Culturally Influential Multi-Platinum, Meet Echosmith’s Sydney Sierota
Sydney Sierota is the front-woman of multiplatinum alt-pop band, Echosmith. She is also a daughter who grew up in a musically-inclined household; a sister who shines among her brothers and bandmates; a model and designer for some of the biggest names in fashion; and most importantly, a culturally influential force for today’s generation.
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Sparking fandemonium in 2013 with their debut song, “Cool Kids,” Echosmith and their leading lady inspired fans everywhere to embrace self-acceptance and selflove. Today, almost 10 years later, “Cool Kids” is having a resurgence and trending on TikTok, with 1 million videos made so far, including homages from fans and A-list celebrities alike.For more than a decade, Echosmith has built an unbreakable bond with their audience by creating music that sparks kindness and positivity. Since the release of the acclaimed 2020 sophomore album, “Lonely Generation,” Southern California-bred siblings Sydney (vocals, keys,) Noah (bass, vocals, production), and Graham (drums) have doubled down on their mission to make music that radiates a purposeful joy.BELLA caught up with Sydney to chat about the band’s new music, their North American Fall Headline tour, and how one song about fitting in has inspired the masses…
Echosmith is a family affair. What was it like growing up in a musical household and starting a band with your siblings?It was really fun growing up in a household where playing music and writing songs were encouraged. We also grew up playing music at our church and it was the perfect environment to learn. Making music as a family has always felt special because at the end of the day, we’re best friends and nothing is better than getting to work with people you love.“Cool Kids,” a triple platinum hit with a powerful message, has recently had a resurgence and is trending on TikTok. What was the inspiration for and meaning behind the song?This song came from personal experience of feeling that desire to “fit in” and wanting to be like somebody else. Each of us in the band has felt that way at one time or another, and it’s been really comforting to see how we have never been alone in that feeling. Even though my confidence has certainly grown since I was 15 when we wrote this song, I honestly still relate to it so much. Ultimately the heart behind this song is learning to accept who you were made to be, and being OK with whatever that is!Why do you think it’s had such a popular resurrection almost 10 years later?When “Cool Kids” first came out, we heard countless stories of how people felt “seen” because of this song. The fact that it’s had a resurgence this year has only solidified that we are all constantly on a journey of self-acceptance. Even if you originally related to this song in high school, you might relate to it in a totally different way now in your adult life. Embracing who you are is something that we’ll all be working on for the rest of our lives.
Celebrities like Demi Lovato and Drew Barrymore are even getting in on the trend. Do you think the impact of the song affects people differently today than in 2013?In some ways, I think “Cool Kids” and the message behind it hits even harder today than it did in 2013. Because social media is such a huge part of our lives now, it can be hard to feel confident and content in your own life. I think we’ve all struggled with comparison, and seeing everyone’s “highlight reels” can really steal the joy from the present moment in our own lives. Your music evokes a spectrum of emotions, including self-acceptance and positivity, amongst its fans.Where do you draw inspiration when creating music?Our main inspiration comes from our daily life and all the emotions that come with it. The good, the bad, and the in-between—we write about all of it. A lot of our songs start as conversations as a family about what we are going through, and then we try to capture that lyrically in the most authentic way possible. The reason we try to be so vulnerable in our lyrics is because it’s really comforting to know that you’re not alone in whatever you’re going through. If I’ve gone through something, more than likely someone else has gone through or is going through it too.Tell us about “Gelato”—can we expect a new sound with your new music or a nostalgic reminiscence of fan favorites?All our new music really captures who Echosmith is today in 2022. We’ve always tried to be intentional with staying true to why people connected to our music on our first album, but we are always evolving as a band, so naturally the sound has evolved with that. “Gelato” has a fun and energetic vibe similar to our first album, but it also is a great representation of Echosmith’s new sound in this chapter.New music and now headlining a North American tour… how does it feel to be back on the road?We are super grateful to be back on tour after being home for two and a half years. Having so much time off the road has given us the space to be intentional about the show we put on. One of our favorite parts of touring is meeting our fans, so I’m beyond excited to have the opportunity to connect with them every single night. We’ve never felt this excited for a tour, and we’ve been more thoughtful with this show than we ever have.
You have toured with world-renowned artists and performed on the biggest national TV shows, like “Live with Kelly & Ryan” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” What is one of your favorite memories performing or being on tour?Performing on “The Tonight Show” both times was one of the coolest moments for us as a band because that was our favorite late-night show to watch every night on tour. It’s a cool experience to do something with someone you’re a huge fan of, and meeting Jimmy Fallon definitely checked a big box for us on our bucket list.Where do you hope to see Echosmith and the impact of your music in another 10 years? I hope Echosmith can be a light in our listeners’ lives. Making music and writing songs is something I never want to take for granted because you never know who your songs can reach and the impact those songs can have. Music can do what nothing else can, and if we can continue to be a part of people’s stories and help them fall in love with life a little more, I would consider it as “mission accomplished.” We love what we get to do, and we love doing it as a family, so I hope we’re doing all the above for at least another 10 years.Instagram: EchosmithWebsite: Echosmith.com
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