Born just outside Philadelphia, Hurtt recalls being surrounded by music at an early age. “My father has had a pretty successful career as a songwriter and producer, so I was fortunate to be immersed in a lot of creativity when I was a child.” With “cousins” like Sister Sledge and “uncles” like powerhouse vocalist and songwriter Bunny Sigler, not to mention her own father, Phil Hurtt, one would think her destiny as a musician was pre-determined. But Hurtt initially chose a different path. “Although I was always somehow involved with music, I went the theater route for a while. I loved acting, but in the end it was the music that flowed through my veins.”
After a brief residency in England, Hurtt returned to Philadelphia and met guitarist Ross Landy. The duo formed Euclid Street, a musical chameleon that, all told, performed and/or recorded with as many as 13 contributing musicians, including Chuck Treece (McRad, Bad Brains) and Kevin Hufnagel (Dysrhythmia). While in the band, Hurtt honed her songwriting skills; discovering quickly that she didn’t fit into any particular genre. “It was frustrating at times, because people either wanted me to be a soul singer or to be Tracy Chapman. I had to deal with a lot of confusion because I didn’t fit into a neat, little box.”
Hurtt found that the solution was to continue writing songs that could speak to listeners across genres. “I write what I know, or at least what I, as a human being, can empathize with; love, loss, the journey of life.” Her lyrics are what draw the listener in and surprise many critics; poignant, but simple. She writes songs that everyone can relate to, without sounding cliché, with melodies that are instantly familiar.
2010 saw Sierra reveal a new side to her personality when she released Imaginarium; an EP of remixes from 8 or 80 done by various DJs and producers she’d met over the previous two years. “I have been truly humbled by the international response to my songs. To be able to work with these guys has been nothing short of amazing, truly.”
Hurtt is spending the Summer of 2011 working on new songs for her first full-length CD, due out later in the year. She finds herself collaborating, once more, with people she’s met through the successes of 8 or 80 and Imaginarium. “I’m writing in the way that I love, while also using musical vocabulary and phrasing that is fresh for me. I love learning new styles, new languages. I’m really enjoying the process and the songs. People seem to really appreciate the honesty in what I do. I am humbled by the support I am receiving.”
Alchemy
Sierra Hurtt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spilling your thoughts out on the floor.
Always the same old questions.
You give your all and they beg you for more.
You say you're contemplating leaving the valley for the coast.
I know you're scared of losing the one thing you need the most.
You dream of alchemy.
Living a life that seems ever-never changing.
You want the ultimate lie to be transformed into a truth.
You want to never give up.
You wear the shackles of youth.
You say you're gonna try it,
Living one moment at a time.
Turn over every penny,
Squeeze it until you have a dime.
Doesn't it drive you crazy, all the feelings you ground inside?
Wouldn't it be amazing if you learned to fly.
You dream of alchemy.
You ramble insane,
Living a life that seems ever-never changing.
You want the ultimate lie to be transformed into a truth.
You want to never give up.
You wear the shackles of youth.
The song "Alchemy" by Sierra Hurtt speaks about the struggles and frustrations of chasing one's dreams and ambitions. The opening lines depict a person who is tired of repeatedly pouring out their thoughts and ideas on the floor, but getting the same set of questions in return. This repetition causes them to contemplate leaving their current situation and geography. However, they are scared of losing their passion, which is the one thing that they need the most in life.
The person in the song dreams of "alchemy" which can be interpreted as the transformation of something ordinary into something extraordinary. They ramble on in their thoughts, feeling stuck in a life that seems mundane and never-changing. They long for their dreams to become their reality, even if it requires hard work and determination. The person believes that they wear the shackles of youth, implying that their age may be a hindrance to their dreams.
In the chorus, the person's desire for alchemy becomes more vivid. They want the ultimate lie to be transformed into truth, indicating that they desire their dreams to come true. The lyrics also suggest that the person feels like they are on the brink of giving up, but they are determined never to do so.
Overall, the song speaks to the struggle of chasing dreams and the resilience required to keep pushing forward, even when things seem to be at a standstill.
Line by Line Meaning
You say it's so frustrating
You express great disappointment or annoyance about something.
Spilling your thoughts out on the floor.
Sharing your opinions and ideas without restraint or reservation.
Always the same old questions.
Feeling stuck with unchanging or repetitive issues.
You give your all and they beg you for more.
You work hard to satisfy others' demands, but they keep asking for additional effort.
You say you're contemplating leaving the valley for the coast.
You're considering moving from the current familiar surroundings to a new environment.
I know you're scared of losing the one thing you need the most.
You're afraid of losing the essential component of your life.
You dream of alchemy.
You aspire for an exceptional transformation to turn base materials into something valuable.
You ramble insane,
You talk nonsensically or incoherently due to eager anticipation.
Living a life that seems ever-never changing.
You believe that you're stuck with an unchanging, constant lifestyle.
You want the ultimate lie to be transformed into a truth.
You desire to achieve a total conversion from a falsehood to a reality.
You want to never give up.
You long to persevere and keep going in the face of challenges and setbacks.
You wear the shackles of youth.
You feel constrained by the limitations and inexperience that come with being young.
You say you're gonna try it,
You declare that you're going to attempt something new.
Living one moment at a time.
Taking life one step at a time, without worrying about what comes next or what happened before.
Turn over every penny,
Examining every detail and aspect of something.
Squeeze it until you have a dime.
Making the most of your resources and efforts until you achieve something valuable.
Doesn't it drive you crazy, all the feelings you ground inside?
Aren't you feeling frustrated and troubled by all the emotions you're suppressing?
Wouldn't it be amazing if you learned to fly.
Wouldn't it be fantastic if you had the ability to soar high and achieve great things?
Contributed by Victoria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.