Sierra Hull

Sierra Dawn Hull (born September 27, 1991) is an American bluegrass singer-songwriter,[1][2][3][4][5][6] mandolinist, and guitarist.[7]

Sierra Hull
Hull in 2009
Hull in 2009
Background information
Birth nameSierra Dawn Hull
Born (1991-09-27) September 27, 1991
Byrdstown, Tennessee
GenresBluegrass
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Mandolin, guitar, vocals
Years active2002–present
LabelsRounder
Spouse(s)Justin Moses (m. May 14, 2017)
Websitewww.sierrahull.com

Hull was signed to Rounder Records at the age of 13[8] and released her debut vocal album, Secrets, in 2008 at the age of 16. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart.[9] Her second album, Daybreak, was released on March 8, 2011.[10]

Early life and career

Sierra Hull was born and raised in Byrdstown, Tennessee and attended Pickett County High School before accepting a Presidential Scholarship to study at the Berklee College of Music.[11]

Hull began playing the mandolin at the age of eight and put out the album Angel Mountain at 10. She was soon playing jam sessions with other musicians in her family, and by 2001 she was entering local talent contests. Her parents, Stacy and Brenda Hull, took her to numerous bluegrass festivals and it was during an International Bluegrass Music Association festival that she came to the attention of Rounder Records chief talent scout Ken Irwin.[12] At age 11 she was mentored and befriended by Alison Krauss, herself once a child prodigy on the fiddle.[13] Hull and Krauss, along with Dan Tyminski, performed at the White House on November 21, 2011.[14]

Hull at MerleFest in 2017

She has a brother, Cody, and is a distant cousin of former United States Secretary of State Cordell Hull.[15]

Hull has already received five International Bluegrass Music Association nominations in the past three years.

Hull received the Bluegrass Star Award, presented by the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, on October 19, 2013. The award is bestowed upon bluegrass artists who do an exemplary job of advancing traditional bluegrass music and bringing it to new audiences while preserving its character and heritage.[16]

Touring

Hull performed with the band Highway 111 at the Gettysburg Bluegrass festival in 2005. She continued to tour, even while she attended Berklee College of Music.[17]

Hull has also recorded and toured with Cory Wong, featured as a supporting act and collaborative partner on a 2022 tour.[18]

Recordings

Secrets

Hull's vocal debut album on Rounder Records, released in May 2008, was co-produced by Alison Krauss and Ron Block which follows a self-released CD Angel Mountain, in 2002. The production by Hull and Ron Block paid tribute and honored the tradition and style of bluegrass music. The album contained 3 original songs penned by Hull. She was just 15 when she recorded the album and 16 when it was released.

Daybreak

On her 2011 second release on Rounder Records, the 20-year-old has composed seven of the 12 songs and it was produced by Alison Krauss & Union Station bassist Barry Bales. The album features collaborations with Bryan Sutton on guitar and Randy Kohrs on dobro. Guest singers include Dan Tyminski, Shawn Lane and Ronnie Bowman.

Features

Hull was a guest vocalist with lead singer James Adkins on the male-female duet "Love Song",[19] featured on the 2015 self-titled album from Americana group Big Virginia Sky.

Weighted Mind

Released on January 29, 2016, Weighted Mind, Hull's third LP, was produced by the highly regarded banjo player Béla Fleck, who encouraged Hull to consider recording it solo.[20] Hull, however, decided to enlist an accompanist, bassist Ethan Jodziewicz, who is featured on every track. The album also includes vocal contributions by Alison Krauss, Abigail Washburn, and Rhiannon Giddens.

NPR reviewer Jewly Hight called Weighted Mind a "stunning coming-of-age album," adding that "Hull has joined the rarefied company of Nickel Creek expats Chris Thile, Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins, pedigreed virtuosos whose youthful, searching musical minds have taken them into postmodern singer-songwriter territory and beyond."[21]

Treasure Of The Broken Land: The Songs Of Mark Heard

Hull contributed her cover of "Strong Hand of Love" in a Mark Heard tribute album entitled "Treasure Of The Broken Land: The Songs Of Mark Heard" (Storm Weathered Records) in 2017.

25 Trips

Released on February 28, 2020, co-produced by Hull and producer / engineer Shani Gandhi, features guitarist Mike Seal, bassist Ethan Jodziewicz, violinist Alex Hargreaves, and fiddler Christian Sedelmyer, together with bassist Viktor Krauss, guitarist Bryan Sutton, multi-instrumentalist Stuart Duncan, and steel guitarist Paul Franklin, and guest appearances by Molly Tuttle, Ron Block, Mindy Smith, Ronnie Bowman, Katie Pruitt, Angel Snow, and Hull's husband, multi-instrumentalist Justin Moses.

