Holler Railbird Sessions: Sierra Ferrell

What more can be said about the wondrous Sierra Ferrell?

An evocative enigma, Ferrell has found near-world support and adoration through her endlessly imaginative and chameleonic style of songwriting, piecing together all manner of genres and rhymes to forge her own path of creating wonderfully accessible music.

Her debut album, Long Time Coming, blended together years of thought and invention into a cohesive and expressive record, solidifying Ferrell's place as one of Holler's absolute favourites.

So, it was with great excitement that Holler welcomed Sierra Ferrell into our recording space at Railbird Festival 2023 in Lexington, KY to record her first, of hopefully many, Holler Live Sessions. Performing solo and unplugged, Ferrell treats us to two instant classics and, thrillingly, an unreleased new ditty.

What's immediately entrancing about Ferrell live is her voice - honeyed, playful and enduring, the warmth of her tone still bubbling even straight after playing an hour long set on the Elkhorn stage. The tenderness of 'Silver Dollar' crackles with longing for a sense of contentment, it's message striking even in it's melodic glee.

"I'm going to play you a brand new song" Sierra begins as she introduces her final song. "This one's not out yet and probably not even finished, so you might hear it in a different arrangement in the future".

A sparse, lulling waltz, 'Making My Way' trembles under the self-doubt of its love; Ferrell's candid, steadfast delivery belying the anxiety of the journey her protagonist is taking. Even in it's undecorated arrangement, the song feels tender and powerful, the splendour in simplicity ringing in your ears as Ferrell strums for a final time.

Each new turn Ferrell has taken us down so far has been a fulfilling one; wherever the wind blows her next, we're ready to set sail.