If you’ve ever had the privilege of witnessing Sierra Marin live, you know it’s more than a performance—it’s a transformative experience. As a live looping multi-instrumentalist, Sierra masterfully layers beatboxing, guitar, keys, and vocals in real time, crafting intricate, genre-blending soundscapes that fuse reggae, folk, hip-hop, and soul. Her performances are not just about music; they’re about creating a sacred space where authenticity, healing, and connection thrive.

I’ve seen Sierra perform at Shangri-La Festival several times, where she’s always a crowd favorite, and I was lucky enough to share the stage with her at Vibe High Festival. Sierra is a force for the divine feminine—for expression, for remembrance, and for connection to the divine source within us all. She takes it upon herself to create music that serves as a living reminder of that connection.

Her journey is just as stirring as the songs she shares. From finding refuge in piano improvisations as a child in San Diego, to studying psychology and indigenous studies at UCSB, to living on the road with nothing but a guitar and her faith, Sierra’s path has been one of radical trust and awakening. After a life-altering moment pushed her to reevaluate everything, she followed her intuition to Mount Shasta and later Hawaii—two places where her music deepened into sacred medicine.

On stage, you’ll often find her loyal dog, Rosie, calmly by her side. Sierra is an extremely kind, collaborative, and talented person. I believe she’s not just creating tracks; she’s setting a new standard for music—where authenticity and skill come together to create songs that will stand the test of time and deliver some of the most memorable live experiences out there.

I recently sent Sierra a few questions via email. Read on to learn more about this incredible artist, whose journey and music I am so grateful to witness and share.

What first inspired you to start making music, and how has your journey evolved to where you are today?

SM: Music has been the deepest teacher and source of inspiration for me ever since I was a little girl. When I was a kid, my dear friend brought over this kids’ piano toy and showed me how to play the Rugrats theme song. I showed it to my parents, and they immediately put me in piano lessons. From about 8 years old, piano instantly became my place of refuge, where I was able to express the emotions I didn’t know how to via improvisation. It gave me a sense of home and the truth of myself, and for this, I am forever grateful.

Throughout the years, I stuck with piano and ended up picking up guitar as well. I was in lessons for years until the classical training became too stifling for my sense of creativity and freedom that music provided. So, I quit lessons and ended up focusing more on school.

School was a joy and a challenge for me, as it became the place where I acted out my extreme sense of perfectionism and was very hard on myself whenever I didn’t get an “A.” It’s so ridiculous that we measure kids’ worth in this way. I truly felt that all I needed to do was get into the best college I could, and then my life would be figured out. I made it into UCSB and studied psychology and indigenous studies. I remember waking up one morning during my freshman year and asking myself, “How TF did I even get here?”

Even so, I made the best of it. Despite a lot of struggle with alcohol addiction from living in a party atmosphere, a deep sense of isolation, and feeling completely lacking in creativity or spiritual refuge, I made it through. I remember my last semester, everything I studied wove together into an emergent theme that became my purpose in life.

I realized that everything I studied was teaching me how our sovereignty—both collective and within marginalized groups—has been methodically stripped away for so long, leaving people isolated and disconnected from themselves and true happiness. I realized that my purpose in this life is to assist in the restoration of sovereignty however I can. I began envisioning building a “school of unlearning” where I could provide tools and space for people to reclaim their true nature.

After college, I tried working full-time but was still drinking and going to bars a lot. I was feeling unfulfilled and isolated, even with my friends. The only thing that gave me a sense of love and community was going to music festivals and Grateful Dead shows.

Eventually, I had what I call a “cosmic timeout.” I got blackout drunk, and in an argument with my ex, I drove off full speed and crashed, totaling my car. I wound up in jail not knowing if I had hit or hurt anyone. It was the scariest night of my life. Thank God no one got hurt, and I only had minor injuries. I am so grateful that this happened because it caused me to slow down and reevaluate my life.

I finished all of my DUI classes (which were actually quite helpful for me) and ended up hitting the road with my backpack and guitar. I knew I needed to leave my hometown and do something different. I was called to a place called Mount Shasta. A friend brought me some water from the spring one day, and it activated something in me that knew I needed to leap.

So I started hitchhiking north from San Diego with just my trust and my guitar. I met some beautiful traveling souls who lived on a school bus at a festival, and they told me they were headed to Shasta. So I jumped on the bus. One of the greatest decisions ever. They taught me how to live on the road as a “dirty kid.” Dumpster diving, flying signs, and busking were the ways we got by.

I ended up living on the road between buses and hitchhiking for a year and a half, and every single dollar I made was with my guitar on a street corner. This adventure showed me how little I really need and that, no matter what, if I had my music and my faith, I would be alright—even thriving.

