Sierra Ferrell Explained

Sierra Ferrell
Birth Date:3 August 1988
Birth Place:Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Label:Rounder

Sierra Elizabeth Ferrell (born August 3, 1988) is an American singer-songwriter and musician from West Virginia, whose music incorporates elements of folk, bluegrass, gypsy jazz, and Latin styles such as tango and calypso music.

After self-releasing the albums Pretty Magic Spell in 2018 and Washington by the Sea in 2019, she released Long Time Coming in 2021 with Rounder Records, to critical acclaim. Accompanying videos for singles "The Sea", "In Dreams", and "Bells of Every Chapel" (featuring Billy Strings) were uploaded to her YouTube channel in the weeks and months preceding the Long Time Coming's release. Ferrell stayed with the label for her fourth album Trail of Flowers in March 2024.

Early life

Sierra Ferrell was born in West Virginia.[1] After her parents divorced when she was around 5 years old, she lived with her mother and one of her two siblings in a trailer.[2] [3] This led to her spending less time with electronics and more time exploring outside.[4] Despite her home state's deep-rooted history in bluegrass music, Ferrell instead grew up listening to 90s music of various genres, listening to and taking interest in cassette tapes of 10,000 Maniacs and Tracy Chapman that her mother owned.[5] [6]

Ferrell's musical journey began in childhood, playing clarinet and singing choir in school, eventually learning to play guitar and even once, performing Shania Twain covers at a local bar. In her teens, she joined a Grateful Dead cover group as a vocalist, but after feeling constrained creatively, she departed the band to independently pursue her musical aspirations.

In her early twenties, she adopted a nomadic lifestyle, hitch-hiking, freighthopping, and living in her van, with the majority of her time spent busking between Seattle and New Orleans. By this point, Ferrell had turned her attention towards playing folk music and its various offshoots, with fellow busking group Yes Ma'am making a particular impression on her musical style.[7] It was also during this time that Ferrell was also in the throes of drug addiction stemming from her wayfaring way of life, claiming to have died "five times" from narcotics overdoses. After these experiences, she decided to get clean and change her lifestyle in favor of improved health and positive relationships.[8]

Career

Ferrell self-released two albums, Pretty Magic Spell in 2018, and Washington by the Sea in 2019, which she sold while busking. In addition to these albums, she posted an assortment of covers, original material and live performances to her YouTube channel. In 2018, a recording of her song "In Dreams" was recorded and posted by the YouTube channel "GemsOnVHS", attracting millions of views.[9] Around the same time, she was also frequently performing at "Honky Tonk Tuesday's" hosted at Nashville's American Legion Post 82, eventually capturing the attention of Gary Paczosa, a producer best known for his collaborations with Alison Krauss and Dolly Parton.[10] With the help of Paczosa, she signed to Rounder Records for a three-album deal in 2019.[11] [12]

Following the release of singles "Jeremiah" and "Why'd Ya Do It",[13] Ferrell's album Long Time Coming was released in August 2021. Co-produced by Paczosa and featuring a number of established bluegrass musicians, including Sarah Jarosz and Billy Strings, the album received critical acclaim, reaching number 15 on the Billboard Americana/Folk Albums chart.[14] The album received a five-star review from UK-based publication Country Music People, a rating of 7.6/10 from Paste magazine[15] and 7.6/10 from Pitchfork.[16] Saving Country Music gave it 8.5/10.[17] Varsity UK said "Long Time Coming will easily be the only album of its type emerging from the music city of Nashville this year", adding that Ferrell "shines brightest when she leans furthest into her own distinctive brand of jazz-inflected bluegrass".[18]

In 2022, she performed backing vocals on The Black Keys album Dropout Boogie. and collaborated with Ray LaMontagne's track "I Was Born to Love You", which landed itself a position on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay.

Ferrell collaborated with American country star Zach Bryan on the track "Holy Roller" from his self-titled fourth studio album. The song debuted at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100.[19] That same year, she collaborated with Shakey Graves on the fourth song from his album, Movie of the Week, titled "Ready or Not". The song, which was recorded in two hours, peaked at 15th on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay chart.[20]

On March 22, 2024, Ferrell released her fourth album, Trail of Flowers. In her own words, she aimed to make people "feel nostalgic for the past, but excited about the future of music."[21] Preceded by its singles "Fox Hunt", "Dollar Bill Bar", "I Could Drive You Crazy", and "American Dreaming", the album continued to build upon Ferrell's genre-bending sound, and was met with general praise, with Paste magazine noting Ferrell's songwriting to be "more vibrant than ever."[22]

