Sydnie Christmas always knew how to command a scene. But now she’s ready to claim the airwaves, trade remakes for original music and enter a decisive new chapter in her artistry.
2024 Britain’s Got Talent winner, and the West End star boldly transformed the singer-songwriter step into a new era with the release of her latest single, ‘Term’ – a track that not only signals a musical shift, but a defining moment in her development as a recording artist. Known for her powerful vocals and theatrical presence, Christmas swaps the stage spotlight for something more intimate and immediate, delivering a sound that feels both raw and resolutely modern.
With ‘Term’she doesn’t just introduce a new song, she redraws the boundaries of her sound, marking the beginning of a chapter that places her far beyond the lights of the theater and firmly in the landscape of contemporary music.
Sydnie Christmas – Run (Official Video)
We caught up with Sydnie to talk about the hard-won journey of finding her voice, moving past self-doubt, refusing to let fear define her, and ultimately reclaiming her sense of self by putting pen to paper and telling her story in her own words, on her own terms.
Your new single ‘Run’ has been out for a few weeks now! How does it feel to see people connect with it?
It feels absolutely fantastic! I actually can’t believe the reaction – I’m so happy! People seem to really like the song and connect with the lyrics, which I didn’t expect! So I’m really, really amazed and delighted at how well it’s been received. We know how the internet can be, people love to tell you if they don’t like something, but touch wood, so far I haven’t seen anything negative about it, which kind of blows my mind!
What did you want to say with this song, and was it a foregone conclusion that this had to be your first single?
Oh, there was no doubt in my mind that this HAD to be my first single! I co-wrote it with Gabrielle Aplin and Ash Howes last September, and when we finished the session, we all looked at each one and said, “this is the one!” It felt like a no brainer. The lyrics, the message, the brooding melodies… everything just made sense. It’s one of those songs that feels very universal. I don’t want to release music that only speaks to me, I want it to resonate with everyone. And I’ve had so many messages from people saying how much “Run” is helping them, which is great, because I want people to feel encouraged and hopeful. I don’t want to be a selfish artist who makes his songs about them. In ‘Run’ I say, I’m here and I’m beating my problems, and I know you can do the same.
Given your background in TV and musical theatre, did the fear of not being accepted make releasing your own original music more daunting?
1000% – the thought of being rejected for trying something new was terrifying! When you become known for doing one thing, it can be tricky to switch to doing something else, because it’s kind of standard that we as a society don’t like change, right? It’s not something we’re good at (laughs). So that fear of not knowing how people would react to me releasing my own material made me feel a lot of anxiety. But the reality is, I’ve been writing songs since I was a kid, and it’s always been my dream to release them one day, so it felt like I just had to put all my fears aside and do it!
Forgetting other people’s perceptions of you, how does releasing your own material change how you see yourself as an artist?
It doesn’t. It certainly doesn’t. Many artists have a set look and theme that they follow because they know it’s what works best for them. But I’m not like that, in a way I’m my own theme, and I do what I do depending on how I feel at the moment. I don’t think I can be easily defined or placed in a category. I am only me, and no one can be me, except me. Accepting that takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders and allows me to go my own way and do my own thing.
So was there a specific moment when you knew you wanted to move from performing covers to writing and releasing your own songs?
Yes, there actually was! So very quickly after BGT I released my album and then went on tour, and it was amazing! Like, I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed those shows – it was a joy to be on stage night after night telling my story through all the songs I had reworked and recorded for the ‘My Way’ album, it was an incredible experience – one that I knew I wanted to do again and again. But I knew I couldn’t keep producing the same show year after year, I had to change things, and that’s when I thought to myself: “wouldn’t it be great if the set list on the next tour consisted of all my own songs?” And then I suddenly had this urge to get into the studio and write an album (laughs).
What has been the biggest challenge in taking the step away from interpretation and into creation? And does it feel quite liberating to sing like Sydnie Christmas, not Sydnie Christmas playing a character or reinterpreting someone else’s song?
I wouldn’t say there are any real challenges, it’s just really cool (laughs). It’s kind of crazy how addictive it is to lean into your vulnerabilities and step on stage as your true self. Acting as Syd, and not as a character, feels so liberating! Don’t get me wrong, I still love the challenge of playing different roles, and if I could have one foot in the acting/musical theater world and one foot in music, then I’d be a very happy girl. But I think I’m learning that right now, I’m most comfortable being me, which is a really nice feeling.