Liam Lewis opined, "25 Trips is an eclectic album, with a contemporary feel, showcasing Hull’s songwriting and exceptional vocals, crystal clear but with emotion and character, on 13 songs, self and co-written on the pleasures and travails of becoming the person and the musician she is today."[22]

Hull appeared as one of the musicians on Cuttin' Grass, the 2020 bluegrass album by Sturgill Simpson.

Personal life
Hull (mandolin, second from left) and her husband Justin Moses (dobro, left) in 2022, playing on tour for Bela Fleck's album My Bluegrass Heart.

Hull married fellow bluegrass musician Justin Moses on May 14, 2017. Hull and Moses tour together.[23] She lives in Nashville.[24]

Discography

Albums
Title Details Peak chart
positions		 Sales
US Grass
[25]		 US Heat
[26]
Angel Mountain
  • Release date: 2002
  • Label: self-released
 — —
Secrets 2 —
Daybreak
  • Release date: March 8, 2011
  • Label: Rounder Records
 5 —
Weighted Mind
  • Release date: January 29, 2016
  • Label: Rounder Records
 1 5
25 Trips
  • Release date: February 28, 2020
  • Label: Rounder Records
 1 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Other singles
Year Single Artist Album
2007 "Hullarious" Sierra Hull An American Tradition
2008 "Just As I Am" Sierra Hull Billy: The Early Years
2010 "Gospel Plow" The Lovell Sisters, Bearfoot, Sierra Hull & The New Generation Jam MerleFest Live
"Big Sciota"
2011 "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" Sixties Invasion featuring Sierra Hull Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
2013 "Cups (When I'm Gone)" The Bankesters with Sierra Hull Love Has Wheels
2014 "You're a Flower Blooming in the Wildwood" Mac Wiseman with Sierra Hull Songs from My Mother's Hand
2014 "Promises" Jeff Pippin and the Apple Valley Band featuring Sierra Hull A Malibugrass Christmas
2014 "Let the Wind Be My Friend" Jon Weisberger featuring Sierra Hull & the Lonesome Heirs I've Been Mostly Awake
2014 "New Camptown Races" David Naiditch featuring Sierra Hull, Dennis Caplinger, Jake Workman, Austin Ward, Rob Ickes & Stuart Duncan Bluegrass in the Backwoods
"Little Rock Getaway" David Naiditch featuring Sierra Hull, Dennis Caplinger, Jake Workman, Christian Ward, Rob Ickes & Austin Ward
"The Smooch On the Porch / Bus Stop Reel" David Naiditch featuring Sierra Hull, Jake Workman & Austin Ward
"Jamboree" David Naiditch featuring Dennis Caplinger, Sierra Hull, Rob Ickes, Christian Ward, Jake Workman & Austin Ward
2014 "I Always Do" Missy Werner featuring Jon Weisberger, Megan McCormick, Stephen Mougin, Maggie Estes White, Thomas Wywrot, Artie Werner & Sierra Hull Turn This Heart Around
"Wish I Was" Missy Werner featuring Sarah Siskind, Artie Werner, Megan McCormick, Jon Weisberger, Sierra Hull, Maggie Estes White & Thomas Wywrot
"Cloudless Blue" Missy Werner featuring Sierra Hull, Megan McCormick, Jon Weisberger, Maggie Estes White, Thomas Wywrot & Artie Werner
"Dead Man Walking" Missy Werner featuring Thomas Wywrot, Larry Cordle, Val Storey, Sierra Hull, Megan McCormick, Jon Weisberger & Maggie Estes White
"Come Back to Me" Missy Werner featuring Megan McCormick, Jon Weisberger, Maggie Estes White, Thomas Wywrot & Sierra Hull
2015 "Can't Help Yourself" Cindy Morgan featuring Gabe Dixon & Sierra Hull Bows & Arrows
2015 "Seneca Square Dance" Ron Block featuring Sierra Hull Hogan's House of Music
2017 "They Call The Wind Maria" Bobby Osborne featuring Alison Brown, Sierra Hull & Stuart Duncan Original
"Country Boy"
"Kentucky Morning" Bobby Osborne featuring Dale Ann Bradley, Darrell Scott, Rob Ickes, Sierra Hull & Stuart Duncan
"I've Gotta Get a Message to You" Bobby Osborne featuring Alison Brown, Claire Lynch, Rob Ickes, Sierra Hull, Stuart Duncan & Trey Hensley
2017 "Roanoke" David Naiditch featuring Stuart Duncan, Sierra Hull & Jake Workman Bluegrass That Swings
"Back Home Again in Indiana"
"East Tennessee Blues"
"All of Me"
"Cattle in the Cane"
"Exactly Like You"
"Sweet Georgia Brown" David Naiditch featuring Stuart Duncan, Sierra Hull, Jake Workman & Rob Ickes
"Twinkle Little Star"
"Ookpik Waltz"
2017 "The Guitar" Mac Wiseman featuring Sierra Hull & Justin Moses I Sang the Song (Life of the Voice with a Heart)
2017 "I Need Thee Every Hour" Shane Clark featuring Sierra Hull The Hymn Awakening
2017 "Strong Hand of Love" Sierra Hull Treasure of the Broken Land: The Songs of Mark Heard
2018 "Swept Away" Missy Raines featuring Alison Brown, Beck Buller, Molly Tuttle & Sierra Hull Swept Away
2018 "Merlefest Mando Mania" Tony Williamson featuring Sam Bush & Sierra Hull with Rebecca Lovell, Mike Compton, Darin Aldridge, Tim O'Brien, James Nash, Tom Rozum & Barry Mitterhoff Heritage
2022 "Over the Line" Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway featuring Sierra Hull Crooked Tree

