Today we’d like to introduce you to Sierra Vernon.
Hi Sierra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have a pretty standard story for a musician – I have always loved performing and decided very early in my life (about 8 or so) that I wanted to do this all my life. Not being from a family with lots of extra money I developed a solid “just keep working” ethic that has set me right through difficulties. Along with the emotional and sometimes financial support of my family, friends, and great colleagues along the way, I am still performing and writing and dreaming of the next great performance!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I wouldn’t imagine anyone’s life has been without challenges! I have had a couple big struggles – timed right with my becoming an adult, my Dad died in an accident which really threw my life and brain development for a loop. Along with the obvious emotional fallout of losing a parent as a young person, my family also then incurred a lot of financial difficulty with his death. Don’t die without a signed Will and Testament, it really causes your family a lot of additional grief!
I would then attribute a lot of my mental health difficulties in my 20’s to his death, exacerbated by the financial difficulties it caused. Not to say I didn’t probably already have some issues brewing in my brain, but I do think I would have had an easier time grappling into my 30’s without that big event.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a singer by trade, and a musician of a couple instruments to varying capacities. I love to dance as well, although I am not trained at all – I am very enthusiastic with an excellent feel for rhythm! Currently I run an ABBA cover band (DiscoTex) that I’m very proud of, it’s such a joyous experience every performance. Performing is absolutely my favorite thing to do on earth, and when people are singing along with you while at a show, it moves me to align with the Universe every time. Our rehearsals are even a pleasure, and I work with some of the most talented people in Austin by far.
When thinking on what sets me apart, I would offer it’s not actually my voice or musicianship. I would categorize myself pretty average on both of those, but I am in another realm when it comes to stamina in this industry. None of what I’m about to type is to put anyone else down, but I do recognize that I keep rolling when the hits keep coming. Through lots of wild life events, money struggles, days/weeks without food, and trying to be participatory in my relationships of all kinds, I have continued to put in the work for my music. While I say this sets me apart, it’s not overly unique in the world of musicians without trust funds. Shout out to all of us trying to make the dream work while having to fund ourselves!
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Depending on what time frame you’re referencing, I was a very different toddler/kindergartener to my later elementary school/middle school self. I was very shy and wary of people when I was very little, I remember distinctly hiding behind my Dad’s leg a lot when I was small. However, when I got into school I decided I was going to have to move through that if I wanted to have any friends because people weren’t going to ask me to play, so I was going to have to ask them. I continue to be extroverted to this day!
My interests varied, but always included reading at the top of the list. I was a ferociously voracious reader as a kid, preferring Fiction over anything else but reading lots of biographies and science books as well. Video games were something I enjoyed also, courtesy of having 2 older brothers who were very into the Super Nintendo they bought, so my sister and I had to learn as well of course. Swimming or being in water is my other great love, growing up around Lake Travis was helpful but I think I would have sought out water no matter where I grew up.
I was always the kid who raised my hand in class, was never shy about knowing the answer! I loved being involved in almost any group, and was always a big fan of our quiet reading time. My teachers would probably tell you too I had a sassy streak about me so if anyone said something I knew to be wrong or ridiculous I was not going to let that go un-checked. That continued (and got me in trouble a couple times) through all of my adolescence, and I was a very enthusiastic student who joined nearly every academic club we had at my high school.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sierravernon.com
- Instagram: @srvernon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sierravernon6968
- Other: discotexband.com or IG @_discotex_
