by Rebecca Clark
A recent moment involving From Ashes to New and fan Sydney Hoone was a powerful reminder of how deeply music can connect people and how important it is to protect those vulnerable moments.
The band recently shared a video of Sydney, visibly emotional, singing along and crying to their new song “Die For You.” Their caption read, “The kind of connection people say music can’t make anymore.” It was a raw and beautiful reminder of what music can do for people.
But instead of celebrating that moment, many people flooded the comments with cruel remarks about Sydney’s appearance. The bullying was heartbreaking, with mean-spirited comments, gifs, and personal attacks aimed at a young fan who was simply expressing what the music meant to her.
What happened next showed exactly what kind of band and people From Ashes To New are.
Danny Case and Matt Brandyberry publicly addressed the bullying and made it clear they would not tolerate that kind of behavior in their community. On stage, they called out the cruelty and defended Sydney. Danny even FaceTimed her personally to thank her for being so open and emotional in that moment and to remind her how strong she is. He also told her she’s welcome at any From Ashes To New show and added her to the band’s guest list for life.
Sydney shared how much the support has meant to her, saying, “I’m just so grateful for the support that the From Ashes To New members have given me. I’m a newer fan of theirs and wasn’t expecting them to comment on it or anything, let alone guest list me for life. I could never thank them enough.”
Watching this unfold was genuinely moving.
As someone who grew up on the heavier side and experienced bullying myself, this hit me hard. I know what it feels like to be judged for how you look. I know how painful words can stick with you. And like Sydney, music was always there for me when people weren’t. It became a place of comfort during some of the hardest moments of my life.
That’s why this mattered.
People never truly know what someone is carrying or what they’ve fought through. Judging someone because they don’t fit an unrealistic image of how they “should” look says far more about the bully than the person being targeted.
Music has always had the power to heal, connect, and remind people they aren’t alone. From Ashes to New didn’t just create a song that reached someone deeply; they stood up for the fan behind that moment when she needed support most.
What really struck me about this whole thing is how it exposed both sides of people, how cruel some can be, but also how kind others are capable of being. In the end, music heals.