Meet Cierra White | Drummer & Personal Trainer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cierra White and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cierra, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in Greeley, Colorado, a (back then) fairly small farm town in the northeastern corner of the state. I come from a working-class family and spent my early teenage years playing sports and learning how to be a musician. These influences came solely from my parents and had the biggest impact in who I am today.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Artistically, I am a drummer! I specialize in the heavy metal/rock ‘n roll variety, though I’m always trying to learn other styles. I think the thing that sets me apart from the others is, well, just who and what I am. You don’t see many Black women drumming for metal bands, evidently. Whenever I tell people what I do, there’s usually some reaction of surprise or even confusion. But hey, we out here, we been here, we love it here.

I got to where I am today with music by keeping an eye on the prize and just staying the course, really. Cheesy as it sounds, it’s true. Rock ‘n roll is forever but no one really tells you in the beginning how many times you will go back to square one before you start making progress. Things happen, people come and go. You just have to keep believing in your dream. You have to keep putting the pieces back together when they break, because they will. That’s also what I want the world to know about our/my story: the amount of times I’ve put my band(s) back together seems endless. You have to keep going.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well considering we both live in the Denver area, I imagine we’d go to Black Sky Brewery, our favorite metal bar (1 of 5 we have here!). After that, I think I’d want to head west and get a cabin in some town up the mountain. The best thing to do in Colorado is get to the mountains so that’s probably what I would suggest.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shout out my mom, Heather. I have an incredible support group of people in my life: friends, family, acquaintances, etc. who believe in me, trust me, and love me. People I can call on at anytime for anything, who know I am willing and able to do the same for them. That is a direct result of learning how to treat people the right way. There is a way to show up for people; a way to listen, to support, to just be there. There’s a way to have respect for someone else’s lived experience, to show empathy, to live in the “both/and” space. I got all that from my momma, and I am forever grateful for that. Not only has it given me the tools to show up like this for people in my life, it’s also helped me cultivate that kind of love and care for myself as well. Love you mom!

Instagram: @CierraDrums

Twitter: @CierraDrums

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cierra.white.129

Other: My Bands: @OfOakAshandThorn, instagram @Harboured_Music, instagram