How would you describe your sound now compared to what audiences first heard from you?
I really don’t think I have a set sound or style. In terms of the feel of it, I’d say there’s a sense of resilience that runs through the songs, like I want people to hear them and feel upbeat. But genre-wise it’s a bit all over the place. The beauty of being a songwriter is that you subconsciously write what you need to hear. So all I can do is write the songs I want to sing, and bring them to life in a way that feels true to how I feel right now. Every song I write is different from the next. There is no fixed theme. There is no fixed genre. I’m very much one to go off the energy in the room.
Did your background in musical theater influence the storytelling in your original score?
Honestly? No (laughs). It’s crazy, and I say all the time… when it comes to musical theater, yes, I’ve trained in it, yes I love it, and yes, I love the acting side of things, and honing lyrics that help tell a story and convey an emotion. But when it comes to what influences me as an artist, I’ve always looked at other artists. Whitney Houston was, and still is, my everything! I was very obsessed with her! i love Celine Dion, Joss Stone, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatraand Judy Garland… they are my everything! As much as I love musical theater, and wanted it to be my job and still do, it’s my appreciation for other recording artists that influences my own music.
How important was it for you to establish your own voice at this stage of your recording career?
Very important. I feel that I have a lot to say, and a strong message that I want to take out into the world. I don’t want to chase trends, or say the same things as everyone else, I want to write the kind of songs and albums that people need in this day and age.
What themes or experiences are you most attracted to writing about?
The recurring theme I always seem to come back to is optimism. I’ve been working on this record for about a year now, so there’s been a lot of ups and downs, experiences and lessons for me to draw from. I went through a breakup and then I met someone new. I also tried to redefine what “normal” meant after leaving the show (BGT), and then there were some personal things that I went through that… how should I say this, because of my line of work, maybe played out a little more publicly than they would have before. So a lot has happened (laughs). But even in those sad moments, the lyrics I wrote were always hopeful and uplifting. Why do I think it was? Honestly, because if I went the other way, I don’t think I could have handled all the uncertainty. Trying to find the positive in a situation is a bit like a coping mechanism for me. It’s what makes me feel centered.
Sydnie Christmas performs with Great Ormond Street Hospital Choir | Semifinal | BGT 2026
Do you think this album helped you understand yourself on a deeper level?
Massive. I’ve learned that I’m much more patient than I ever gave myself credit for, and I’m much calmer and more in control of my emotions than I thought. I thought I was a bit of a nut (laughs) but this process has helped me realize that I’ve actually grown – I feel like I’ve really blossomed along the way.
In times of uncertainty and self-doubt, how do you motivate yourself to keep going?
By telling myself that nothing is permanent, and that something good can come out of something bad. It’s a cliché I know, but hard times don’t last. You can go through the worst pain possible but you will come out the other side stronger and wiser for the experience, you just have to keep pushing forward, ride out the storm, be patient and believe you will make it. I feel like I have a good understanding of how I want my life to be, and because of that I’ve never given up. All those years of rejection and struggle led me to audition for BGT… and look what happened, I WON! What a wonderful thing that happened to me! It is proof that your life can change in an instant. None of us know when our time is up, so we all have to keep going and keep believing that our best days are ahead of us. The feeling of thinking “what if” is worse than any disappointment or failure, I promise.
Does this new chapter signal a complete shift into music, or do you see yourself continuing to move between the stage and the studio?
Listen, you don’t know what’s around the corner in life, so I’m open to any offer that comes my way (laughs). I don’t really like to limit myself, or say I’m only going to do, or be, one thing – I don’t think anyone should live like that. I always tell people, “there’s nothing you can’t do unless you say you can’t” so I say go out and live your life and be open to any opportunity that comes your way.
What kind of artist do you want to be known as in five years?
I don’t know if it’s up to me to decide, you know what I mean? It is up to my audience to interpret my music and my performance and take from them whatever resonates. I said it before, I’m all about optimism and hope. If people see me as someone who gives a little light, and if I can be an example that dreams can come true with hard work, then I’ll be really happy with that.
Download / Stream ‘Term’ here
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