Sierra Sikora, musical artist

For readers new to your music, could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are?

Hi! My name is Sierra Sikora. I'm a 19 year-old artist from Chicago, and I write mainly pop-folk and singer songwriter music. My music is very lyrically focused, written with the intention of turning my emotions into something tangible. I hope that by sharing my songs, they can bring listeners comfort just as they have for me.

Your music is described as raw and emotionally honest. When you write, where do your songs usually begin?

My songs almost always begin when I am feeling emotionally too much to handle. I write best when I feel so much at once that I literally have nowhere else to put it except out. It' times like this that the words just flow and I don't have to think too hard. I start by just writing all of my thoughts on a page, whatever comes to mind. After that, I usually rearrange my thoughts as I add a melody. I don't sugarcoat my songs, so it's really just exactly how I feel. It's a little scary knowing that thousands of people have access to what's in my brain...

You started performing very young — from church to musical theatre. How did those experiences shape you as an artist?

Musical theatre was a huge influence on me as an artist. It impacted the way that I sing in terms of technique, but also my style. I've been told by many people that my songs remind them of musicals and that they can tell I was a theatre kid. Performing at a young age also showed me early on how much I love singing for audiences, and made it a lot easier to do once I got older since I don't get stage fright. 

Who are some artists or sounds that have influenced your music?

Olivia Rodrigo was my first big influence. When I started writing music, I wanted to be just like her. As I've grown as an artist, I've drawn inspiration from many artists including Conan Gray, Lizzy McAlpine, and Laufey. Sometimes specific songs will be inspirational for specific songs of mine. For example, the production on Dear Athena, was inspired by Stick Season by Noah Kahan, and the production on Horizon Line was inspired by many songs including Sailor Song by Gigi Perez and Bad Reviews by Sabrina Carpenter.

Who are you when you’re not performing or writing music?

I honestly feel like I live a double life sometimes! I'm a college student, and I go to class every day like a normal person (because I am one lol). I hang out with my friends, have extracurriculars, and go to parties on the weekends. Music related activities are my main passtime, but I also enjoy graphic design, thrifting, cooking pasta, journaling, and biking when it's nice out.

You’ve played many venues and festivals. Is there a show that stands out?

Opening for Esha Tewari is one of my favorite shows I've ever played. It was my biggest show up to that point, but somehow it simultaneously felt so personal. It was just me and my guitar and the crowd, and everyone listened so intently and respectfully. I got to meet so many people that day, and I truly just felt that my music was appreciated. I also felt immense joy while performing and wished that I could continue to do it every single day.

Confessions feels very personal. What did releasing that EP mean to you?

Confessions was not just an EP, it was also a promise and a gift to my younger self. I started writing Confessions when I was 15 years old, and I worked on recording the project for years. It took so long because when I started, I was pretty bad at music production. Over time, I recorded and scrapped songs frequently, or re-recorded the same song multiple times- Jade took about six attempts to get right. Confessions was originally supposed to be an album, but I decided I'd rather start with an EP and release an album later on with more recent songs of mine. After all, by the time I released Confessions, most of the songs were already 2 or 3 years old!

Your new song “Horizon Line” drops on January 25 — how are you feeling about it?

 As I'm writing this, Horizon Line is already out! I'm blown away by the amount of support I've already received, and I'm hopeful for what is yet to come. Honestly, I'm already getting excited for my next release! I wish I could just release new music all the time!

What are you currently working on or excited about musically?

I'm always always working on new music, so there's that. I'm also really excited to perform this year. I hope to meet more of my fan base and expand my horizons (heh, get it) in 2026!

Lastly, what do you hope listeners take away from your music?

I truly just hope that my music leaves a positive impact on my listeners, whether that be because they find it relatable or just like how it sounds. If my music can make someone feel happy or seen, then I've done my job. Thank you for the interview!