FEATURE:
Spotlight
Sienna Spiro
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I will end with a review…
for her new E.P., SINK NOW, SWIM LATER. One that has got a lot of critical praise, it is no wonder the amazing Sienna Spiro is being talked about as a talent to watch. The nineteen-year-old London-based artist is turning heads right now. I am going to move to a few interviews with her. So that we can discover more about this incredible artist. Sienna Spiro is the daughter of jeweller Glenn Spiro, who named a yellow diamond ring the Sienna Star after her; when auctioned in June 2021, the diamond sold for $3.4 million. It is a pretty cool fact. However, it is her musical upbringing that is more important. The artists she was exposed to in her earliest years. Influenced and affected by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Etta James, and Amy Winehouse, Spiro began writing songs at the age of ten. She was also inspired by Hip-Hop artists of the 2000s. During the pandemic, in 2021, Spiro started uploading videos of herself perform to TikTok. Gaining momentum and love across the platform, she released a series of popular and extraordinary singles. Last year was a busy and exciting one for her. She is in the middle of a run of tour dates at the moment. Tomorrow (11th March), she plays at the 02 Academy Brixton alongside Nao and Nectar Woode. I predict that she will be playing huge international dates and big festivals stages soon enough. I am going to start out with this feature from New Wave Magazine. They are big fans of Sienna Spiro’s work:
“You may know Sienna from her breathtaking covers on TikTok that distract you from scrolling and pull you in to listen to the 18-year-old’s newest releases that hear her soulful raspy tone. What is for sure is the talent Sienna Spiro has possessed from songwriting since ten years old. Beyond her years in her capabilities within sound, composition and performing, the singer debuts two new singles this year, ‘NEED ME’ and as of today, ‘MAYBE’. Sienna tells us, “It’s a super intimate project. These songs are for people to get to know me but also to interpret and feel in their own way”.
In conversation with New Wave Magazine, Sienna opens up about her journey so far into the music industry and learning the process behind creating, finishing and releasing a song. Something that is quite clearly natural for the artist. From pre-teens into adulthood, Sienna’s well versed background of sounds has evolved her into a multitalented songwriter with no limits to her talent in genre techniques. “It comes really naturally because it’s what I listen to growing up as a kid”.
“It feels weird to have something out. Going from bedroom songwriting to writing with other people but I love the writing process”.
The single ‘NEED ME’ hailing in over 1.2 million streams, is an experimental ballad drawing from Sienna’s personal experiences in a soulful captivating sound. The minor chords and key changes create a solid foundation as a mature and delicate introduction to the singer’s artistry. Inspirations include jazz musicians such as Etta James and Frank Sinatra but also include a range of Hip hop legends from the early 2000’s who have created a natural influence over her music and fashion styles.
In the digital age of TikTok, the platform has grown Sienna’s audience into a community she deems feels more like “friends rather than fans” who recognise the singer and relate to her on a personal level. Reinforcing this connection through both singles, the artist utilises each track to draw emotion, frustration and confusion into riffs, runs and a strong vocal range that carries her raspy notes.
Most recently performing at London’s KoKo Camden venue, Sienna says she is most comfortable when singing at acoustic shows and expresses the value of gaining feedback from her performances. Not to mention the importance of what she is wearing she says, “what I wear matters massively, I cannot sing in a dress”. It comes naturally for the singer to dress in style, it impacts more than comfortability, combining her love for Hip hop in music with streetwear in her style”.
There is a lot of new press interest for Sienna Spiro. Someone who is going to have a very long and illustrious career, at only nineteen, it is incredible how assured and complete she sounds. Like she has been making music for decades. It will be exciting seeing how Spiro expands and evolves through the years. I want to move to this interview from 10 Magazine and highlight a lot of their chat with this stunning and original artist:
“With a voice that lingers long after the last note fades, Sienna Spiro is more than just a rising star – she’s a storyteller, weaving raw emotion and intimate confessions into every song. At just 19, the London-based singer-songwriter has already built a powerful presence, amassing millions of streams and captivating audiences with her distinctive blend of soul, R&B and pop.
Sienna’s journey began in quiet moments of self-discovery, writing songs from a young age of 10. But it was her spine-tingling cover of Donald Glover’s Redbone – which racked up over 6.7 million views on TikTok – that first revealed the sheer magnetism of her voice. That moment of viral recognition wasn’t just a fleeting spark; it was the ignition of something much bigger. When she finally introduced the world to her own music, the response was instant. From the hypnotic allure of her debut single Need Me to the vulnerable, aching ballad Maybe., Sienna’s ability to translate emotion into melody has earned her nods from the likes of SZA and Snoh Aalegra, as well as chart placements across Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the UK.