Discography

Albums

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Home. 2021-09-05. Sierra Ferrell. en-US. 2021-09-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20210905104852/https://www.sierraferrellmusic.com/home. live.
  2. Web site: Whisenand . Madison Emily . 2023-11-19 . Country Singer Sierra Ferrell Had A Legendary Rise To Fame . 2024-03-27 . The List . en-US . 2024-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327195916/https://www.thelist.com/1448982/country-singer-sierra-ferrell-rise-fame/ . live .
  3. Web site: George . Varga . 2022-02-27 . Sierra Ferrell honed her music busking on street corners and playing for fellow travelers on freight trains . 2024-03-27 . . en-US . 2024-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327195916/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/story/2022-02-27/sierra-ferrell-honed-her-music-busking-on-street-corners-and-playing-for-fellow-travelers-on-freight-trains . live .
  4. Web site: Introducing: Sierra Ferrell Holler . 2022-06-18 . holler.country . en . 2023-09-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230915234212/https://holler.country/feature/introducing-sierra-ferrell . live .
  5. Web site: 2021-08-19. Sierra Ferrell's Genre-Bending Bluegrass. 2021-09-05. Garden & Gun. en-US. 2021-09-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20210905104856/https://gardenandgun.com/articles/sierra-ferrells-genre-bending-bluegrass/. live.
  6. Web site: Chiu . David . Sierra Ferrell On Finding Magic In Traditional Roots Music And Playing The Grand Ole Opry . 2024-03-25 . . en . 2024-03-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240325011800/https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidchiu/2021/12/15/sierra-ferrell-on-finding-magic-in-traditional-roots-music-and-playing-the-grand-ole-opry/ . live .
  7. Web site: 20 August 2021 . Sierra Ferrell's Captivating New Album 'Long Time Coming' is Out Today . 2021-09-05 . Rounder Records . en-US . 2021-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210905104854/https://rounder.com/rounder-records-news/sierra-ferrells-captivating-new-album-long-time-coming-is-out-today/ . live .
  8. Web site: MUSICNEWS· . Mary Claire Crabtree·COUNTRY . 2024-01-24 . Sierra Ferrell Reveals She Has Died 5 Times In Candid Conversation About Drug Abuse: "My Soul Left My Body" . 2024-03-27 . Whiskey Riff . en-US . 2024-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327195916/https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2024/01/24/sierra-ferrell-reveals-she-has-died-5-times-in-candid-conversation-about-drug-abuse-my-soul-left-my-body/ . live .
  9. Siegel . Jacob . 2018-08-08 . GemsOnVHS: Meet the YouTuber Who's Spearheading a New Wave of DIY Americana . 2024-03-27 . . en-US . 2024-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327195916/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/gemsonvhs-meet-the-youtuber-whos-spearheading-a-new-wave-of-diy-americana-703681/ . live .
  10. Web site: Gary Paczosa Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More . 2024-03-27 . AllMusic . en . 2024-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327195916/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-paczosa-mn0000799101 . live .
  11. Web site: Dongray. Emily. 2021-08-17. Sierra Ferrell "Long Time Coming". 2021-09-05. Americana UK. en-GB. 2021-09-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20210905104852/https://americana-uk.com/sierra-ferrell-long-time-coming. live.
  12. Web site: Hurt . Edd . 2021-04-19 . Sierra Ferrell Mines for Country Gold at American Legion Post 82 . 2024-03-27 . Nashville Scene . en . 2024-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327195916/https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/thespin/sierra-ferrell-mines-for-country-gold-at-american-legion-post-82/article_da4fd314-8c94-5a84-9cbc-17771a145dc1.html . live .
  13. Web site: Sierra Ferrell's "Jeremiah" and "Why'd Ya Do It," Out Today, Offer Intriguing Preview of Forthcoming Album. 2021-09-05. Rounder Records. 23 October 2020. en-US. 2021-09-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20210905104852/https://rounder.com/rounder-records-news/sierra-ferrells-jeremiah-and-whyd-ya-do-it-out-today-offer-intriguing-preview-of-forthcoming-album/. live.
  14. Zellner . Xander . 2023-09-06 . Hot 100 First-Timers: Sierra Ferrell & The War And Treaty Debut With Zach Bryan Features . 2024-03-27 . . en-US . 2024-01-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240114110546/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/hot-100-first-timers-sierra-ferrell-the-war-and-treaty-debut-zach-bryan-features-1235407419/ . live .
  15. Web site: 2021-08-19 . It's a Long Time Coming, But Sierra Ferrell Has Figured Herself Out . 2021-09-05 . . en . 2021-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210905104852/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/sierra-ferrell/long-time-coming-album-review/ . live .
  16. Web site: Sierra Ferrell: Long Time Coming . 2021-09-05 . . en . 2021-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210905104855/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sierra-ferrell-long-time-coming/ . live .
  17. Web site: Trigger. 2021-08-20. Album Review – Sierra Ferrell's "Long Time Coming". 2021-09-05. Saving Country Music. en-US. 2021-09-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20210905104857/https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-sierra-ferrells-long-time-coming/. live.
  18. Web site: Sierra Ferrell spans genres in debut album Long Time Coming. 2021-09-05. Varsity Online. en. 2021-09-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20210905104857/https://www.varsity.co.uk/music/21948. live.
  19. Zellner . Xander . 2023-09-05 . All 16 Songs From Zach Bryan's New LP Debut in Hot 100's Top 50, Led by No. 1 'I Remember Everything' . 2024-03-27 . . en-US . 2024-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327195916/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/zach-bryan-new-album-all-songs-hot-100-top-50-1235406102/ . live .
  20. Web site: Niesel . Jeff . Indie Rocker Shakey Graves Gets Cinematic on New Album . 2024-03-27 . Cleveland Scene . en . 2024-03-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240327195916/https://www.clevescene.com/music/indie-rocker-shakey-graves-gets-cinematic-on-new-album-42986138 . live .
  21. Web site: Sierra Ferrell announces new album, 'Trail of Flowers' . 2024-01-18 . . en-US . 2024-05-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529053734/https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/01/18/sierra-ferrell-announces-new-album-trail-of-flowers/72266893007/ . live .
  22. Web site: Trail of Flowers Finds Sierra Ferrell's Songwriting More Vibrant Than Ever . 2024-03-24 . . en-US . 2024-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240324233406/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/sierra-ferrell/trail-of-flowers-finds-sierra-ferrells-songwriting-more-vibrant-than-ever . live .
  23. Billboard 200: Week of April 6, 2024. Billboard. April 2, 2024. April 2, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240402094918/https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2024-04-06/. live.
  24. Freeman. Jon. 2022-09-14. Billy Strings, Allison Russell Win Top Prizes at 2022 Americana Honors & Awards. 2024-04-01. Rolling Stone. en-US. 2023-10-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20231019132213/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/americana-awards-winners-2022-1234593400/. live.

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