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!

A bit more about John Sierra

Since his teenage years, songwriting has been John's way of processing loss, hurt, and longing. However, in his early 20s, he chose the "safer" path of playing guitar for the alt-rock band Attalus (Facedown Records), setting aside his dream of being a solo artist. Fear of failure and self-doubt led him to hide, and eventually, his life fell apart through addiction, costing him relationships, the band, and his dream. He even sold all his music gear, except for his father's acoustic guitar. Through therapy and faith, John found healing, began mending relationships, and rediscovered his passion for songwriting. In the past four years, he's released his first acoustic EP, performed over 300 shows, and become a Grammy voting member and NSAI coordinator. His latest single is the first in an 8-song release cycle over the next few months.

Reach out to John Sierra

More songs from John Sierra on Spotify

Lyrics

There’s a man who sits by the wayside

Cup in hand, as he searches the eyes of the passersby, 

But none look back

He reflects on the days of his youth,

When the world was kind and death wasn’t yet true

Lonely he sits...

Maybe we’re all looking for home 

And a place where we could be known

Maybe we’re all looking for love

Maybe we’re all,

Maybe we’re all,

Maybe we’re all

Looking for home

And a girl walks on the street side,

Past the man, unaware she’s died on the inside

Of a broken heart

She hides in the glitz and the glam

Many lovers, yet still as lonely as that man

But she’d never tell…

Maybe we’re all looking for home 

And a place where we could be known

Maybe we’re all looking for love,

No more feeling alone

Maybe we’re all,

Maybe we’re all,

Maybe we’re all,

Looking for home

We are not so different, are we?

Seems like we’re all running from the same things

We are not so different, are we?

Trying to make sense of the brokenness within…

Maybe we’re all looking for home 

And a place where we could be known

Maybe we’re all looking for love,

No more feeling alone

Maybe we’re all, maybe we’re all, maybe we’re all …

Maybe we’re all, maybe we’re all, maybe we’re all …

Looking for home