Mandolin Virtuoso Sierra Hull Talks Origin Story, Mentor Alison Krauss & More On ‘PBS NewsHour’

Sierra Hull was featured on a recent segment of PBS NewsHour’s arts and culture series, Canvas. The mandolinist and singer-songwriter chatted with special correspondent Tom Casciato about her early experiences playing music, influences including mentor Alison Krauss and more.

Casciato caught up with Hull when the mandolinist and her band came to The Hamilton Live in Washington, D.C. in February. Early in the segment, Sierra talked about her approach to music.

“I’m just searching for sounds and going by feel and trying to write something that is satisfying,” she said.

The conversation also touched on Hull’s new album, A Tip Toe High Wire, her first independent release, and the album’s opening track “Boom,” which American Songwriter recently called “funky.”

“I’ll take it,” Hull said of the description.

Elsewhere in the conversation, Hull talked about growing up in Byrdstown, Tennessee and her father getting her into the mandolin. The Sierra recalled her dad bringing home Tony Rice’s Church Street Blues. The discussion also went in depth on Hull’s relationship with “hero-turned-mentor” Alison Krauss.

“I got my first Alison Krauss album when I was nine years old,” she said. “That lit my world on fire, and it made me go, ‘this is what I want to do.’”

Watch the full PBS NewsHour segment with Sierra Hull below:

Catch Sierra Hull live. Scroll down for her tour routing and ticket info.