Turning music into a healing mechanism, London-born, Bali-based soul artist Sydney Jo Jackson is releasing her most raw and revealing single to date, Stone Cold. The track, which talks about a very complicated and traumatic experience that the artist lived, explores the heartbreaking truth that love alone isn't always enough. This single will resonate with anyone who's had to choose themselves over a love that hurts them, and it's not only a breakup song but an anthem of survival.
“Stone Cold is about the marriage I had to walk away from — one where I experienced domestic abuse and completely lost myself trying to save someone who didn't want to be saved,” Jackson shares. "It's been five years since my divorce, and this is the first time I've truly unpacked what happened. Music gave me the space to confront the trauma head-on," she adds when asked about her just-released track that she wrote in her bedroom in Bali and emerged from in a late-night haze. Originally laced with expletives, the track evolved into something more nuanced — a powerful, articulate reckoning with the past.
Sydney, who has collaborated with notable artists, including James Essien, now presents a deeply personal ballad born from pain, self-reflection, and ultimately, healing. “No matter how much I wanted it to work, it was never meant to be,” she says. “This song helped me understand why I allowed someone to treat me that way — and why I’ll never allow it again.” With this powerful message, she encourages all her listeners to prioritise love and care for themselves and to make music a safe place where everyone is welcome to share experiences and feelings in a raw and sincere way.