We spoke with cydan about “promises to you” and more!

Q: You’ve said “promises to you” reflects a shift in your sound. When you first started working on it, what moment or feeling pushed the song into existence?

A: It started one late night when I was reflecting on what love really means after going through a few moments of doubt and heartbreak. I wrote the first line, “Let you have a part of me,” and it unlocked the rest. I wasn’t chasing a sound, I was chasing a feeling, something honest and stripped down. That moment pushed me to write with more truth than before.

Q: The track has a really warm, intimate feel that pulls listeners in. How did you land on that vibe during production, and did it evolve much from your first demo?

A: The first demo was super raw, just voice and guitar. I wanted to keep that closeness even as the production grew. We added soft layers but kept everything minimal so the emotion stayed upfront. The warmth came from trying to make it feel like a private conversation, not a performance.

Q: When you wrote it, were you drawing from something personal or more from a story you imagined?

A: Definitely personal. It came from a place of wanting to believe in love again, but still being afraid. Every line reflects something. I’ve felt that mix of fear and faith when you’re ready to give your heart to someone, but don’t know if it’s safe.

Q: Compared to your earlier releases like Sing 4 U, what feels different about your songwriting now?

A: I think I’m more honest now. Back then, I was still figuring out my sound and writing what I thought people wanted to hear. With “Promises to You,” I stopped overthinking and just wrote what I actually felt. The lyrics are simpler, but they hit deeper because they come straight from experience.

Q: Being based in Toronto, do you think the city shapes your creativity or influences your sound in any specific way?

A: Yeah, definitely. Toronto has this mix of cultures and moods; it’s both cold and warm, lonely and alive. That duality really influences how I write. There’s something about late nights in the city, just walking or sitting with your thoughts, that brings a kind of quiet honesty to my songs.

Q: When did you know “promises to you” was finished? Was there a point where you thought, “okay, I can’t tweak this anymore”?

A: I knew it was done when it finally made me feel something again. I had been tweaking little details for weeks, but one night I played it back, sat there, and it felt complete. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real, and that’s what mattered to me.

Q: What’s the most surprising reaction you’ve heard from listeners so far?

A: Someone told me it made them cry because it reminded them of a promise they couldn’t keep. That really hit me, knowing something I wrote in my room could connect to someone else’s story like that. It reminded me why I started making music in the first place.

Q: If you could describe where your head was at emotionally when you made the song, what would that setting or image look like?

A: If you could describe where your head was at emotionally when you made the song, what would that setting or image look like?

A: Honestly, it felt like being in a quiet room with dim light, that space between peace and sadness. You’re calm, but your heart’s still heavy. That’s where the song lives for me.

Q: Any plans to expand on this single — like visuals, collaborations, or maybe an acoustic version?

A: Right now, I don’t have any set plans for visuals or collaborations for “Promises to You.”My focus is on creating and releasing more singles, continuing to grow my sound, and sharing more of my story through new music. I’m taking it one song at a time and letting each release show a different side of who I am as an artist.

Q: Looking ahead, what’s next for you for the rest of this year? Are you focusing on more singles, an EP, or maybe getting back to live shows?

A: I’m planning to release more singles that carry the same emotion and honesty as “Promises to You.” Each track is a step forward, both personally and musically. I also want to start doing more live shows, small, intimate ones where people can really feel the music up close, just like I did when I wrote it.