“Raised by Rhythm: Sherrionn’s Journey to Creative Freedom”

Sherrionn

Chicago’s own Sherrionn is redefining what it means to be an artist in full control of her craft. A singer, songwriter, and audio engineer whose sound fuses soul, storytelling, and raw emotion, she embodies both the vulnerability and strength of true artistry. Raised by a chosen family, Sherrionn grew up surrounded by rhythm, expression, and creative legacy. Now, Sherrionn stands ready to claim her space in the industry—authentic, fearless, and entirely her own. Check out our interview with Sherrionn.

SFND MAG: First and foremost Sherrionn, thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to interview with us! We certainly appreciate this opportunity! 

Sherrionn: Thank you for having me! 

SFND MAG: For our reader who may not be familiar with you just yet, tell us a little about yourself  and how you got started in music.

Sherrionn: Well, I’ll start with the basics. My name is Sherrionn, many call me SherrBear now. My love for music began at around the age of 4-5, if not earlier. I received my first karaoke machine and remember singing Aaliyah songs. Two memorable moments - my mom caught me singing Erykah Badu in my older brother’s room while he beatboxed, while my aunt caught me singing another Badu song “Call Tyrone” on the toilet. 

Once I auditioned and made the Show Choir community all throughout middle school and high school, that’s when my passion for performing took a more serious turn.

I started teaching myself how to record and mix my own songs in 2016, leading to me dropping my own original music. I then got my Audio Engineering degree and it goes up from there.

 SFND MAG: Chicago has such a rich musical lineage. How has growing up in that environment shaped your sound and the way you approach storytelling through music?

Sherrionn: I’ve had the best of both worlds. I have two families. I was a suburban kid but I’d visit my mom on many sides of the city as a kid. I’ve seen a lot, but had a very cool balance. Chicago’s culture in general has always had a very diverse feel when it comes to music. In my opinion. Outside of my own life experiences , the grit & rawness of our rap - but also the emotion and soul in our rnb is what shaped my sound.

SFND MAG: In your bio you described your upbringing as being raised by a “chosen family.” How has that experience influenced the way you write about love, connection, and belonging in your songs?

Sherrionn: I foreshadowed a bit above, but it truly sharpened the vulnerability of my writing over time. As a kid who may have struggled figuring out where she truly belonged or came from fully, I had no choice but to express and learn myself through the way I create. I felt the need to attach to something. That being my pen & music. 

SFND MAG: You have a really dope style and a beautiful voice to complement it. We had a chance to listen to several of your songs on Spotify and we love what we heard. Tell us a little about your new joint “OV” . How did this record come about?

Sherrionn: Gratitude, really. OV…man I threw many shots on this one. This was definitely a jab at an old love interest. As stated in the song , “can’t even blame you, I should blame your OG”. OG means mom for those who aren’t familiar. I can dig deeper and even relate that line to why I’ve attracted certain men. However, most of this song kinda wraps up me pouring my all into someone not only with “Mommy Issues” but who simply won’t do better- or can’t because he had no example of what better even looks like…resulting in me having to move on for good. I hope I wasn’t too blunt. 

SFND MAG: Your earliest musical memories involve singing Erykah Badu while your brother beatboxed on a toy box. What do you remember most about those moments—and how do they still inspire the way you create today?

Sherrionn: Wow, maybe I shouldn’t give the whole backstory before the question is asked. ( lol) Honestly, the memories just keep me going. They’re tiny gems to remind me of where my story began. 

SFND MAG: You’ve been a performer since your show choir days, even winning a national solo competition in Nashville. What did those early performance experiences teach you about stage presence and confidence?

Sherrionn: The crazy part is, that was my first solo competition. I was always afraid of auditioning for a solo. My choir director motivated me to do it. I honestly didn’t think I’d make the impact that I did. I won my first ever solo competition …first place nationally. This taught me to never EVER count myself out. This taught me that I was made for what I do.

SFND MAG: You’re not just a singer—you’re also an audio engineer and producer. With the emergence of Ai, and music apps that can now instantly process what in the past took hours to do, how does having that technical background give you an edge creatively and professionally in today’s industry.

Sherrionn: Honestly this topic is very difficult for me to engage in, only because I’m still trying to understand it. I’m afraid of A.I. because of that exactly. Those of us who’ve put in over 10,000 hours and have manually trained and worked creatively are in trouble if we don’t know how to smoothly transition into this next era of A.I. Either we fall in line or become bitter about it. I don’t wanna be bitter. It takes way too much energy. So I will continue to be creative the way I have been my whole life. I won’t say I’m against learning more about it and maybe testing it out sooner or later, but I’d rather keep real emotion / humanity alive for as long as possible. So to answer the question, I don’t think me having a technical background even matters to the majority anymore. However, I still have a human brain and emotions to create with. We FEEL that. I guess that’s my superpower. 

Sherrionn backstage at the From The Go Fest in Chicago

SFND MAG: Self-sufficiency seems to be a major part of your journey. What motivated you to take full control of your recording, mixing, and production process instead of relying on others?

Sherrionn: I honestly just hate waiting on people. I’ve always been super hyper independent. Now, I don’t mind having a team and collaborating. However, my hyper independence creeps up every now and then.

SFND MAG: You’ve earned recognition from major artists and producers for your covers and remixes. Was there a particular repost or co-sign that made you realize your sound was really resonating?

Sherrionn: Rodney Jerkins & Timbaland. They held weight throughout my childhood musically. 

SFND MAG: Your music is known for its soul and raw emotion. When you’re writing, how do you balance vulnerability with strength—especially as a woman navigating the industry independently?

Sherrionn: Great question. I honestly just have a natural edge to my creative. I’m naturally an emotional sensitive being internally, but that edge will always peak through in my art. Kinda like OV-  it reminds people that I’m also not to be played with. You’ll end up in a song at least. 

 SFND MAG: What else is on the horizon for you? Can we anticipate any new music soon?

Sherrionn: New music isn’t even the word. PLENTY of it. Shows, a project & lots of content!

SFND MAG: What message do you want your music to send to listeners who are just discovering Sherrionn for the first time?

Sherrionn: I just want to be felt. I want any story I tell to have an impact. 

SFND MAG: Once again thanks my Sherrionn! We wish you much continued success in all your future endeavors and we look forward to seeing and hearing a lot more from you in the near future.

Sherrionn: Thank you so much for having me!

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