Sierra Kay Kusterbeck is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 musician

Musician

A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....

 who has served as lead vocalist

Lead vocalist

The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...

 of the band VersaEmerge

VersaEmerge

VersaEmerge is an American rock band consisting of Sierra Kusterbeck and Blake Harnage, originating from Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA, currently signed to the label Fueled by Ramen. They have three EPs - Cities Built on Sand, Perceptions, and the self-titled release. Their debut album, Fixed at...

 since 2007.

Early life

Sierra Kusterbeck was born December 18, 1990 in St. Petersburg, Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

. She began taking vocal lessons in the third grade.
Sierra attended PCCA Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg for three years.

Career

Kusterbeck auditioned to be VersaEmerge's lead vocalist in 2006, by sending a tape of herself singing one of VersaEmerge's songs, "The Blank Static Screen". While the other members of the band weren't too sure about Kusterbeck, guitarist Blake Harnage

Blake Harnage

Blake Preston Harnage is an American musician who has served as lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and founder of the band VersaEmerge since its creation in 2005.-VersaEmerge:...

 convinced them that she was right for the job. Kusterbeck lied about her age, saying she was 18 years old, when she was really 16, so she could get an audition. However, Kusterbeck later cleared this misunderstanding and explained that it was more of a mix up; she was turning 17 a week from the audition, and she said to Harnage on the phone, "I'm 17, my birthday is in a week". This was misconstrued to mean she was already 17, and was turning 18, however she actually meant she would be 17 in a week.
Kusterbeck dropped out of high school to pursue music as a career. VersaEmerge released their first EP with Kusterbeck on vocals in May 2008, called "Perceptions". They were signed to Fueled by Ramen

Fueled by Ramen

Fueled by Ramen is an American record label which operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records. The label, founded in Gainesville, Florida, is based in New York City...

 in 2008, and they released their self-titled EP on February 3, 2009.

VersaEmerge

VersaEmerge released their first EP, "Cities Built on Sand", in 2005, featuring former members Spencer Pearson on lead vocals, Anthony James on vocals, programming and keys, Josh Center on rhythm guitar, Nick Osborne on bass, and Anthony Martone on drums, as well as current guitarist Blake Harnage. With the departure of Pearson, James, Center, and Osborne, Harnage and Martone recruited former bassist Devin Ingelido from Bury the Ashes. The following year, Sierra auditioned for the vocal position by sending a tape online. In 2007 Sierra became an official member of VersaEmerge.

Payless Contract

In mid to late 2011, Kusterbeck revealed that she had designed a line of shoes for Payless, a shoe company, called Brash. The line was released in early August. It is described as "edgy" and "affordable".

Discography

With VersaEmerge

• Perceptions
  Perceptions (VersaEmerge EP)
  Perceptions is the second EP by American experimental rock band VersaEmerge and the first featuring Sierra Kusterbeck as lead vocalist. It was independently released in 2008. Physical copies of this EP are rare and is commonly sought after by fans.-Track list:...
  
  (2008)
• VersaEmerge (Fueled by Ramen Records, 2009)
• Fixed at Zero
  Fixed at Zero
  -Personnel:Fixed at Zero album personnel as listed on Allmusic.VersaEmerge* Sierra Kusterbeck – lead vocals* Blake Harnage – lead guitar, backing vocals, programming* Devin Ingelido – bass, backing vocalsAdditional musicians...
  
  (Fueled by Ramen Records, 2010)

List of guest appearances

• A Day to Remember
  A Day to Remember
  A Day to Remember is an American rock band from Ocala, Florida. Founded in 2003 by guitarist Tom Denny and drummer Bobby Scruggs, the band has released four studio albums, nine singles and eight music videos...
  
   - Homesick - (2009, vocals on "If It Means a Lot to You")
• Anarbor
  Anarbor
  Anarbor is an American alternative rock band from Phoenix, Arizona that was formed in 2003. The band is composed of lead vocalist and bassist Slade Echeverria, guitarists Adam Juwig and Mike Kitlas, and drummer Greg Garrity. Initially known as "Troop 101", the band later changed their name to...
  
   - The Mixtape - (2011, vocals on "Contagious")
• Professor Green
  Professor Green
  Professor Green , better known by his stage name Professor Green, is a British rapper. He was signed to The Beats, a record label run by Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem, until 12 February 2008, as the label went under. He won the inaugural JumpOff MySpace £50,000 battle rap tournament in July 2008...
  
   - At Your Inconvenience
  At Your Inconvenience
  -Reception:In general, the album has received poor reviews from the major critics.However, RWD Magazine gave the album 4/5 stars and stated 'Introspective and reflective, this borders on emo-rap on occasions, while retaining edginess on the sonic side'...
  
  - (2011, vocals on "Avalon")