Hailing from Tulsa Oklahoma, the home of both her tribes (Otoe-Missouria and Keetoowah Cherokee), the EP draws from her lived experience and cultural background as part of the Native community.
Sierra Spirit Kihega, the Native American artist known as Sierra Spirit, has unveiled her debut EP, titled coin toss, which dropped today via Giant Music. Hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Spirit's EP is deeply rooted in her lived experiences and cultural heritage as a member of the Otoe-Missouria and Keetoowah Cherokee tribes. The EP serves as a poignant tribute to the art of storytelling and her Indigenous lineage, arriving just a few days before Indigenous People’s Day.
Sonically, coin toss unfolds as a raw and honest narrative of the trials and tribulations encountered during Spirit's formative years. Her music draws inspiration from a diverse range of artists, including Phoebe Bridgers and Ethel Cain, among others.
To celebrate the release of coin toss, Spirit will host a record release party at Chimera in her hometown of Tulsa on October 10th. The event will feature the presence of the local non-profit organization DVIS. Additionally, Spirit is scheduled to perform at Make Out Music in Los Angeles on October 17th.
Spirit's songwriting serves multiple purposes: to immortalize individuals and experiences, and to triumph over a personal history of mental illness. During her youth, Spirit's introverted and reserved nature left her fearing that others perceived her as unapproachable. “I had such intense anxiety that I spent my younger years keeping to myself out of fear of being misunderstood,” she shares.
Although years have passed since then, Spirit's formative years continue to haunt her, shaping her self-perception as a "pushover" and "kicked puppy" among her peers. This sense of inadequacy is crystallized in the lyrics of "easy": “I'm a deer on the side of the highway you hit with your car and then drag 50 feet on your way to the bar like it's easy / To take a sharp turn and lose me.” The opening verse unfolds rapidly, showcasing Spirit's growth from a victim of circumstance to a capable and confident songwriter.
Spirit's vulnerability extends to her experiences with relationships and heartbreak. “When people know your heart is big and you're kind, they will take from you until you have nothing left to give,” she says. Despite these experiences, Spirit's heart remains open, albeit protected. On the bridge of "ghost," she confronts a former lover who squandered her time with the cutting lyric, “You're habitual, I hope you die alone.” The song was among the first Spirit released, and its powerful conclusion heralded the arrival of a significant new voice in music.
Upon sharing her music online, Spirit quickly garnered a devoted following, including fellow Indigenous creatives who found solace and kinship in the stories she told. “There are things I need to heal from and it's important to share, because I want other people who have experienced similar things to feel less alone,” she says.
Sierra Spirit coin toss tracklisting:
1. ghost 2. bleed you 3. televangelic 4. easy 5. better wild 6. i'll be waiting (pug)