Sy’Rai is hoping that she’s got next. Brandy’s only child is ready to fully step into the spotlight with a little guidance from her mom. After dueting together on the single “Nothing Without You” last year for Disney+’s Cheaper By The Dozen remake, Sy’Rai has announced that she will drop her debut EP in May. The project’s biggest flex? The EP will be executive produced by none other than her mother.
Brandy is not only the EP of Sy’Rai’s forthcoming EP, but she’s also her vocal producer. The young singer’s debut collection doesn’t have a title, single or release date yet, but Sy’Rai, who is currently co-starring in the new music docuseries Family Legacy, shared her big news – and her anxiety about the release – in an interview on BET.com with some of her castmates.
“There is a lot of pressure,” Sy’Rai admitted about being Brandy’s baby girl and following in her footsteps. “Everyone says I sing like her and I look like her, which is something I love. I love to prove people right and show them I do sound like her and look like her.”
Nonetheless, she’s ready to step out from her mom’s shadow. “It’s hard for people not to compare us. I wouldn’t want to be compared to anybody else, but it can be difficult for people to differentiate us because I’ve always been known as Brandy’s daughter so to create a persona for myself and not be tied to her may be a bit difficult,” Sy’Rai said before sharing some insight about her project.
“The themes in my music will be more mature, and people won’t be ready to see me as an adult as I go through real stuff,” the 20-year-old shared. “I’m excited for people to see what I’m creating but also scared as I’ve seen my mom go through a few things I don’t want to go through.”
Despite some trepidation, Sy’Rai is ready to make her next music move and even considering covering songs from Brandy’s catalog – including one of her biggest hits.
“There were talks about me doing ‘The Boy Is Mine’ with another artist, so we’re still trying to piece that together,” she said about her ambitious goals. “I love ‘Afrodisiac,’ and I would love to recreate it. Snoop Dogg’s daughter Choc covered the record, and I reached out to her to tell her we could redo it. My personal favorite is ‘Full Moon,’ too. It’s in my range as well.”
If anyone is qualified to cover Brandy, though, Sy’Rai is confident that it’s her. “I’ve seen my mom in the studio all my life, and I’m a perfectionist like her,” she said. “I have that Brandy sound that people try and get – I can do it and it’s in my genes to be like her...People call me the ‘New Testament.’” One thing’s for sure about Ray-J’s niece, she certainly has his chutzpah.
- Advertisement -Until we get to hear how Sy’Rai is coming on her EP when it drops in May, catch her on your TV screens right now on Family Legacy. The docuseries premiered this week on Paramount+ with a cast comprised of the offspring of music celebrities, including Chilli and Dallas Austin’s son Tron Austin, Boyz II Men’s Nathan Morris’ son Nathan Morris II, The Notorious B.I.G. and Faith Evans’ son CJ Wallace and Diddy’s sons Justin Combs and King Combs. Quincy Brown, son of Al B. Sure! and Kim Porter, serves as the series narrator. Catch a glimpse of Sy’Rai in the trailer below.
