Sy'rai

about the artist
The time is right for Sy'Rai Smith so it's appropriate that the first track off her upcoming EP is titled, "On My Own." Sy'Rai (pronounced sur-rah), grew up in the studio as the daughter of Brandy, pop princess royalty, and the renowned record producer Robert Anthony "Big Bert" Smith. He even named her after the popular 50's hit song, "Que Sera Sera" tweaking it with his personal twist. As a child, Sy'rai, appeared alongside her mother in modeling campaign ads for Skechers.
The 21-year-old acknowledges that, "music is in my blood and the talent we have in this family is…
MoreThe time is right for Sy'Rai Smith so it's appropriate that the first track off her upcoming EP is titled, "On My Own." Sy'Rai (pronounced sur-rah), grew up in the studio as the daughter of Brandy, pop princess royalty, and the renowned record producer Robert Anthony "Big Bert" Smith. He even named her after the popular 50's hit song, "Que Sera Sera" tweaking it with his personal twist. As a child, Sy'rai, appeared alongside her mother in modeling campaign ads for Skechers.
The 21-year-old acknowledges that, "music is in my blood and the talent we have in this family is crazy," (her uncle is Ray J), so she's determined to continue the family legacy. "I'm working on the EP, which will be out later this year, and I don't want to disappoint," she says with her full-throated laugh and beautiful, beaming smile. "But I'm just me, and "On My Own" is my message to let you know who I am."
Sy'Rai has been in the studio since she was three years old but seriously considered a career as a professional tennis player. A student at The L.A. Recording School, she's got a few more semesters to go with her interests spanning the entertainment business, criminal justice and law. "But I've always loved music and fashion," she states. In 2020, she appeared on her mother's seventh studio album in a duet titled, "High Heels." In 2022, the duo returned to the studio for the track, "Nothing Without You," — lifted from the original soundtrack for Disney+ film, Cheaper By The Dozen.
In fact, her fashion slays in the video for "On My Own" and her vocals and outfits are equally fire, a mix of girl-next-door, urban and glam. Shot in L.A. by director Luciano Picazo, who's worked with Gucci and Ciroc, her friend Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg's daughter, is along for the fun, as they cruise in the Southern California sun.
Brandy vocal-produced the upbeat pop track, and Sy'Rai co-wrote it with GRAMMY Award-winning singer/songwriter Eric Bellinger. "I loved the opportunity to work with him, I had a lot of input, and the melodies, backgrounds and choices were mine. I wrote all the other tracks on the EP. I do think my mom and I have the same type of innocence in our voice, a similar tone, it's childlike and it's a trait we have in the family. My mom's more mature and I've got a younger, less controlled sound, but you really can't compare us. I've been influenced by so many — my mom, Whitney, Mariah, Beyonce and Celine and even Dolly Parton. Currently, I'm listening to Snoh Aalegra, Lucky Daye, Summer Walker, Giveon, and Kehlani."
She recently appeared in an episode on Season One of the MTV/Paramount+ docuseries Family Legacy, which features interviews with the children of acclaimed music artists such as TLC, Sean "Diddy" Combs and the Backstreet Boys. The show allowed her to discover her mom's previous life and "I got a whole new respect for her," she laughs. Sy'rai also landed her first endorsement deal as a brand ambassador for Foot Locker's COZI line in 2021.
With both parents in music, she's lucky to be guided by advice from the best in the business. "My mom told me to trust my gut, and my instincts and to follow that. My dad told me to respect myself in this industry as a young, Black woman and to sing about things you care about," she adds.
This promising young talent would love to tour, open for someone, play at festivals, perform on award shows, see herself on a billboard, start a makeup line, and even create a health and wellness company. But, one thing is certain, this stellar singing talent is most likely on her way to securing a GRAMMY sometime in the future, as she pursues her career on her own.