Sierra Spirit intertwines identity and musicality into songwriting like never before
Words by Matt Keenan
Photos by Olivia Stabile
If there was one universal truth to the human experience, it might be storytelling. Carried through generations, and outlining a path of who we were and who we can, or maybe even will be. Few artists in my experience intertwine this into their identity the way Sierra Spirit does. Sierra Spirit Kihega is an indigenous artist who hails from Oklahoma, bringing the home of both her tribes (the Otoe Missouria and Keetoowah Band of Cherokees) and cultural background front and center both in songwriting and identity. Her upcoming EP “coin toss” utilizes the art form of storytelling in a brilliantly honest and vulnerable way to cover everything from loss to love, to mental health, and growing up.
Below, you can find our interview with Sierra Spirit and some portraits taken in advance of her show on August 14th in Brooklyn at Pink Frog Cafe. Both Olivia and I loved getting to meet her, see her perform, and get to talk about who she is and what’s coming next.
Best Left Magazine: First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to do this, we appreciate it so much! We loved getting to see you in Brooklyn, do you come out to New York often?
Sierra Spirit: I’m living in Connecticut right now but all my favorite shows and sessions have been in New York so I’d love to be here more!
There's so much we wanted to get to ask you, but it seems a fitting place to start to ask about "coin toss," how are you feeling about it? This would be your debut EP, how long have you spent working on this? When do you think these songs really started to form and take the shape that they are now?
Sierra Spirit: I’m feeling so stoked!! This project has been in the works for over a year and it’s all finally coming to fruition! We just finished putting together the final track list for the ep about a week or two ago! Thats the cool and exciting thing about music is that until the very end you’re still making changes and adding things! Over the past year there were definitely a few points that I was really taken aback and like “wow… this is really turning into something so beautiful and complex it’s like a living breathing entity”.
Speaking on songwriting, your identity is so intertwined with such a rich and intricate culture and inspired by storytelling in such a way that is so endearing, how do you feel like your cultural identity and upbringing influence you in your music?
Sierra Spirit: Being indigenous affects every aspect of my music whether it’s intentional or not- that’s the beautiful thing about belonging to a culture and community is that it’s in everything you do. Most of my songs deal with issues our community faces- addiction, depression, anxiety. While the topics can be sore subjects- if something i’ve dealt with can touch someone else and make them feel less alone it’s always gonna be worth putting it all out there.
Your latest single is a homage to your grandmother, who seems to have been a profound influence on you, is there any advice or story she told you that sticks out to you and carries through your songwriting?
Sierra Spirit: In the last birthday card my grandma ever wrote me she said “Trust your gut, do that and I know you’ll always be okay”. There isn’t a day I don’t think of her. She taught me to be my own biggest fan and supporter and that’s the most valuable thing she could’ve ever taught me.
Coming up as a songwriter, who were some of the influences you looked at when it comes to songwriting? I once had someone say to me that you can have a well produced track, but there's nothing like a well written song, is there anyone whose lyricism and songwriting you specifically looked up to?
Sierra Spirit: I have been a massive fan of Phoebe Bridgers for close to a decade and from my first listen through her debut album “Stranger in the Alps” a switch just flipped and I had a moment where I understood the feeling that I wanted people to feel when they listened to my music. Listening through that album- I mean REALLY listening it tells such a beautiful and immersive story that I would give anything to be able to go back and experience listening to that for the first time. I’m such a huge admirer of the way Phoebe paints a picture.
With "coin toss" on the horizon, is there any specific track off the project you're most excited to hear? If so, why?
Sierra Spirit: the last track to be finalized on the ep is called “better wild” and ooooo! its a good one! i grew up in Oklahoma surrounded by and immersed in country music and it’s always been a huge influence for me sonically. this track really gives you that taste of twang you get from classic country music and i can’t wait for y’all to hear it!
If you were to introduce yourself and your music as an artist to someone who has never heard you before, what would you say?
Sierra Spirit: I’d say what I do to start off a live show. I’m Sierra Spirit and I’m an indigenous musician from Tulsa, OK. I’ve got the sweet and somber lyricism that you crave from an indie artist and the twang and vulnerability of classic country song that hits in such a sweet spot. Hopefully it’s not much like anything you’ve heard yet.
If you could introduce "coin toss" by comparing it to three projects, what would you compare it to?
Sierra Spirit: That’s HARD. I’d probably say “Stranger in the Alps” by Phoebe Bridgers, “Sprained Ankle” by Julien Baker and “Preachers Daughter” by Ethel Cain. I admire these three albums so much for the rich and vivid stories they tell- I love a project that sounds like hearing a story be told. Growing up indigenous, storytelling is such a massive part of our culture and something I will always cherish.
One of my favorite things that caught me about you as an artist is the way you intertwine your identity into your music, it reminds me a lot of what I fell in love with listening to artists like Julien Baker and Indigo De Souza, that raw transparency of just letting out your soul. What do you think is so important about such a deliberate honesty in music?
Sierra Spirit: Music has a way of making you feel known. If I can write a song that someone who’s never met me and maybe never will can relate to and feel like they know me a little then I’ve done my job as an artist. Music is what helped me through the worst of my struggle with my mental health and when words just didn’t cut it- music made me feel seen and known. Music is therapy.
We talked about the stories and advice your grandmother told you coming up as a songwriter, and we talked about the use of deliberate honesty in songwriting, if you could say anything to someone who wasn't sure they were good enough or their songs were good enough what would you say?
Sierra Spirit: I would say- If you can make one person listen and feel seen then that’s the most important thing in the world. Write music that is real and honest and you can never go wrong. You’d be surprised how many of your darkest moments are so much like someone else’s who may be feeling so alone. We are never alone- music has a way of reminding us of that. You’re good enough- your music is good enough. Write honestly and you and your music will always be good enough.
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this again, is there anything else you want to share with our audience about what's next for Sierra Spirit? We're so excited for the EP and can't wait to be hearing more from you.
Sierra Spirit: I’ve been working hard these past few months on new music so I promise you “cointoss” is only the beginning- you’ll see *wink wink*
