- published: 17 Jan 2015
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Syd may refer to:
Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett (6 January 1946 – 7 July 2006), was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and painter, best remembered as a founder member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic direction in their early work, including their name. He left the group in 1968 amid speculations of mental illness exacerbated by drug use, and was briefly hospitalised.
Besides being a pioneer in psychedelic rock with his expressive guitar playing and imaginative compositions, Barrett was also a pioneer in the space rock and psychedelic folk genres. He was active in music for only about seven years, recording four singles, the debut album (and contributed to the second one), plus several unreleased songs with Pink Floyd; and a single and two albums (plus a third one of unreleased tracks/alternate takes), as a solo musician, before going into self-imposed seclusion lasting more than thirty years.
Syd Matters is a French band fronted by musician Jonathan Morali. At the time of writing, the other band members are Jean-Yves Lozac'h, Olivier Marguerit, Remi Alexandre and Clement Carle. The name Syd Matters comes from the slight modification of the names of two Pink Floyd members: Syd Barrett and Roger Waters.
Syd Matters is also the pseudonym of the band's frontman, Jonathan Morali. Jonathan Morali was born in Paris on May 22 1980; the lyrics of his song 'Battle of Olympus' appear to suggest an earlier date. He started his performing career playing at small bars until being noticed by Third Side Records and signed to a recording contract. This resulted in his first album, A Whisper and a Sigh, which was recorded during the summer of 2002. After this album was released, Morali constructed a new four-piece band and in April 2005 released his second album, Someday We Will Foresee Obstacles. A mixture of folk and melancholic pop, his music combines slow melodies with acoustic instruments while holding true to its roots in electronic music.