About

I originally hail from South London. Although my accent has changed over the years, hopefully I haven’t completely lost my South London brogue (thanks Mum!).

I grew up in a golden age when TV was at its best, kids played out till the sun went down and youth culture was making itself heard like never before through music and fashion. My writing is heavily influenced by bands like The Smiths, The Jam and Madness, who at the time spoke to a generation of working-class teens like myself through common experience.

The biggest poetic influence on my work has been John Cooper Clarke, the godfather of spoken word. Once I’d read his book, The Luckiest Man Alive, it changed everything, showing me that poetry doesn’t have to be stuffy and esoteric. I also admire the American beat poets such as Sylvia Plath, Alan Ginsberg, Leonard Cohen and Langston Hughes.

The buzz you get when you’re on stage and the poems are working and you can feel that connection with the audience feels euphoric and addictive. I love the writing and performing equally, it feels like the true me and something I was always meant to do.

I’ve owned a cleaning company in central London for many years and employed staff from all around the world. This has helped to give me a more balanced view of humanity. The take away message is that we’re all the same when you scratch the surface – all folks want is a safe environment to bring up their children, a job and enough food to eat.

I hope you enjoy my work.

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“Syd’s poems are insightful, funny, unique and always relatable.”

Dan Smith, BAFTA-Winning Producer, Director and Writer