MusicFreaks

Tag: Classic Artists

  • Sienna Spiro Doesn’t Want to Miss a Moment

    For Sienna Spiro, the road to stardom wasn’t just paved with melodies; it began with a serious bout of self-doubt. Two years ago, at the age of eighteen, a doctor delivered news that stalled her dreams: nodules on her vocal cords left her with a voice described as “raspy” and “husky.” At that moment, the possibility of becoming an accomplished singer seemed utterly out of reach. While living in Los Angeles, this London-born chanteuse found herself grappling with the reality of her physical limitations, sitting outside a coffee shop, wrestling with feelings of defeat.

    “I was crying my eyes out,” Spiro recalls, speaking with her unmistakable British accent. “I felt like I was screwed. I thought I was done before I even started; I hadn’t even released a single song yet.”

    Despite the daunting diagnosis, Spiro made a choice. Rather than pursue surgery, she decided to embrace the rich, textured tone her voice possessed. She continued recording music, adopting a cautious but confident approach. This decision reflected a deeper commitment to her craft and a willingness to find strength within perceived imperfections.

    Her musical journey exploded when her 2025 breakthrough single about unrequited love, “Die on This Hill,” released on Capitol Records, caught fire across streaming services. The track amassed over four million copies worldwide and peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, catapulting Spiro into the spotlight. This success led to appearances on television and a demanding tour schedule, showcasing her sophisticated musical palate.

    Spiro’s artistic sensibilities are deeply rooted in classic artistry. Her father, Glenn, played an influential role, introducing her to the timeless sounds of Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Etta James, and Marvin Gaye while they lived in London. This exposure shaped her view of performance, particularly through a famous quote from Sinatra: “You can’t sing if you’re not telling a story.” Spiro found that mastering songwriting meant not just hitting notes, but truly conveying the narrative behind the music.

    Her music is celebrated for its emotional depth and vintage aesthetic. Tracks like “The Visitor,” with its piano-driven balladry, allow her voice to shine while lending the sound an atmosphere from a bygone era. Spiro cherishes the live instrumentation in her work, believing that the imperfections of a live band lend a timeless quality to the recording. She aims to create music that feels enduring, focusing on elements that make records truly classic.

    Beyond the studio, Spiro’s most profound artistic exploration lies in confronting the fear of impermanence. Her upcoming debut album, Visitor, is centered on the feeling of being temporary—the fear that relationships end and identities shift. She learned to navigate this by focusing on being present in the moment, allowing experiences to matter without trying to force permanence. This philosophy is captured beautifully in a song titled “Mono No Aware,” which speaks to the gentle sadness of knowing that all beauty is fleeting.

    As a twenty-year-old navigating the world of social media and artistic fame, Spiro remains refreshingly relatable. She acknowledges her insecurities, even grappling with depression while experiencing profound creative highs. Ultimately, she believes that being a great artist requires being a great human, one who truly understands the complex human experience.

    Spiro is now bracing for another whirlwind year, with the album Visitor arriving and the forthcoming My House Tour hitting major venues like Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. She stands ready to share her evolving story—a testament to finding beauty and permanence in the beautiful sadness of transience.

    Credit: Spin

  • Soundtrack Of My Life: Jason Momoa

    The Soundtrack of a Life: How Music Shaped Everything

    We all carry a collection of sounds that define us, moments that hit us with pure, unfiltered emotion and embed themselves deep into our memory. For me, my musical journey wasn’t just about listening to songs; it was about experiencing them—the first time we heard them, the moment they became essential, and how they soundtracked life’s biggest milestones.

    The journey began with simple, foundational sounds. I remember purchasing my first albums with my own money, a mix of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Primus’s Sailing The Seas Of Cheese. These were the gateways to discovering new worlds, often found in unexpected places, like the Eat Concrete skate park in Omaha.

    Before diving into rock, the foundation was laid by classic sounds. My upbringing was steeped in the oldies, listening to stations like KIOA, where classics from Elvis Presley, Motown, The Temptations, and The Four Tops were always on the air. These timeless rhythms provided a rich backdrop for everything that followed.

    The path inevitably led toward live music. I recall the electrifying experience of attending the George Thorogood & The Destroyers show at the Iowa State Fair in 1985. Growing up with blues-infused music, hearing artists like Thorogood and Janis Joplin played at home gave me a taste for raw, visceral energy.

    But some songs hit differently than others. There are tracks that act as emotional anchors. One song that instantly brings tears is Tom Waits’ Day After Tomorrow. It possesses a unique ability to unlock profound sadness, making moments of reflection feel instantly palpable.

    As I continued exploring, so did my tastes for artistry. Discovering Ani DiFranco blew my mind. She wasn’t just an artist; she was a phenomenal poet and the original independent voice who sold records out of her car. If Tom Waits is my musical god, Ani DiFranco is undeniably my goddess.

    The influence of visual art also shaped my ears. Julian Schnabel’s biopic of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Basquiat (1996), opened up a whole new aesthetic landscape. The music from that soundtrack, featuring artists like Tom Waits and The Pogues, became deeply intertwined with the creative spark I was experiencing.

    The road continued to lead into unforgettable anthems. The energy of The Pogues’ Fairytale Of New York felt like a perfect distillation of feeling, a piece of history wrapped in a festive spirit that resonates year-round. For dancing, Bob Marley & The Wailers’ Could You Be Loved brought infectious joy and weight to every step.

    Even the soundtrack to a movie can leave an indelible mark. The intense soundscape of the Soundtrack Of My Life: Jason Momoa film, featuring artists like The Pogues and Tom Waits, deepened my appreciation for how music constructs narrative.

    The sheer power of heavy rock also left its mark. For a cinematic project, I created a playlist for my character in the Supergirl trailer that was pure, distilled energy. It featured a powerhouse mix including Motörhead’s Ace Of Spades, along with tracks from Metallica, Rage Against The Machine, Pantera, and the atmosphere of Tool.

    And then there are the deeply personal tracks—songs that simply stick. From Eazy-E’s Real Muthaphuckkin G’s to the celebratory feel of The Pogues’ work, music has always provided the soundtrack to my most intense moments, marking the way through life’s unforgettable chapters.

    Credit: NME