Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sierra Sikora. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Sierra, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Honestly, there was no one moment where I knew I wanted to pursue music professionally. I think I’ve always secretly wanted it deep down, and over time it’s just been more solidified and I’ve become more sure of it with time and successes. There is one moment in particular that was especially moving to me, though. In August of 2024, I had my first ever headline concert. I had been planning it since the start of that year, and practicing all summer– it was my big thing. It was a free show at a small venue in the back of a bar. I was worried about turnout since I’d never had my own show before but to my surprise, the room was overflowing! People were inside and outside, all there for my show. I stepped on the stage and immediately felt at home. That day was the first time that a crowd sang my own lyrics back to me, and it was such a beautiful moment. It was also one of my first times meeting fans, and seeing in-person the positive impact I was having on people. Performing that day, I felt the most “myself” that I had in a long time. When I am singing, I forget about everything else, and I just feel happiness, gratitude, and empowerment. Sharing my art with a room of people brings me such joy, and I knew that day that I wanted to keep doing it over and over again.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Sierra Sikora, I’m a 19-year old independent artist, songwriter, and producer. My music blends pop, singer-songwriter, and folk genres, with a focus on introspective lyrics and emotional depth. I started songwriting when I was 14 years old. I started writing a lot more once I got to highschool– an emotionally confusing time. By the time I was a junior, I had written dozens of songs. I had been creating demos using Bandlab on my phone, but that year, I enrolled in Music Production Class at school. I started learning how to record and produce my songs on a more sophisticated level, and the following year, I released my first self-produced single. I had already been posting my music on Tik Tok, but it wasn’t until my second single that I began receiving recognition. My song ‘Dear Athena’ gathered hundreds of thousands of views on Tik Tok, and was the first time I had such a large supportive response to one of my songs. This was also when my fanbase first began to form (the Sierra Squad)! From that point forward, I took social media more seriously, and have since gathered over 80k followers on Tik Tok, and almost 50k on Instagram, with over 90k all-time listeners on streaming services. Aside from producing and promoting, I took on many other roles for myself including management, booking, and graphic design. I’ve played over 30 shows in the past year, including a ticketed headline concert, opening for one of my favorite small artists, meet & greets across the country (& in London!) and Lollapalooza. I’ve also released my first EP, ‘Confessions’, which I had been writing since my freshman year of high school! I still produce for myself, often recording in my dorm/apartment, or my university’s recording booth. It’s very DIY, all done on my laptop and with friends. One of my best friends co-produces with me sometimes and mixes my tracks, and I have other friends play various instruments for me. I’ve also formed a band (that have since become my close friends!) on campus and we play local shows. I currently book all my own shows too, just using my email and the connections I have built through networking. I am most proud of the fact that I have built what I have right now from essentially nothing. No one in my family is a musician or even in the music industry. I taught myself how to do everything, both art and business, and I am very proud of that. Everything I do comes straight from the heart, and I pride myself on being driven and authentic.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

One of my big goals is to build my career up enough to eventually go on a U.S headline tour. I play a lot in my hometown, Chicago, but I would love to sing my songs across the country. My ultimate goal is to sustain myself as an artist and do music full-time!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think that non-creatives believe that artistic careers are dead ends, and maybe in a lot of cases they are, but sometimes they aren’t. The reason so many people don’t succeed in music is because they don’t take it seriously, or expect opportunities to be handed to them. Maybe I am naive, but I believe that if you want something bad enough, you can make it happen. But it can’t just be a dream, you have to actively take steps to achieve it. What non-creatives don’t understand is that I put just as much effort into my music career as they put into, say, a medical degree, or climbing up the business ladder. I put more effort into music than anything else in my life. I don’t treat music like a hobby, I treat it like my all or nothing and take steps towards my future every single day. I pour myself into my dreams of being an artist, and if you do that, it is inevitable to see successes. I’ve had some that I am very grateful for, and I will keep working for more in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sierrasikora.com
• Instagram: @sierrasikoramusic
• Youtube: @sierrasikoramusic
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Hm6XysSKvYMCEEjFlmGoR?si=ROoihzNlS6uTbfwmR1FBzg
  Tik Tok: @sierrasikoramusic

Image Credits

Main photo: Pawsitive Shots
Additional images (in order):
Corefocusmedia
Adelyn Mui
Grace Sikora
Grace Sikora
Jace Sikora
Moni Sandoval