We last saw indie-pop singer/songwriter Lyncs (the musical moniker of Jacqueline Hynes) last August when she double-headlined The Lounge at World Café Live with Laur Elle. However, the Lancaster-born artist has released quite a bit of music since then, including November’s SICK+SIN EP; “I LIVE IN THIS BODY” single, which began streaming last week; and collaborative single “Don’t Fall Asleep To This,” which dropped in February and features Lyncs alongside her current tourmates, The Ivy. Lyncs will find herself supporting The Ivy on Monday, April 14th at Kung Fu Necktie, a setting very different from her recent stop with Laur Elle. Jacqueline recently took some time to chat with me about all of this new music, Philadelphia, and her love of a number of phriends of PHILTHY MAG.
Izzy Cihak: I know you recently kicked off this tour with The Ivy. How have the dates gone so far?
Jacqueline Hynes: I’m just beyond grateful to be on the road with these guys. They’re so much fun, and I’m meeting so many incredible people through this tour! Playing live is my favorite part of being an artist, and the crowds have been amazing—they’ve welcomed me with open arms.
Izzy: I know that you knew the band at least a little prior to now, as you recently released “Don’t Fall Asleep To This” after meeting during a writing trip in LA. How would you characterize your relationship with The Ivy, both personally and professionally… I feel like being on the road with people you like is just about as important as any other aspect of touring.
Jacqueline: It honestly feels like a stroke of luck that we managed to squeeze in a session before the tour to really get to know each other. That definitely made breaking the ice so much easier and helped us understand how to work together as a team. I’d say our professional and personal relationships feel pretty much the same—they’re so easygoing! The energy is unmatched! I’ve never clicked with people this easily, and having a working relationship that flows this smoothly has been amazing.
Izzy: I actually saw you last year with Laur Elle, who I totally love, and I know you’ve also toured a bit with Cayley Spivey, who also seems super cool… You seem to always have rad touring partners! Is there anyone that you’d love to tour with, whether because you’re just a huge fan or because you think your music would be a really good fit together?
Jacqueline: First of all, that tour was an absolute BLAST! We had so much fun; it felt like summer camp the whole time. Laur Elle is a friend for life now, and Cayley and I have never been closer.
If I could tour with anyone right now, I’d say Griff. I’ve been following her for a while, and she’s so inspiring. Getting to be around her energy every day would be a total gift.
Izzy: What can be expected of the live show when you play Kung Fu Necktie in a few weeks? I saw you last year at The Lounge at World Café Live on your tour with Laur Elle, which was totally great.
Jacqueline: I’m always excited to be home in PA, so you can expect some high-energy vibes from me! We’re playing some new songs that I can’t wait to share with you.
Izzy: On that note, The Lounge at World Café Live, a traditional listening room, is probably just about as different of a (comparably sized) live setting as is possible from Kung Fu Necktie, a barroom which I’ve described as resembling, “a brothel in a Rob Zombie film.” Do you have a particular favorite type of venue or setting to play, or one that you think best fits your performance style?
Jacqueline: Haha, that’s a fantastic comparison, and it totally captures the vibe! World Café was such a warm and intimate space to perform in, whereas Kung Fu Necktie is raw and gritty. I don’t know that I have a favorite venue yet; for me, it’s all about the crowd. We’ve played in some amazing venues, and I’ve loved them all. One of the highlights for me was playing at the El Rey in Los Angeles—there’s just something about that capacity and the energy that comes from a crowd of that size. It’s truly infectious.
Izzy: This is sort of related, but I know you grew up not too, too far from Philly, or Philthy, so I’m guessing that you’ve attended at least a handful of concerts here as a fan. Any favorite shows or show memories from the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection?
Jacqueline: I grew up in Lancaster, PA, so not too far! I used to drive into Philly a lot, especially to see my friends’ shows when I was living in NYC. It’s such a special city and will always have a place in my heart. One of the standout moments for me was taking my brother to see Yoke Lore at The Foundry.
Izzy: You released your third EP, SICK+SIN last November. How do you think the release compares to I Already Know The Ending and Everytime I Find the Meaning of Life It Changes, in terms of sounds, influences, and even just the process of writing and recording it?
Jacqueline: With each EP, I’ve just been growing so much as a producer and writer, and you can really hear that growth. I produce all my own music, and even listening back over time, it’s amazing to see how much stronger I’ve gotten, especially in my writing. For SICK+SIN, I was really inspired by TV shows and movies—there’s more dialogue, more storytelling, and a lot of gestural imagery. I wanted to create a narrative I enjoy hearing.
I loved working on SICK+SIN, especially with Dylan Bauld on the title track. He’s incredible, and we had such a great time in the studio together. I had written the main hook over Christmas, and when I got the call to work with him, I knew that was the perfect moment to turn it into a story about two people on the run. I couldn’t be happier with the project and how people are connecting with it. Just really grateful it exists.
Izzy: You released really cool videos for the title track and “WASTELAND.” What kinds of things most inspire the visual elements of your work?
Jacqueline: For the videos, I really wanted to contrast the industrial, darker tones with the warmth of the field. I didn’t want to distract from the song, so we kept things pretty simple. We borrowed a friend’s drone and shot it in one very hot LA day, and honestly, it was so worth the sweat and brambles.
Izzy: And you just released “I LIVE IN THIS BODY.” How did this particular track come about, both sonically and narratively?
Jacqueline: This one’s super special to me—it’s the first track I’ve produced 100% on my own this year. I really wanted to capture the feeling of growing older and trying to stay present. It’s such a challenge in the world we live in right now, but I do believe we’re here for a reason: to be ourselves, and nothing else.
The song went through a few different versions before I landed on what it is now—upbeat, fast, with some UK garage elements. I wanted the music to feel almost at odds with the message, to make the two elements cancel each other out.
When I wrote it, I was thinking a lot about my mom and her journey. When I was born, I was a micro-preemie at 24 weeks and weighed just over a pound. It was a huge toll on my parents, and I wasn’t expected to survive, let alone thrive. But thanks to the incredible doctors and NICU staff, I’m here today. That connection with my mom has always been strong, and she played such a big role in my music career from the start. Writing this song as my first single under a label felt like an opportunity to show who I truly am, to be as raw and vulnerable as possible.
Izzy: Finally, what’s next for you? How are you hoping and planning to spend the rest of 2025, after these dates with The Ivy wrap at the end of April? Anything you’re especially excited about?
Jacqueline: So much more music! I feel like it’s always evolving, and we’re hoping to tour more this year too. There’s a lot coming, so I’m just trying to stay present each and every day and keep pushing forward.
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