Behind the Song: Sylvie's Songs
Meet Sylvie
For Sylvie Abate, songwriting has always been about strings, stories, and the quiet moments in between. A songwriter and guitarist with a lifelong connection to music, Sylvie has built a creative path that moves comfortably between classical, folk, and contemporary songwriting.
Sylvie studied classical guitar at the New England Conservatory of Music, a foundation that continues to influence the way she approaches both songwriting and arrangement. Over the years, she has performed with the Austin Classical Guitar Ensemble, Happy Valley Orchestra, Providence Mandolin Ensemble, and indie groups including Celticity, The BeeKeepers, and Sylvie & Mandy. New England's folk festivals and small, intimate venues became an important part of her early musical life.
Her music also found its way into the Intercontinental Music Awards, Global Music Awards, Independent Music Awards, and W.A.M. Awards, recognition that still surprises her.
“Every time it happens, I am still a little stunned, wondering how something that started in a quiet room found its way out into the world ”
Her songwriting has evolved along the way. Her earlier work often explored love, loss, and the emotional weight of the things we carry and eventually learn to let go. More recently, her music has moved toward light, purpose, compassion, and the people and causes closest to her heart.
Animal rights have become an especially important part of Sylvie's creative life. When she isn't writing or playing music, she spends time advocating for farmed animals and working with Artists & Activists Records, her independent label built around compassion, community, and the belief that music can help make the world a little kinder.
Now, Sylvie is creating music that reflects where she is in life today: more present, more purposeful, and deeply connected to the people and causes she loves.
For fans who have never heard your music, can you describe it?
Over the years, I have written in many different styles, but most of my music consists of reflective lyrics with classical and folk elements. I have always been drawn to music that tells a story, and I think that comes through in my songwriting.
My background in classical guitar naturally finds its way into my music, but I also love the simplicity and storytelling tradition of folk music. My songs tend to begin with an emotion, an observation, or an idea that I can't quite let go of, and then I start looking for the words, melodies, and harmonies that can express it.
What is your favorite part about being an artist? Is it songwriting, performing, recording, something else? Tell us why.
Songwriting is definitely my favorite part. I am introverted by nature, and being able to write poetry, sit alone with my guitar, and find just the right melodic lines and chordal harmonies to accompany a song is something I enjoy immensely.
There is something very special about that quiet process. A song can start with just a few words or a feeling, and suddenly you find yourself following a melody somewhere you didn't expect to go. I love that discovery.
Performing and recording are wonderful parts of the process, but songwriting is where everything begins for me. It is the place where I can be completely alone with an idea and see where it takes me.
Can you tell us what being in the recording studio is like for you?
I usually go into the studio with the singer I am working with at the time. I enjoy letting the music unfold naturally and then putting on my producer's hat and bringing it to life.
Because I often work with vocalists, I enjoy seeing how another artist interprets something I have written. Their voice can reveal a completely different side of a song than I imagined when I was writing it.
I also love the mixing and mastering process, where you get to polish the final sound and make all of the individual pieces work together. There is something incredibly satisfying about hearing a song evolve from an idea on a guitar into a finished recording.
Being in the studio is great fun!
Okay, this is a fun question. When you are not doing music, what else do you enjoy doing?
I mainly enjoy spending time in nature. I love kayaking, hiking, camping, or just sitting outside on a beautiful day.
I also love spending time with my family whenever I can. Those quieter moments are important to me because they give me a chance to slow down and simply be present.
My connection to nature also ties closely into my passion for animal rights. When I am not making music, I am often speaking up for animals or working with Artists & Activists Records. Both music and advocacy have become important parts of my life, and I find that they often intersect in unexpected ways.
Who do you admire most in the music scene today and why?
Well, Dolly Parton just passed away, and I've been thinking about how much I admire the positive messages she put out into the world. She has always represented something bigger than music to me. There is a generosity and positivity in what she has shared with the world that I really admire.
I also admire Billie Eilish for her songwriting and her animal rights messaging. I appreciate artists who use their platform for something meaningful and aren't afraid to bring their values into their work.
For me, that connection between music and purpose has become increasingly important. I want my own music to reflect the things I care about and, hopefully, contribute something positive to the world.
Can you tell us what song you've written that is the most emotional and describe the meaning behind it?
My last song was “Tears Me Up,” which features Bryon Harris. It is such an emotional song.
The song is about looking back on your choices and wishing you knew then what you know now when it comes to compassion and empathy. There is a particular kind of sadness that comes with realizing that sometimes we don't understand the consequences of our choices until much later.
“Tears Me Up” reflects on that realization. It is emotional, but there is also a sense of awakening in it. For me, compassion means allowing ourselves to see things differently, to recognize suffering, and to understand that our choices matter.
Working with Bryon Harris on the song brought another emotional dimension to it. His voice has the ability to communicate vulnerability and intensity in a way that really suits the subject matter.
Are you working on any new material right now or what's in the works for the upcoming year?
Yes! I am working on a song called “Your Sweet Ways,” which will be released this month and will be performed by vocalist Bryon Harris.
I wrote the song for my granddaughter, so it is very personal to me. It is about being present and how one person can bring you into the present and remind you why life is so beautiful.
I think my songwriting has been moving in that direction lately. Some of my earlier songs focused more on love, loss, and the things we carry with us. Now I find myself wanting to write about light, purpose, family, compassion, and the people and causes that mean the most to me.
“Your Sweet Ways” is very much part of that evolution. It is a celebration of being present and recognizing the beauty that can exist in an ordinary moment.
Tell us where fans can access your music.
The best way to find my music is to visit my website at www.sylvie-songwriter.com.
That's also the best place to follow what I am working on and discover new releases as they come out.
A Songwriter With a Story to Tell
Sylvie Abate's musical journey has never been about staying in one place. From classical guitar and folk festivals to indie groups, songwriting, production, and independent music advocacy, her work continues to evolve with her life.
Today, that evolution is reflected in songs that are increasingly focused on connection, compassion, family, and purpose.
Perhaps that is what makes her story particularly fitting for Behind the Song. Her music begins with a songwriter sitting quietly with a guitar, but it doesn't necessarily end there. Sometimes it becomes a recording. Sometimes it becomes a collaboration. Sometimes it becomes a message about compassion. And sometimes, as with “Your Sweet Ways,” it becomes a musical gift for someone you love.
For Sylvie, the song is only the beginning. The real story is everything that inspired it.
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