Mandolin Virtuoso Sierra Hull Goes Independent With Self-Produced Album ‘A Tip Toe High Wire’

On March 7, Sierra Hull will release a new studio album, A Tip Toe High Wire. The title reflects her ability to balance progressive exploration with her bluegrass heritage.

Self-produced with her longtime collaborator and engineer Shani Gandhi, the album marks several milestones for Hull: her first in five years, her first to feature her seasoned touring band — Shaun Richardson (guitar), Avery Merritt (fiddle), Erik Coveney (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums)—and her first independently released project. “It feels like I’m venturing into new territory,” Hull shared. “For the first time, I’m creating without the constraints of a label, and that freedom has been transformative.”

The award-winning mandolinist Sierra Hull has built her foundation in bluegrass, but her musical journey has taken her far beyond those roots. “Bluegrass has been such a good training ground for learning how to play my instrument,” said Hull. “And there’s a lot of areas you can kind of step into when you’ve learned to play your instrument.” Following in the footsteps of innovators like Béla Fleck and Chris Thile, Hull has expanded the possibilities of her instrument, collaborating with artists across bluegrass, funk and country music over her two-decade career, while maintaining deep respect for her traditional origins.

The album’s lead single “Boom,” co-written with Adam Wright, exemplifies Hull’s artistic evolution. The track weaves complex musical arrangements with an uplifting message about overcoming life’s challenges. Built on funky, syncopated rhythms and blooming harmonies, the song features Hull’s optimistic lyrics: “You gotta open up the windows / You gotta let some sunlight in / Cause it’s a beautiful day / So let the shadows have the shade / and then boom, live to love again.” The song’s arrangement peaks with an electric guitar duet that ventures into psychedelic territory before Hull’s mandolin leads the band home for a final, triumphant “Boom.”

Stream Sierra Hull’s new single, “Boom,” below:

Sierra Hull launches her next run of headlining shows on February 28 in Washington D.C.