I spent a lot of time in nature, at hot springs, and at festivals meeting amazing souls and writing music along the way. Some days I would freestyle on a street corner for 6-8 hours, as I only had a couple of songs written at the time. I realized life is so much more than all of the comforts we crave. That life can be an incredible adventure when we put our faith in the unknown and LEAP!

Eventually, spirit brought me to Hawaii through a series of synchronicities. I bought a one-way ticket to the Big Island to go to a festival I heard of called “Flow Fest.” One of my favorite artists at the time, Tubby Love, was playing there, and that’s how I found out about it. I landed on the island and again began hitchhiking and playing music with every chance I got.

Songs began to pour through me as I became more connected to the vessel of music that I am. Music for sovereign activation. I ended up getting a slot to play at Flow Fest on the side stage, and it changed my life. I played for maybe eight or so people, but what I viscerally remember was watching the trees around me sway to my music. I could feel them celebrating me for finally owning my gifts and doing what I always knew I wanted to do but was so fearful to take the risk. I knew in that moment that my path was music. The rest is herstory (hehe).

What are some key milestones in your career that you’re most proud of?

SM: I am so proud to be making an impact in the lives of other beautiful souls on this earth. Every time I hear or see that this music is assisting another soul in their return home to themselves, that feels like the greatest gift I could ever ask for

You’ve performed at shows and festivals all over the U.S. and beyond. What stands out about some of the communities you’ve connected with, especially ones you go back to again and again?

SM: Everywhere I go, there are beautiful hearts who are willing and doing the work to help create heaven on earth, each in their own unique way. The media creates false narratives about the state of the world, but I get to travel and see that people are GOOD and not as lost as we may think. People are returning to love more and more every day, everywhere.

I always adore returning to Hawaii, as this land has a special place in my heart and carries codes of Lemuria—an ancient vibration of what is reawakening on Gaia as we speak. The way of the feminine, the way of the heart, the way of living with the land in sacred reciprocity. This is what is needed and is inevitable as we move forward as a species.

I love and am forever grateful for the community that has been magnetized to Shangri-La Festival in Minnesota, a festival put on by a band called Wookiefoot. It’s amazing because when I lived on the bus traveling all over, Wookiefoot’s songs were like theme songs to our lives. And now they are my friends. The Shangri-La family is so, so special.

Also, the Pyro Festival tribe out in Ohio and Michigan is just so beautiful. I love that tribe so much, and I am so grateful for their love and support for this music!

That’s just to name a few.

You’ve collaborated with some incredible artists. Which collaborations have been the most memorable, and what made them special?

SM: This tour I just did with Satsang was something I will never forget. I am so grateful to Drew for having faith in me and bringing me along on this journey. I have a deep respect for him as an artist and a leader.

Also, it’s been so sweet connecting and collaborating with brother Paul Izak. He has been such a great inspiration to me, and we are currently working on a song together! It will be out soon.

Wookiefoot remains one of my greatest inspirations. I got to go on stage with them last year and sing, and that was one of my greatest memories.

Beyond being a singer-songwriter, you’re also a producer. Can you share a bit about your journey as a producer and how it influences your creative process?

SM: When I started recording my music, I quickly noticed that I needed to learn how to produce myself to create the sound I could hear in my heart. I am always deepening my production knowledge and still have a long way to go. That being said, I have had the honor of recording and producing other conscious artists, and this is something I am so passionate about.

These songs that live inside us want to be birthed and put out into the world because they have works to do beyond us. So any way I can assist that is incredibly fulfilling.

Your song “Queendom” was born from a powerful experience at the Shakti Sound retreat in Costa Rica. Can you share more about that journey, how it shaped the song, and what Queendom means to you?

SM: Queendom was birthed from the most divine and expansive retreat I’ve ever experienced. The Shakti Sound retreat brought me into deeper alignment with the sacred feminine energy within. It was a gathering of like-minded women who were reconnecting with their true power, and the experience gave me the space to tap into my own.

The song itself is a declaration of the sovereignty that we all carry within. It’s about standing in our full power and embracing the feminine energy, which is so essential to healing and growth. It’s a reminder that we are queens of our own lives, and it is time to reclaim that power.

Your live performances have a powerful, inspiring energy. How do you approach crafting an experience that resonates so deeply with audiences?

SM: Thank you so much, love! I just like to create from the deepest place of authenticity and joy within me. The show is not about me, and that feels very clear. I pray for it to be a call to activation within each person present, and I recognize that it is a co-creation.

The audience’s energy, combined with the energy I bring, creates something sacred and transformational. I always trust the music and the moment, and I hold space for everyone to experience the magic that happens when we connect through sound and intention.