Music videos
Year Title Director
2011 "Easy Come, Easy Go"[27] David McClister
"Someone Like You"[28] Brad Paul
"Chasin' Skies"[29]
"Tell Me Tomorrow"[30]
"Daybreak"[31] David McClister
2016 "Black River"

Awards and nominations
YearAssociationCategoryNominated WorkResult
2010IBMA AwardsRecorded Event of the Year (with various artists)"Proud To Be A Daughter of Bluegrass"Won
2016Mandolin Player of the YearSierra HullWon
2017Won
Recorded Event of the Year
(with Bobby Osborne and various artists)		"I've Gotta Get a Message to You"Won
Grammy AwardsBest Folk AlbumWeighted MindNominated
2018IBMA AwardsMandolin Player of the YearSierra HullWon
Recorded Event of the Year

(with Missy Raines, Alison Brown, Becky Buller, and Molly Tuttle)

 "Swept Away" Won

References
  1. Dickinson, Chrissie. "How bluegrass prodigy Sierra Hull turned frustration into inspiration". chicagotribune.com.
  2. "Sierra Hull, Takes a Weight Off Her Mind". Bluegrass Unlimited. May 1, 2016.
  3. "Daybreak by Sierra Hull" – via music.apple.com.
  4. "Sierra Hull w/ Opener Phoebe Hunt at City Winery". Back Bay, MA Patch. January 26, 2018.
  5. Group, Bill Livick Unified Newspaper. "Singer-songwriter Hull to perform March 4". Unified Newspaper Group.
  6. "Sierra Hull". LR Baggs.
  7. Ledgin, Stephanie (2004). Homegrown Music: Discovering Bluegrass. Praeger. p. 116. ISBN 978-0275981150.
  8. Steve Leggett, "Sierra Hull Biography", Billboard.com, retrieved March 15, 2011
  9. Secrets - Billboard.com, retrieved March 15, 2011
  10. Caramanica, Jon (March 9, 2011), "Music Review – New York Times", The New York Times, retrieved March 15, 2011
  11. Berklee Media Relations, "2009–2010 Presidential Scholars", Berklee College of Music website, retrieved March 15, 2011
  12. Edward Morris, "Teen Sierra Hull Is Turning Heads", CMT.com, retrieved March 15, 2011
  13. Steve Leggett, "Sierra Hull," Allmusic. Retrieved: March 1, 2013.
  14. John Lawless, "Sierra Hull, reporting from the White House," Bluegrass Today, November 30, 2011.
  15. David McGee, "The Latest Gifted Hull", The Bluegrass Special, retrieved March 15, 2011
  16. "Bluegrass Heritage Foundation official website". 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  17. "Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival, Strings, newsletter of the Pineridge Bluegrass Folklore Society, October 2005
  18. "Cory Wong Announces Two-Part Collaborative Tour with Sierra Hull, Victor Wooten and More". Relix Media. August 2, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  19. "Big Virginia Sky releases debut, self-titled album!". Big Virginia Sky. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  20. "Mandolin Cafe – Sierra Hull – The Weighted Mind Interview". Mandolin Cafe Forum. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  21. "Review: Sierra Hull, 'Weighted Mind'". NPR.org. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  22. Lewis, Liam (March 12, 2020). "Review: Sierra Hull – 25 Trips". Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  23. Lawless, John (June 2, 2017). "Congratulations Sierra and Justin!". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  24. "Sierra Hull sets record straight about her name and that ring". Tahoe Onstage. May 4, 2017. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  25. "Sierra Hull Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com". Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  26. "Sierra Hull Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com". Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  27. "CMT : Videos : Sierra Hull: Easy Come, Easy Go". Country Music Television. Retrieved March 17, 2011.
  28. "CMT : Videos : Sierra Hull: Someone Like You". Country Music Television. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  29. "CMT : Videos : Sierra Hull: Chasin' Skies". Country Music Television. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  30. "CMT : Videos : Sierra Hull: Tell Me Tomorrow". Country Music Television. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  31. "CMT : Videos : Sierra Hull: Daybreak". Country Music Television. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
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