Sierra Swan - System Breaker [EP] (2023)

Vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter are just a few of the titles Sierra Swan holds in her multi-dimensional music career.

With her father being famed country musician Billy Swan, she was exposed to the L.A. music scene from a young age. As a teen, Swan worked her way from playing in coffee shops, to joining the alt-rock band Dollshead, a jumping off point for the rest of her illustrious career. Her talent goes beyond genre, and her unique artistry has caught the eye and ear of Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman Billy Corgan, to whom she’s collaborated with over the years and for her latest endeavor.

Swan’s solo music is where her distinct style and diverse musical background shines brightest. Tangerines, Swan’s most recent solo project, came out on May 14th; each of the six songs on the EP is able to stand alone, but still contributes to the overall mesh of the project – which is a rare feat. The eclectic influence of genres creates a backdrop for Swan’s vocals that not only shows stylistic range, but also a high music-IQ.

The EP’s lead single, “Tangerines,” combines instrumental elements reminiscent of Radiohead’s Kid A with a dance beat; the end result is a dark-synth-pop sound that only an artist well-versed as Swan could accomplish. “I Want All of My Shit Back”, the EP’s second single is an edgy dance-pop track; the guitar riff and stacked vocals bring an 80s vibe that is easily mistaken for a Prince song. The spectrum of sounds in Swans songs on the EP creates a broad appeal, somehow managing to create harmony between alluring vocals, vintage synths, and mechanical drum beats.