Sierra Glazebrook Proves That She’s ‘One of a Kind’ With Her Fierce Debut Single

For most debuting artists, there's an intense pressure and uncertainty behind their first release. How will it be received? Will people resonate with what they have to say? But newcomer Sierra Glazebrook found herself to be the most confident she's ever been while making her new single, "One of a Kind."

Sierra's been in the industry for nearly a decade, finding her roots in dance before a short stint in a K-pop collective called Nuna Gang. That said, it's an understatement to say she's had her fair share of interactions with Machiavellian, condescending industry professionals over the years. So, when she transitioned to singing, she instantly knew there was one message she wanted to share in her initial foray: "I know that I'm just one of a kind—there can never be someone just like I" before confidently dissing her haters.

Ahead of the release, Sierra sat down with Sweety High to discuss her time in the industry, growing up as a self-proclaimed "pop girlie," her inspiration behind the track and what she's planning for the future of her promising career.

Sweety High: Do you remember what initially inspired you to consider becoming a performer?

Sierra Glazebrook: I started dancing when I was 5. My mom put me in dance to keep me occupied. But even at that age, I loved being on stage, dancing and performing. It was the studio owner who had a big hand in keeping me in dance, though. She kept reaching out to my mom, saying, "I really think she should do this." The following year, I became a competitive dancer and continued until I was 13. Then, I joined a touring company.

They tell you to envision your life as an entertainer, and I always wanted to be one of those young stars, working all the time. You know, leave school early, hop on a plane, work with my company and come back. I loved having that.

(Image Courtesy of Messielia Music Management Co.)

When I was 16, I signed to a dance agency, which pushed my move to Los Angeles. I spent those first few years going hard and making as many connections as I could. Eventually, I hit a rut. I wasn't booking any jobs. But I met my friend, Jenny Lyric, and we were in a collective for a short amount of time. That's when I was like, "I want to sing."

During the pandemic, I sat down and wrote music. In 2021, I moved to South Korea for a year, and I had the opportunity to work with other artists. It wasn't necessarily for me, but it was to pitch, and that's when I realized I could sit down with other people in a room and write with them. It's the little moments that set me up for where I am now.

Dancers are a lot more highlighted than they used to be, and I love that. But I also wanted to have creative control of the projects I was on.

 

Also read about: Ally Brooke Dishes on Her Comeback and What New Single, 'Gone to Bed,' Means to Her

 

SH: Did living in Korea affect your music-making process? What did you learn there that might not be prevalent in the Western music industry?

SG: I worked with many Korean-born artists. Everyone was so carefree and confident in what they were doing. It was inspirational. I also saw such a strong work ethic—we knocked out one of our songs in two sessions.

When it comes to everything else, it was lonely in Korea. Being by myself in another country triggered a lot of writing. It gave me the fire to work hard when I came back.

 

SH: Why did you feel like it was the right time to make your debut?

Sierra Glazebrook: The segue from dance to making music was tough because, even though they often go hand-in-hand, it was a huge step outside of my comfort zone. Since I write my music, it felt like I was really putting myself out there. But I stopped feeling scared. I didn't have any more fears about what people will think of me or how they will perceive my music.

 

SH: Did you run into any challenges while writing this song? What are you still hoping to learn in your years to come?

SG: This track happened very quickly. I was pent up with emotions when I wrote it. It was done in a few days.

One thing that musicians run into, especially new artists, is challenges with the equipment. You have to decide who you trust to mix and master your music. What's in the contracts of the beats that I purchase? How do I prepare to distribute them onto other platforms? It's not something I'm well-versed in. I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to put the song out. My team and I had to send emails to confirm everything was okay. (Laughs.)

I'm learning how I want to sound on the mic. I love this song, and it was very experimental. I kept asking myself if there was something I should change later on. It was me being hypercritical but also taking notes on how I can be better. As an artist, it's sometimes difficult to find a healthy balance. You don't want to critique yourself too much, but it can be just as bad to not critique yourself at all.

(Image Courtesy of Messielia Music Management Co.)

 

SH: What's the message you want listeners to take away from "One of a Kind?"

SG: People can be fake. I've done favors or shown up for people, but they didn't reciprocate that energy. Or, I didn't like how they treated my friends. I didn't like how they treated me. I had an experience that was pretty much my last straw, and I wrote this track.

"One of a Kind" made me realize that I was trying hard to impress or be in the same circle as other people. It made me feel insecure, until I was like, "Wait. I shouldn't have been feeling that way."

Everyone has those people in their life that you want to tell off, and you can't. This was the song for that feeling. I'm happy with how it turned out. I still chuckle at some of the lyrics.

 

Also read about: K-Pop Icon RAIN Teases New Music and His First Solo U.S. Shows in Almost 15 Years

 

SH: You rap and sing on this track. Do you identify with one more than the other?

SG: Hip-hop has always been a big part of my life. It enhanced my appreciation for music and dance. However, at the end of the day, I'm a pop girlie. I love super pop songs. My idols were Beyoncé, Janet Jackson and Britney Spears.

I started rapping because a friend told me I sounded good. I was like, "Okay, whatever!" If anyone asked me to freestyle, I don't know if I could do it, but I can write a rap. It was kind of a laughable moment during this process. I don't think I'll do much in the future, but it's something that naturally found me while I was writing and how I wanted to present my music.

(Image Courtesy of Messielia Music Management Co.)

 

SH: We need more Black pop girls, especially ones that are positive role models for young girls.

SG: Right. I'm from Forth Worth, Texas. The suburbs. There's nothing hood about me. Hopefully, I can be more representation for Black girls like me and in the pop community.

 

SH: You worked with a team of mostly Black women. Is that something you want to continue doing? Why is that important to you?

SG: I loved the fact that is was a team of women alone. It went so smoothly.

In general, there are so many deserving Black women in this industry who aren't given the chance to work on a project. We need to see more of that—as much as possible. I plan to continue in the future.

 

SH: Can you share more about the impact you want to have long-term?

SG: I want to bring fun music into the industry. I listen to a lot of 2000s music, and I feel like we don't have enough songs about dancing, being out and having fun with your girls anymore.

"One of a Kind" isn't necessarily one of those songs that you can dance to, but I want to make more in that realm in the future. When I go to the bar, there's nothing I want to get up and dance to! I want that back.

I've always though there was a place in the industry for me and my personality. I hope I can share that with others. I want to be one of those Beyoncés or Rihannas—there's something so lovable about them.

 

For more interviews with our favorite stars, read HERE to discover what Kayla DiVenere shared about her new self-love anthem, "Date Myself."