Syd has announced new album ‘Beard’ and dropped the relaxed single ‘Callin’’. Check it out below alongside new UK and European tour dates.
The album will mark the third solo album from the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, producer, engineer, and co-founder of alt-R&B group The Internet. It is set for release on July 17 via Free Lunch/Warner, and available for pre-order here.
Co-produced by the singer and featuring collaborations from Raphael Saadiq, Big Sean, Rodney Jerkins and more, ‘Beard’ is a coming-of-age album from Syd, and follows her impact on the R&B genre, as well as her evolution as a songwriter.
Syd has dropped the first taster of the record in the form of tender new single ‘Callin’’, which features Blu June and is led by catchy melodies, unmistakable vocals, and sharp drum beats.
“I’m callin’ 911 ’cause I need your love/And you ain’t pickin’ up/I’m comin’ for your love,” she sings in the ‘90s-tinged intro, building towards an effortlessly cool chorus: “I’m comin’ for your love/I’ve been drinkin’ and I’ve been smokin’/ And now I’m thinkin’ on how I want you”.
Discussing the album as a whole, Syd said: “‘Beard’ is a coming of age album for me. It’s a snapshot of what my life looks like right now.
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“The title was inspired by the peach fuzz on my upper lip that society has always taught me to hate. I fell in love with my peach fuzz and it made me rethink everything that was supposed to make me feel insecure,” she added. “It allowed me to take my confidence into my own hands, and own everything that I am and everything I love about myself, regardless of what anyone else thinks.”
The singer continued: “The title also represents the way I see myself in relation to my peers, especially in music. ‘The bearded lady.’ Not so much a spectacle in my case, but an anomaly and an outlier. Hard to compare. I’m owning that too. Taking things that were once insecurities and flipping them on their head has been extremely empowering.”
To coincide with the album announcement, the former Odd Future star has also announced a new UK and European tour.
Dates kick off with a slot at Manchester’s Albert Hall on August 31, and continue with shows at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on September 1 and Glasgow’s SWG3 Galvanizers on September 3.
From there, Syd will play in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Copenhagen later that month. Tickets go on sale on Friday (June 5) at 10am local time. Visit here for tickets.
Syd also has a slot at All Points East lined up for August 28, and the shows follow on from her collaborating with artists like Zayn, Lil Uzi Vert, Kehlani, Disclosure, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland throughout her career.
Last year, Syd celebrated the 10th anniversary of The Internet’s breakthrough album ‘Ego Death’. She also shared solo singles, “Die For This” and “GMFU,” priming her for the upcoming record.
The singer also teamed up with Billie Eilish on her summer UK tour in 2025, and joined Renee Rapp for fall US dates.
In 2022, Syd spoke to NME about finding a newfound sense of confidence in her abilities after going solo, and explained how various moments in her left led to her uncovering things about herself and her songwriting style.
“It forced me to take a look at myself and ask questions,” she admits. “Questions like, ‘do I like who I am? Do I love who I am?’ Because whenever you get dumped, you naturally ask, ‘What the fuck is wrong with me?’ Because everything was good. So, it forced me to say, ‘…Is there anything wrong with me?’ And nope – there wasn’t.
“That was nice: to come to that realisation that I wouldn’t change anything about myself.”
That interview for The Cover also came as the R&B star dropped her second solo album, ‘Broken Hearts Club’ – which was given a four star review from NME and praised as one of her “strongest projects to date”.
“Like ‘Right Track’ and ‘CYBAH’, ‘Tie The Knot’ and ‘Fast Car’ are pop-infused sensations. On the latter, a slinky, ‘90s R&B piano riffs sit neatly alongside funky guitar solos, while the album glides towards the smoky sultriness of ‘Control’ and ‘No Way’,” it read. “The warmth of ‘Getting Late’ and the aforementioned Kehlani-featuring ‘Out Loud’ make for an intimate end to what is arguably Syd’s strongest project to date.”
“With ‘Broken Hearts Club’, Syd has crafted an album that elevates her to new heights – one that positions her as an exceptional, peerless talent,” it added.