Now, with the release of her highly anticipated debut EP on February 21st, Sienna steps fully into her artistry. Featuring the passionate defiance of Need Me, Back to Blonde and a collection of unreleased gems, this body of work cements her as a voice impossible to ignore. It’s not just music – it’s an invitation into her world, where heartbreak, self-discovery and resilience come alive in every lyric.
Fresh off a sold-out headline show at Hoxton Hall and celebrating one million streams for Back to Blonde, Sienna Spiro is ready for the next chapter. If her path till now is any sign, this is just the start.
1. Who is Sienna Spiro?
Still trying to work that out.
2. Three words that sum up your vibe?
Stubborn. Passionate. Honest.
3. Which artists had the biggest influence on you growing up?
My dad used to play the greats – Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Etta James, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye and Sara Vaughn in the house all the time and that’s really what started my love for music.
4. What can fans expect from your new EP?
They can expect a really intimate project, where I feel they can get to know me on a personal level but also discover their own meanings within the songs. The EP is also split into two sections with ‘sink’ songs and ‘swim’ songs so I feel there’s something in there for everyone.
5. What do you hope fans take away from this EP?
I hope they take away whatever they are needing at this moment in their life. I also intentionally kept the music stripped back, so people can focus on the real song and get to know me better.
6. What has been your career highlight so far?
Definitely my headline show in November. That was really an insane unmatched experience which I’ll never forget.
7. How does TikTok influence your creative process?
I don’t think TikTok influences my creative process, but it definitely is a sounding board and a place of discovery which I think is amazing”.
I am going to get to a new interview from NME very soon. Before I come to that, I want to highlight Wonderland. and their interview with Sienna Spiro from last month. Someone I am new to but am committed to following, I can definitely understand why there is a tonne of excitement about her. Like she could raise to the same heights as some of her music idols. Perhaps our next true great voice. Someone that will be talked about many years from now:
“How would you describe your sonic identity? What ingredients go into the Sienna Spiro melting pot?
My sonic identity at the moment feels both intimate and expansive. It’s grounded in raw vocals, paired with interesting and original melodies and textures. Lyrically, I strive for honesty and visceral expression, without dictating too much of what I think the listener should feel. Frank Ocean is kind of the pinnacle of lyricism for me. I have a deep love for jazz and soul, which will always be part of my sonic DNA, alongside influences from hip hop, R&B, folk, and even Latin music.
Why did you decide to start pursuing music as a career?
It was never really a conscious decision to be honest, its always been the natural thing to do. I don’t think I could or would want to do anything else. Music is such a big part of me and the fact I get to do it as a job is insane and such a blessing.
Congratulations on your debut EP, “SINK NOW , SWIM LATER”! How are you feeling about the release?
Thank you so much!! It’s a weird feeling you know, I’ve been working on this project for so long and its been such a process to get all the songs and creative right that it feels like a relief to finally have it out but i’m also very nervous and really hope people resonate with it!
What was the process of creating the work?
I wrote these songs over a period of time where I was finding my sound and finding the people I wanted to work with- so the songs came first and then I found the title which just made everything make sense and the world started coming together.
What inspired you sonically throughout the process? Is there any key influences?
My main influences have always been jazz and soul so naturally that was a huge influence for me, As well as different sounds, I love different textures and weird sounds usually things I hear in everyday life or in the studio would just spark something in me and id feel inspired and that where some of the songs where born. But some artists that I listened to during the time I was writing these songs where Frank Ocean, Nina Simone, Olivia Dean, Lianne La Havas, Mustafa, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Beatles, Little Simz etc.. Theres been so many artists that have inspired me so these are just a few.
What are you tackling across the project, thematically?
This project was written at a time of significant change in my life. It explores the complexities of being young and a woman, the beginnings and endings of relationships. Even though the songs all have their own story and world they all relate to the feeling of being on the outside, whether thats needing validation, the desire to be kept around or even just needing an escape and doing that through fantasy. This project (I think) really captures what its like to be a young person who feels a lot in todays society.
Your songwriting is admirably vulnerable throughout. How did you find the comfort and confidence and be open and honest in the way you express yourself as an artist?