Rootfire is primarily a reggae platform, so we have to ask—who are some of your favorite reggae artists, past or present, and what is it about their music that speaks to you?

SM: Reggae has been one of the greatest teachers and influences of my life and spiritual journey. I am so grateful to have grown up in San Diego, where the reggae frequency is strong. In high school, attending Steel Pulse concerts and Bob Marley Fest were instrumental in my early awakening, along with the plant medicine of ganja. I am so grateful that I got to experience what I would consider church through these experiences, beginning at age 14.

Bob Marley still brings me to tears every time I watch his live performances and has visited me in my dreams to teach me. Rastafari carries profound wisdom and frequencies, and I pray that we can all continue to remember the roots of reggae and where it came from.

This music is a movement of resilience and sacred remembrance emerging out of the unspeakable oppression of the African people. This can be felt in all of us, as we all have come through many dark ages of oppression of our connection to TRUTH, to the EARTH, and to JAH. The movement will only continue to grow. I pray that my music can be a grounding force that brings light and truth.

Your music carries a strong message of healing and transformation. What fuels your inspiration to create, and what do you hope people take away from your songs?

SM: I pray that my music can be simply one piece of the greater song—the one song of creation that points us back home. Back to the living creator that I AM. The one light of love that lives with each and every one of us. We must remember this in order to find unity on this planet again and to remember heaven on earth.

The way I see it is that it is inevitable, and it is happening NOW. Love already won. What we are witnessing on a global scale is simply the unraveling of the old world. The new earth lives inside us, and the more that we attune to this frequency within, the sooner we will see it around us. Music is one of the greatest ways to do this.

“The Ones” is one of my favorite songs of yours—the lyrics are so powerful! Can you share the story behind it and what inspired you to write it?

SM: We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. As Gandhi said, we must be the change we want to see in the world. To me, that means taking radical responsibility for the ways we show up—for ourselves, our families, our communities, our planet, and for Jah.

Often when I write songs, it’s almost like I black out because I don’t remember writing them. It’s very strange but reminds me that I am just a vessel. I love this one too!

I’ve seen that your sweet doggo is often by your side at shows! Tell us more about them—what’s their name, personality, and how do they fit into your musical journey? 

SM: Rosie is laying at my feet as I write this. She is my best friend and a true gift from creator. I traded my banjo for her eight years ago at a Rainbow Gathering in Arizona when I was living on the road. She comes to every show and holds space for the love transmissions to come through! And she is just the sweetest doggo ever.

She has helped me move through so many hard times, and for this, I am forever grateful. She is a teacher of unconditional love!

For up-and-coming musicians looking to break into the industry, especially those drawn to conscious music, what advice would you give?

SM: TRUST AND CREATE. I was told this by an old oak tree on LSD at Lucidity Festival years ago, and these are my guiding words. If we allow what wants to come through us to move, we will be eternally supported, as this is our sacred birthright as creator beings. It will heal us and bring us closer to ourselves and creator as we do so and will make the world a better place.

There is no offering that is too small or insignificant. Do not get caught up in numbers and followers—just do what feels exciting and genuine to you. Naturally, that is what will resonate with the masses.

The “industry” is changing quickly, and we have the opportunity to access millions of people through the internet. That is a great gift and something not to sleep on.

There is lots to learn still about getting your music out there, so PRACTICE AND REFINE YOUR CRAFT and don’t come entitled. This career is about consistency and devotion, and often acting on blind faith. It took years of not knowing what TF I was doing and playing gigs and festivals for free to get where I am. And I still have a long way to go. But I promise it’s worth it.

Hit me up if you want one-on-one support, as I am incredibly passionate about helping lift up more conscious artists. The world needs us.

What are your hopes or predictions for the future of reggae, conscious music, and the global music scene?

SM: I hope that this music continues to grow and we continue weaving deep, moving experiences for people to return home to themselves and to love. I hope that the industry will begin to uplift MORE WOMEN, especially in reggae, and more new artists and voices, as opposed to booking the same artists over and over.

Ultimately, I envision every human on earth singing in harmony in joyous rapture of being alive and connected to this sacred planet. That is where we are going, and I will continue to hold this vision and make music for the rest of my days.

And finally, where can people follow your journey, hear your music, and experience what you’re creating? 

SM: You can find my music on all streaming platforms! (Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music)  IG: @sierramarinmusic. Facebook: Sierra Marin. I also have a Patreon that I will be deepening in my offerings of music meditations and activations. Don’t be afraid to reach out to me—I’m very responsive and available to chat and connect! So much magic to come—come to a show sometime!!

Learn more and connect with Sierra at sierramarin.com.