Bluegrass fans won’t have to fear the winter doldrums, at least not while talented artists like Sierra Hull are around. Releasing her Limited-edition Holiday Favorites, the Grammy Nominated and nine-time IBMA award-winning Mandolin Player says it’s a project she’s wanted to do despite her busy touring schedule.
“It’s one of those things where you get busy through the year, and you look up, and it’s Christmas. And you’re like, ‘Well, I didn’t do it again this year.’”
Sierra, who hasn’t recorded an album since 2020, says the time was right for releasing new music. “It was really fun getting back into the studio!”
Sierra and her team agreed to record two new songs before recording Holiday Favorites.
“We decided a few months ago that we were gonna release a couple of covers, so we released a couple of songs we cover in our live show.”
The “Weighted Mind” singer says her recordings of Tears for Fears’ “Mad World” and The Grateful Dead’s “Black Muddy River” were requested by her fans. “People are always asking when are you going to record these songs?”
Although busy working on her album, which will be released early next year, Sierra says she was finally able to record her Christmas record.
“I have been in the midst of trying to finish the new album, so I was just like, ‘You know what? Let’s do the holiday thing this year, too, while we’re in the flow of being in the studio.’”
Sierra is treating her fans to a vintage vibe. Available as a limited edition on 7” vinyl, Sierra says releasing a 45 RPM was her idea.
“It feels very nostalgic in that way. It’s a thrill to have a physical copy of it as well.”
Sierra says she wants to continue recording Holiday Favorites. “I would love to do this every year, so we’ll see!”
The Tennessee-born mandolinist explains her plans: “I thought how fun it would be to have a volume 1 and, next year, have a volume 2 with another A side/ B side. Before you know it, we will have a collection of holiday songs and put them out as the years go on.”
While searching for Christmas music, Sierra says that she stumbled upon Bing Crosby’s “The First Snowfall.”
“Surprisingly, I found out it was more obscure than I thought it might be to a lot of people,” explains Sierra, who says Bing Crosby’s version is more orchestral. “I love the melody so much. I thought we could make it more playful: almost lean into that rootsy kind of bluegrass approach.”
Sierra explains that covering a song can be tricky. “There are some songs you can love so much that you think, ‘I can’t touch that!’ Sometimes, the only way to honor a song is to do it differently. I like to make it sound … like my voice and not just trying to replicate the thing.”
Sierra names Tony Rice, Dolly Parton and her close friend Alison Krauss as artists who can interpret songs. “I’ll never forget hearing “Shadows,” by Tony Rice. I thought to myself, this is the best thing that I’ve ever heard in my life. When I was eight years old, I didn’t know that Gordon Lightfoot wrote the song.”
Her busy schedule includes a recent performance at the 58th Annual CMA Awards with Dierks Bentley. “I got to join my two favorite musical sisters,” Sierra shares, referring to Molly Tuttle and Bronwyn Keith Hynes, who gathered with Sierra and Dierks for an electrifying version of Tom Petty’s “American Girl.”
Another artist she can be seen taking the stage with is flat-picking sensation Billy Strings. Sierra says her recent performance with Billy at Austin City Limits was a “bucket list moment.”
“I watched Austin City Limits my whole life. We did two old bluegrass songs into a single mic. We both grew up loving those Doc and Bill collaborations.”
Sierra has big things in store but says she wants to slow down for the holidays. Opting not to sign again with Rounder Records, Sierra shares, “I think it’s time for me to work at my own pace, have full ownership of my music and step out to what feels like a second chapter for me as an artist.”
Komentar