Thank you! To be honest I really struggle with vulnerable songwriting because it often means being honest with yourself! Which I am not very good at. But I really surrounded myself with people that allowed me to feel safe and pushed me to do better, and i’m so grateful because for the music on this project where its so intimate it’s incredibly important”.
Before finishing off with a review for SINK NOW, SWIM LATER, I want to come to a great interview from NME. A breakout artist who has such a distinct sound and is both grounded and ambitious, it is amazing people like SZA not only know about her music but are cosigns. Putting their name and weight behind her! Not a bad achievement for someone who is just starting out in a professional sense:
“For Spiro, the journey to her debut EP has been long and, at times, challenging; she started writing her own songs from age 10 and found solace in words when she struggled to fit in growing up. “I always felt like the biggest weirdo ever and I got bullied,” she shares. “Everyone made me feel so alien. And I also think that had something to do with being undiagnosed with ADHD at the time.”
But that all changed when she joined East London Arts and Music (ELAM) aged 16 and connected with fellow musically-minded creatives. At the same time, her online covers – often filmed from the floor of her shower or planted on her bed – began to take off thanks to her truly powerful voice, which channels the timeless blues, soul and jazz vocals of legends like Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald, who Spiro listened to during her childhood.
In fact, mere weeks after uploading her TikTok cover of Finneas’ ‘Break My Heart Again’, she found a manager and decided to drop out of music school after eight months to move with the momentum of her fledgling career. Now signed to Capitol Records, her new EP is an intimate introduction to the personal stories behind her soulful vocals. As she looks to the year ahead – which includes a support stint on tour with Nao – Spiro reflects on the last nine months of growth, her first ever shows and hopes for the year ahead.
Your first TikTok cover was ‘Break My Heart Again’ by Finneas. What was your reaction when you saw the viral response?
“I filmed that cover literally just before I was about to get on a train to go to Reading Festival. I remember I posted it the first day I joined music college. I didn’t think anything of it, and then it was so overwhelming. It reached a bunch of people and I got so many messages from people that wanted to collaborate and people that wanted to meet. The most full circle thing to me was I ended up doing a session with him last year.”
Your live vocals are so powerful. Have you always been a confident performer?
“I’m quite a shy person, even though that’s quite shocking. But I feel the most myself [when] performing. It’s where I feel the most present. When I was younger, I really felt like nobody would ever listen to me, and I’ve always had trouble speaking and expressing myself, and I’ve felt the most seen and the most listened to when I was performing and when I was on stage.”
SZA commented on Instagram that your cover of Childish Gambino’s ‘Redbone’ was “insane”. What was going through your head when you read that?
“There’s been a bunch of things that have happened where I’ve just been like, ‘There’s no way this is real!’ I had a bit of a silent moment and I had to step out of the room, called a couple of my friends and just freaked out for a second. I’m such a huge fan of hers, and I’m so in awe of her and love her so much, that that was a very crazy moment.”
You said the songs on your new EP were written during a time of trying to navigate the “layers of being young and being a woman”. What did that look like?
“There’s so much that didn’t make sense, especially in the world at the time for women and in politics. There’s so many struggles that women have and that I’ve had myself, especially with body image. I struggle with that a lot, and there’s a song called ‘Cyanide’ which is quite toxic but it’s very real. And I really wanted to make sure I wasn’t lying and being honest. A song like that is the stuff that was going through my head, and it was me trying to make sense of things.”
Your numbers across streaming and social media are already huge. How have you found that process of making fans so quickly?
“It’s a really surreal process because you’re kind of thinking ahead of everything. And there’s rarely a moment that you sit back and think, ‘These are real people’ until it’s in real life, and then you see people, and you interact with people, and you watch people interacting with your music.
“I don’t even know how to compartmentalise it, because that’s what I need to do to understand things. But it’s really crazy, to be honest; I sometimes find it hard to believe myself.”
What do you see when you think about the future of Sienna Spiro?
“The main goal that I’ve always wanted to achieve is writing an album that I hope changes music in a good way, and that I feel completely proud of, start to finish. Because I think that’s hard to achieve with all the rush these days. I really hope that is something I achieve”.
