Sheryl Wiser is Leaning Into the Light
Since the '80s, Sheryl Wiser has been carving out a space of her own in one of history's most storied music scenes. She has seen a lot of changes over the years, but the one thing she notes that hasn't changed much is the camaraderie of Seattle's music community.
Despite life's challenges, Sheryl Wiser continues to lean into the light. It's her breadth of life experiences and immersion in Americana, Blues, Folk, and Jazz that craft the unique essence of her music. The singer-songwriter's upcoming album will give listeners a window into her years-long journey to the woman she is today. But in the meantime, she's a mainstay on stages across Seattle.
Since the '80s, Sheryl has been carving out a space of her own in one of history's most storied music scenes. She has seen a lot of changes over the years, but the one thing she notes that hasn't changed much is the camaraderie of Seattle's music community. It is one of the driving forces behind Sheryl's work, and continues to lead her forward.
Recently, Sheryl wrapped the recording process of her latest solo album, which will be her first since her 1996 debut Month of Saints. The album was co-created with fellow songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tomo Nakayama.
In our discussion, Sheryl traces back the early years of her career in Boston and Denver, then her relocation to Seattle and her own path in music as grunge took off in the early '90s. We also explore why she decided now was the time to release a new album, artists she admires locally and beyond, and how different narratives in music are necessary. Additionally, Sheryl talks about how a repetitive strain injury changed the course of her career and how the community behind Cafe Racer urged her to return to the stage.
When the occasion arises, not only will you rise to the occasion, but how will you rise to the occasion? It has meant everything to me because really everything about who I am and what I've done in my life is not just because of me. It's because of the community and the communities that I've been a part of, and the strength and wisdom that you gain from one another.
It is the hardest thing in the world to lean into the light after something like that, but you do because you're not going alone, man. There's traffic, and we are all holding hands, and we're going into this together. And there were a lot of really beautiful responses from the community. Being in community, supporting community, standing up, all those things, it's just like etched in my bones.
For more information about Sheryl, visit sherylwiser.com or her Instagram.
Listen to the full interview below (at the 20-minute mark).
