Sierra Levesque, the rising star of the music world, has unleashed her formidable talents as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist with the long-awaited release of her debut single, "GET OFF MY STAGE." This electrifying track, skillfully combining her unique artistry with the renowned production expertise of Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, just released on September 1st. Hailing from Pembroke, Ontario, Canada, this 18-year-old rock sensation is on a mission to spearhead the new generation of Rock 'N Roll, and she's already earned recognition as "Gen Z’s Most Ambitious New Guitarist" by Guitar.com. Sierra's distinctive sound, influenced by classic rock and heavy metal legends, has earned her comparisons to iconic musicians like Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson. With a love for artists spanning pop, rock, and metal genres, Sierra Levesque's music promises to be a breath of fresh air in today's music and guitar landscape. Stef caught up with Levesque to discuss "GET OFF MY STAGE" and how Machine Gun Kelly influenced the track.
SJ: Hi Sierra, as a fellow female guitarist, I am specifically excited to speak with you today about you and your music!
SL: Hi! Thank you very much for having me!
1. SJ: Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired you to pick up your first guitar? What inspired you to start writing your own music?
SL: I first started out by learning piano and taking singing lessons when I was 7, and I grew up listening to rock music so I knew that guitar was next. I started taking guitar lessons at the age of 12 and I’ve loved it ever since! I’m not too sure if there was one specific thing that inspired me to start writing, it just came naturally as I started learning instruments. I began by simply writing about things that I was feeling or seeing around me.
2. SJ: What do you feel is the biggest challenge about being a woman in a male-driven industry and genre? How do you overcome or navigate it?
SL: I feel that the biggest challenge is not being taken seriously, especially as a rock artist. People often see me and assume that I’m going to start singing a Taylor Swift song, but they are really surprised when I belt out a Scorpions tune instead. I overcome this by proving anyone who ever doubts me wrong, and since I have a lot of knowledge about rock music, I definitely make it clear when someone questions if I even know the band that I’m covering.
3. SJ: You’ve been recognized by Guitar.com as being “Gen Z’s Most Ambitious New Guitarist” and one of "10 Young Shredders Shaping Rock and Metal Today", in addition to winning many awards. What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far? What do you hope to accomplish next?
SL: I would say that my biggest accomplishment was releasing my debut single, “GET OFF MY STAGE”, on all platforms. I did it fully independently and it was definitely something that I was working on for many years. Having the chance to perform at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles back in April was amazing too! It was an honor to even be on stage at such a legendary rock venue!
Next, my main goal is to release more music in February! Remember the date February 2nd, 2024….!!!
4. SJ: You just released a new track "GET OFF MY STAGE," based on your feelings towards the rapper-turned-rock artist, Machine Gun Kelly. I love the angst specifically in the song. Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired this track? What was your writing process like for “GET OFF MY STAGE”?
SL: Thank you so much, I’m glad you like the song! Really appreciate you listening!
During COVID, Machine Gun Kelly was becoming more and more popular, especially in Rock music outlets like Loudwire. I thought that it would be fun to write a diss song against him, especially from the point-of-view of a young female rock artist like me. I started out by writing the guitar intro riff and began writing each verse about a specific event that MGK had been a part of. If you’re a fan of him, you’ll know the backstory behind all of the lyrics! It’s a fun song!
"GET OFF MY STAGE" Teaser
5. SJ: What is one song you wish you wrote? And one riff you wish you wrote?
SL: This is a really difficult question! I would have loved to write “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve. It’s a really great song and in addition to the amazing string parts, I really love the lyrics. One riff that I wish I wrote would be the main riff in “Rats” by Ghost. LOVE that song and riff, it’s awesome!
SJ: What’s next for Sierra Levesque? Can we look forward to any new music, shows, or an album?!
SL: Yes! I have more music coming in February (02/02/24), and I may even release a rock version of a Christmas song before that! Definitely lots of great things coming soon for me, so please be sure to follow me on all social media platforms under the username “Sierra Levesque Music”.
SJ: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat and we can’t wait to hear what you create next!
SL: Thank you very much for having me and hope to speak with you again soon!
Listen to "GET OFF MY STAGE" below!
Credits:
Written, Recorded, and Performed: Sierra Levesque
Production, Mix, Mastered: Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal