sweety High: What does the album title Valley Girl mean to you? Why did that title feel like the perfect summation of this group of songs?

Cyn: The album title, Valley Girl, was inspired by a lot of the attitude I think I possess in my music. It's very sassy, very tongue-in-cheek, so that's where the original inspiration came from. But when you consider valleys historically, they often represent fertility and also, obstacles one may endure, hardship, rising above, etc. and these things happened to me while I was writing this music. I became a mother, and at the same time was faced with many hardships. I feel like I am valley girl in almost every sense of the word.

(Photo credit: Lauren Naylor)

 

SH: What do you feel are the overarching themes of the album? What kind of feel do you hope fans take away from it?

Cyn: I think an overarching theme of the album is girlhood, and by that I mean, a lot of the music and scenarios within the music stem from the idea of being a feminine character— being his ex, being his new wife, being a new mother, being on my period— just overall experiencing my life through the inescapable lens of being a woman. But it's also a celebration of that— I love being all of that, and I love the community I've found through it.

Another theme of the album is coming of age. I think there's a nostalgic feeling to a lot of the music. I was trying to call upon the feelings in music that I crave from the 90s or early Y2K. I always say that my music is the music that plays in the rom-com when she's coming down the stairs as a new, actualized, confident version of herself. I even refer to the guitars in a lot of the production as puberty guitars because to me, it just simply feels like youth.

I've thought long and hard about what I want an audience to take from this music and what it mostly comes down to is: I just want someone to feel better after hearing it. I wrote this music to heal myself, to find friendship when I felt lonely, to laugh when I was feeling down… I hope that it can do the same for anyone listening.

 

Also read about: Korean Artist HEYOON Discusses Her 'Pivot' to a Solo Career and New Single

 

SH: How would you describe the album's sound? Production-wise, how did you go about bringing these tracks to life?

Cyn: To me, the album sounds like angst ("Los Angeles, No Offense," "Sink Your Teeth," "Sweet"), wisdom ("WDATDG," "Growing Up") and nostalgic bittersweetness ("The Smiths," "Crazy," "Lemons")— to name a few. I have many memories of driving in the car with my mom as a little girl listening to "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia or "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer or "There She Goes" by The Las, and I long for that feeling all of the time, that feeling of just getting on an airplane or being on the precipice of an adventure— I really tried hard to create that feeling in this music. In order to do that, I worked with incredible instrumentalists and producers that took my vision seriously and helped translate that within our sessions. I played them references, I showed them mood boards, made them listen to me reading poetry, and they always validated and supported experiences— I couldn't have done it without their help.

(Photo credit: Lauren Naylor)

 

SH: What is your favorite song on the album? Why?

Cyn: I have a few favorite songs on the album, and I cycle through them as my mood changes, but I think my favorite song on the album is "Where Do All The Diamonds Go"? It just so represents my experience during this time of my life. It feels like a documentation of the truth of my feelings and at the same time, a confession of a very human experience. I'm so proud of it!

 

Also read about: joan Break Down the Chorus of Their Viral Hit Song, 'i loved you first'

 

SH: How do you feel that these songs represent where you are in life right now?

Cyn: I do feel that these songs represent me right now because I am very much in this mindset even, if I have been working on this body of art for years. I am fully living and breathing Valley Girl and they are my theme songs. I have a song for when I'm thrilled, for when I'm upset, for when I'm plain old bored. This is my musical and I am dancing across the stage.

(Photo credit: Lauren Naylor)

 

SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Cyn: Lastly, I just want to say thank you so much for taking the time to listen to my album and getting to know this valley girl xox

 

For more insights, straight from the artist's mouth, click HERE to read our interview with RIMON on her striking debut album, Children of the Night.