I am going to end up with and return to New Wave Magazine. Their thoughts on the spellbinding and phenomenal E.P. from Sienna Spiro. Do make sure that you are aware of her and get involved with her music. I would expect her name to be in the mix when the full line-up for this year’s Glastonbury Festival is announced. She is going to go very far in music, that much is clear:
“Teasing singles throughout the year, giving a jaw dropping debut performance in Hoxton this past November, and announcing her UK & European tour this week, we included have been counting down the days to hear the full project of Sienna Spiro’s debut EP SINK NOW, SWIM LATER. Writing the material for the EP since Sienna was 16 years old, the four year journey has been executed into an exceptional 8 track project delivering more than our expectations.
PHOTO CREDIT: Petros
Reminiscing on our conversation for New Wave in July of last year it is hard to believe how far the artist has come in such a short amount of time. Then, listeners from TikTok were melting over her Donald Glover & Amy Winehouse covers and requesting classics for the singer to record which eventually catapulted into her original verses being shared for the world to hear. “BUTTERFLY EFFECT” opens the project with a sombre entrance to the project with a title that foreshadows the effect of Sienna’s debut, one intital beginning that is about to make a large difference in this chaos theory.
Her magnetic performances via the screen were enough to have viewers and fans hooked creating a young loyal fan base for the singer to relate her lyrics to. This fan base were the ones who sang word for word at Hoxton Hall to the five songs of the EP that were already released last year. Sienna used her first solo show as an opportunity to give us a glance at the full track list including newer additions “ORIGAMI” and “CYANIDE”. There was a lingering sense of awe and emotion in the crowd which is exactly how it feels to listen to this EP back to back. A complete journey of ups and downs, feelings of loneliness, anger, frustration and insecurity comes along with tracks that also create an empowering sound of vengeance, power and confidence.
The EP’s cover art is expectedly on brand for the singer featuring her signature tomboy style, an oversized tailored look and a vintage car for what we can only guess to be part of her admirable storytelling approach, photographed by Petro Studio.
Last week Sienna’s second track on the EP featured as BBC Radio 1’s Song of the Week which currently has almost 4 million streams. Radio hosts compared Sienna’s vocals to those of Raye and a “young Adele”. Counting jazz musicians from Sinatra to Fitzgerald to hip hop legends as her inspirations, there are fusions of both genres combined with pop melodies that build her unique sound. The slower acoustic track “I DON’T HATE YOU” captures Sienna’s soulful raspy tones that magnetically draws you into her lyrics through a scalic minor crescendo. Effortlessly, Sienna’s voice glides off the back of strings and drum rolls on this track layered with echoing backing vocals that build up to a breathtaking outro. Tracks like this one and “BACK TO BLONDE” build Sienna’s repertoire that cements her as one of the contenders you think of for a record like the Bond theme song.
“ORIGAMI” begins with semibreve accordion notes giving an eerie introduction into the heartfelt gospel-like track. Sienna mixes her production with string sections, heavy bass instrumentation and fluctuates between soft vocals and raspy riffs and runs that blend so well together you never know how the next verse is going to sound. In contrast to the London born artist’s favourite track “MAYBE”, hears forte piano chords and arpeggios and violins form a breakup anthem accentuated by Sienna’s powerful voice on what is by far her most popular track so far on the project reaching over 37.5 million streams.
Experimenting with a more sultry sound “CYANIDE” has a darker feel with an electric guitar underpinning the heavier lyrics Sienna sings. The words create a sense of numbness that flow over metaphorical lines on body confidence, young love, and simply the mind of a young woman’s tribulations, “just wanna be thin, I know it won’t be enough… if you wanna see my blueprint it’s not under my blue jeans”. The artist’s debut project unleashes a rare lyrical vulnerability and talent of executing multiple tracks that share this feeling in a variety of ballads and anthems for her audience.
Every year, month and week there are new artists entering the music space, even more frequently from London within the pop scene. Less often are they 19 years old with a tour including Australian/EU & UK shows with co-signs from the likes of Snoh Aalegra & SZA, and an EP under their belt. Since her viral TikTok covers there was an unwavering confidence in Sienna’s listeners that she was destined for success in the jazz and pop industry, this EP has just confirmed it. If you came from a first listen of “TAXI DRIVER” or “NEED ME”, there is more of the personal journey to hear on this project. Be prepared to have your heart strings pulled on in Sienna Spiro’s debut EP as it unleashes a new sound experience that you didn’t know you needed to feel until now”.
I will end things there. Undoubtably one of the most important artists of this year, there is so much love out there for Sienna Spiro! Being tipped as a massive name of the future, it is jaw-dropping hearing her sing. That voice so distinct and soul-stirring. In Sienna Spiro, we have in our midst a…
BREATHTAKING artist.
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