A VOCALIST’S VISION - CLEVELAND R&B FUSION ARTIST SIERRA DELAINE IS MAKING HER OWN LANE
Through the doors of Cleveland Public Theater, you’ll retrace the steps of modern-day disrupters and those who ethiaclly inspire the minds craving creation.
Today, true artistic integrity was witnessed as R&B and soul artist Sierra Delaine shared her experiences and upcoming plans as a musician of Cleveland’s modern renaissance.
In such a time as this as Cleveland small businesses are showing up in every neighborhood; creating long-awaited spaces for underrepresented communities, music carries the souls of those build the city back up again. Sierra’s appreciation for her roots, her community, and her gift of creating is the base of her artistry, which she hopes will be the subconcious teacher to carry on in the hearts of the ears who listen.
WHAT IS YOUR ART DOING FOR YOUR PAST AND FUTURE SELF?
“One thing I will say is that I am always having a conversation with myself. For my past self, I’m just kind of letting her shine, letting her get the things she always needed. I’m always trying to take what I made in my younger self and flush them out into something new, because it constantly allows me to be myself, grounding myself while expanding myself!”
HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR MUSIC IMPACTING BLACK WOMEN AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?
“Just encouraging Black Women to care for themselves, and see themselves not with an eye of judgement so that they can build the future that they want, because it is possible. One of my biggest audiences is Black Women, and I love being in spaces with them because I can feel the healing energy that not only I’m creating, but they are as well.”
WHO ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HELP DRIVE YOUR CONSISTENCY AND DETERMINATION?
“You asked me the people who inspire me, but they don’t live in Cleveland. They’re not a big girl, theres like so many things that are different. You not in the space that I’m in, but the people I perform for are. They know what I’m going through, they know how it is. So, I like to be inspired by the people that are in my community. If it spreads out any further thats’s great, but I don’t need to be a world renown artist... I don’t need that to be successful, and I never have. There is so many people in this world, I don’t need every single one of them to know my name. I don’t even know if I want that.”
WHAT’S IN STORE FOR YOUR ARTISTRY IN 2026 IN TERMS OF BEING UNAPOLAGETIC AND INTENTIONAL?
“I feel like as a Sagittarius I’m always unapologetic... it’s impossible not to be. Cuz its like, imma be who imma be, whether you want to be here or not. So that’s just the way that I kind of rock as a person. And that bleeds through in my art always. Most of my songs are like that. It’s just trying to accept what is. It is what it is, and you don’t need everybody in your life. I think the way will be unapologetic is just continuing to create for myself. I say “I always make these words for me, I just hope they can help somebody else too”.
I... I liked waver in and out of intention. Sometimes I do stuff randomly, but I’m intentionally being random. But I want to be more intentional about not putting parameters on my work.”
WHERE IS YOUR HEART AND MIND WHEN YOU’RE WRITING AND SINGING A SONG?
“When I’m writing something, it’s like I’m immersed in an idea. Performing, I always envision it as I am going on a road. I’m just taking a walk and I Just take whatever path I’m gonna take. I might be skipping, I might be hopping over... I just gotta fall back in line.”
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL A BLACK WOMAN PURSUING MUSIC DURING PRESSING TIMES OF RACISM, FACISM, AND GENOCIDE?
“To be honest its something that we are inevitably going to have to deal with our whole lives. I don’t think we are new to any of these things. The biggest thing is trying to bring peace of mind to yourself, and try not to worry so much about everybody else’s peace, especially if it takes away from your own. So...just looking for that space that gives you that. Sometimes it can be hard. I always say with your visual art, start with a line, see where it goes. Don’t pressure yourself and say “oh, I’m bouta make this whole big thing.” Just start with something small.
