For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Sierra Blanca? How long has the band been around?

I used to play under the moniker "A Main Street Marvel" for a good 8 years or so before changing it. I played in a few other bands in my hometown (El Paso, TX), but nothing that lasted this long.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

Sierra Blanca is a small town between El Paso and Midland, TX. I used to drive through there a lot since I took up a high school physics teacher position in Midland. It was almost a half way point between the two, so there was some sort of nostalgia in there between leaving or coming back home through there frequently. It's also famous for having a checkpoint that frequently busts celebrities traveling through with guns or drugs, ha. 

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

I (Jethro) do all the writing for the project. The theme is pretty varied, some songs are just about life experiences but a lot of them aren't really straight forward and feel like they come from more of a subconscious place. The new EP has a bit of a defeat and survival theme.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

Honorable Mention was definitely more influenced by the singer/songwriter scene in Nashville and some of the artists that play here frequently. Also just the vibe of the city.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?

I was around musicians in general a lot growing up, which got me interested in it in the first place, but I would say artists like Feist and Stevie Nicks might have influenced the direction it went.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc …

Not much, really. I try to warm my voice up a bit by just singing a part of a song or something random. There's probably more I could do, who knows. 

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

It's been nice that the two singles from this EP have been pretty well received. The people at Spotify were great enough to showcase some music on their official playlists and other national blogs have picked it up as well. The live shows keep getting a better reception too. Things are going well. Can't complain at all!

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

There's a few up and coming bands I really like that would be great to get together with. Whitney, Big Thief, David Ramirez. I feel like our styles of music would fit together nicely on stage and they just seem like good and fun people in general.  

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for doing this feature, and keep up the good work!

Check out Sierra Blanca's latest singles below!!

 LISTEN TO "PAINT THE ROAD"// LISTEN TO "BOOK"