Sydnie Christmas has always known how to command a stage. But now, she’s ready to claim the airwaves, trading remakes for original music and entering a defining new chapter in her artistry.
The 2024 Britain’s Got Talent winner, and West End star turned singer-songwriter steps boldly into a new era with the release of her latest single, ‘Run’ – a track that signals not just a musical shift, but a defining moment in her evolution as a recording artist. Known for her powerhouse vocals and theatrical presence, Christmas trades the spotlight of the stage for something more intimate and immediate, delivering a sound that feels both raw and resolutely modern.
With ‘Run’, she doesn’t just introduce a new song, she redraws the boundaries of her sound, marking the beginning of a chapter that positions her far beyond the theatre lights and firmly within the landscape of contemporary music.
Sydnie Christmas – Run (Official Video)
We caught up with Sydnie to talk about the hard-won journey toward finding her voice, pushing 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 seeing people connect with it?
It feels absolutely amazing! I actually can’t believe the reaction – I’m so happy! People seem to be really liking the song and connecting with the lyrics, which I did not expect! So I’m really, really taken aback and thrilled by 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 no brainer 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 back in September of last year, and once we’d finished the session, we all sort of looked at each and said: “this is the one!” It felt like a no brainer. The lyric, the message, the melodies combed… 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 gotten so many messages from people saying how much ‘Run’ is helping them which is amazing, because I want people to feel encouraged and hopeful. I don’t want to be a selfish artist, who makes their songs all about them. In ‘Run’ I’m saying, 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 transition into doing something else, because it’s kind of standard that as a society, we don’t really like change do we? It’s nothing something we cope with well (laughs). So that fear of not knowing how people would react to me releasing my own material caused me to feel a lot of anxiety. But the reality is, I’ve been writing songs since I was kid, and it’s always been my dream to release them one day, so I felt like I just had to push any fears I had to one side, and go for it!
Forgetting other people’s perceptions of you, how does releasing your own material change the way you see yourself as an artist?
It doesn’t. It absolutely doesn’t. A lot of artists have a set look, and a theme that they follow because they know that’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’m feeling in the moment. I don’t think I can be defined or placed easily into one set category. I’m just me, and nobody can be me, other than me. Accepting that takes a lot of pressure off of my shoulders, and allows me to walk my own path, 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?
Yeah there was actually! So very quickly after BGT I released my album, and then went on tour, and it was amazing! Like, I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed those shows – it was a joy to stand on stage night after night, and tell my story through all of the songs I’d remade and recorded for the ‘My Way’ album, it was an incredible experience – one that I knew I wanted to have again and again. But I knew I couldn’t keep producing the same show year upon year, I had to switch things up, and that’s when I thought to myself: “wouldn’t it be amazing if on the next tour, the setlist was made up of all my own songs?” And then I suddenly had this desire to get in the studio and write an album (laughs).
What’s been the biggest challenge in stepping away from interpretation and into creation? And does it feel quite liberating to be singing as 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 becomes to lean into your vulnerabilities and step on stage as your true self. Performing 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 theatre 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 a 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 optimistic. But in terms of a genre, it’s a little bit all over the place. The beauty of being a songwriter, is that subconsciously, you end up writing 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 authentic to how I’m feeling in the moment. Every song I write is different from the next. There’s no set theme. There’s no set genre. I’m very much someone who goes off of the energy in the room.
Did your background in musical theatre influence the storytelling in your original music?
Honestly? No (laughs). It’s crazy, and I say all the time… when it comes to musical theatre, yes I trained in it, yes I love it, and yes I love the acting side of things, and honing in on lyrics that help tell a story and convey an emotion. But when it comes to what influences me as a performer, I’ve always looked to other artists. Whitney Houston was, and still is, my everything! I was wildly obsessed with her! I love Celine Dion, Joss Stone, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatraand Judy Garland… they are my everything! So as much as I adore musical theatre, 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 in your recording career?
Very important. I feel like I have a lot to say, and a strong message that I want to put 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 album that people need in this day and age.
What themes or experiences are you most drawn to writing about?
The recurring theme I always seem to come back to, is one of 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 pull from. I went through a break up, then I met someone new. I was also trying to redefine what “normal” meant after coming off the show (BGT), and then there were some personal things that I went through, that… how do I say this, because of my line of work, maybe played out a bit more publicly then they would have done before. So there’s been a lot going on (laughs). But even in those sad moments, the lyrics I wrote were always hopeful and up-lifting. Why do I think that was? Truthfully, because if I went the other way, I don’t think I’d have been able to cope with the uncertainty of everything. Trying to find the positive in a situation is a bit like a coping mechanism for me. It’s what keeps me feeling centred.
Sydnie Christmas performs with Great Ormond Street Hospital Choir | Semi-Finals | BGT 2026
Do you think making this album helped you understand yourself on a deeper level?
Massively. I’ve learned that I’m far more patient than I ever gave myself credit for, and I’m a lot calmer and more in control of my feelings than I thought. I used to think I was a bit of a nut (laughs) but this process has helped me realise 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 cliche I know, but hard times don’t last. You can be going through the worst pain possible, but you’ll 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’ll make it through. I feel like I have a good understanding of how I want my life to be, and because of that, I’ve never been one to give up. All of those years of rejection and struggle lead me to audition for BGT… and look what happened, I WON! What a wonderful thing to have happened to me! That right there is proof that your life can change in an instant. None of us know when our time is up, so we all just have to keep carrying on, and believe that our best days are ahead of us. The feeling of thinking “what if” is worse than any disappoint or failure, I promise.
Does this new chapter signal a full 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 this life, so I’m open to any and all offers that are presented to me (laughs). I don’t really like to limit myself, or say that I’m only going to do, or be, one thing – I don’t think anybody should live that way. I always say to people: “there’s nothing you can’t do unless you say you can’t” so I say go out there and live your life being open to any and every opportunity that comes your way.
What kind of artist do you want to be known as in five years’ time?
I don’t know if that’s for me to decide, do you know what I mean? It’s up to my audience to interpret my music and performances and take from them whatever resonates. I said it earlier, I’m all about optimism and hope. If people see me as someone who brings a bit of light, and if I can be an example that dreams can come true with hard work, I’ll be really happy with that.
Download / stream ‘Run’ here
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