Follow John Sierra
Have you ever passed by someone in need of help on the street without stopping? That’s what happened to John Sierra. Of course, moments later, the little angel inside all of us tapped him on the shoulder to remind him that we could all be in that situation. And John remembered certain childhood memories, as he shared with us:
“My own version of feeling like an outcast, of being overlooked and ‘unseen’ reminded me of how it feels. Every time in my life that I felt that way, which was most of my childhood (either emotional neglect from parents or being the brunt of some school bully’s taunts), it hurt. Deeply. In fact, it created in me a sense of shame I still have to fight.”
You can instantly feel those regrets through the very first guitar notes of “Maybe We’re All.” Then, after a short intro, John Sierra’s voice—warm, strong, and powerful—takes over, swiftly dispelling those regrets. It feels like listening to Luke Beling (whom we’ll talk about later in this magazine): yes, John has that kind of voice that immediately makes you feel at ease, as if an old uncle were telling you a story by the fire. Yet, it wasn’t exactly cozy fireside situations that filled John’s past, as he was the former guitarist for the excellent alt-rock band Attalus. Suffice it to say, he’s more accustomed to guitar battles on an electrified stage than storytelling by the hearth.
But his incredibly descriptive writing (the second verse will prove it to you) deeply immerses us in everyday situations where we wonder if we acted the right way. We all ask ourselves this kind of question at some point, which is why this song feels so relatable. And who doesn’t enjoy recognizing themselves in a great song?
As for the production, “Maybe We’re All” rides waves of perfection, evoking geniuses like Dominic Romano, Thomas LaVine, Harrison Storm, or Hollow Coves. Oh God, that electric guitar right before the final chorus is divine! Did you hear it? Yes, sometimes the chills are hidden in those little details. And we love that. John is our new crush, and we hope to see him in our pages again soon!
