Road trip: Sawyer Fredericks at Falcon Ridge, finding his voice after winning ‘The Voice’

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Sawyer Fredericks says winning NBC’s The Voice in 2015 changed his life “severely.”

He’s played the famed Troubadour in West Hollywood; met his hero, Ray LaMontagne; and even had a hometown parade in his honor.

Sawyer Fredericks, 2015 winner of 'The Voice,' sings at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. He's just 18. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Sawyer Fredericks, 2015 winner of ‘The Voice,’ sings at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. He’s just 18. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

But some things never change.

Between tours, the 18-year-old with the Goldilocks mane and the fiery songs of betrayal and heartbreak still cleans his family’s chicken coop.

“I love farm life. A farm will always be my home,” Fredericks insisted earlier this month at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, on a rolling farm that reminded him a little of his family’s 88-acre cattle spread in upstate New York.

Fredericks’ set was a highlight of the three-day Berkshires festival. Others included an all-star tribute to the late Jimmy LaFave, a reunion of two original members of Red Molly, a rollicking debut by the band Upstate Rubdown, and a surprise merger of perennial favorites The Slambovian Circus of Dreams and The Kennedys.

On stage, Fredericks appeared confident and in command, pouring heart and soul into original compositions accentuated by syncopated taps on his guitar that hinted of a drummer.

Pretty impressive, considering he learned his first three chords from an uncle only a handful of years ago. Fredericks promptly mastered Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds,
then prepared for takeoff.

“As soon as I had the chords, it was just like, okay, now I can write songs!” he recounted.

Soon Fredericks was playing his own tunes at farmers markets and open mics. He found inspiration in the lyrics of Ray LaMontagne.

“I wanted to be able to sing with meaning,” he said.

Falcon Ridge 2017: Slideshow photos by Kevin Coughlin

Abbie Gardner of Red Molly fame at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
On stage with Slambovian Circus of Dreams at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Maura Kennedy sings with Joziah Longo and his Slambovians in the dance tent at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Sawyer Fredericks, 2015 winner of 'The Voice,' sings at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. He's just 18. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Sawyer Fredericks, 2015 winner of 'The Voice,' makes his first appearance at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Singer-songwriter Sawyer Frederick, 18, in civilian attire, at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. His family moved to a farm like this when he was 8. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Onward and upward at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
A late-night concert at the Pirate Camp, at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Kale vendor at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Strolling the vendor area at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Soaking up a workshop at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
The Nields sisters sing at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Upstate Rubdown performs at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Upstate Rubdown at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
The workshop stage at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Dancing queens at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Dancing at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Dancing at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Former Red Molly member Carolann Solebello harmonizes with her former band mate, Abbie Gardner, at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Kolson Pickard of the Slambovians levitates his horn, at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Pete Kennedy of The Kennedys takes a solo with the Slambovians, at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
A guitar that does double duty, at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Stylish sun protection, at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Looking good, at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Sawyer Fredericks on the workshop stage at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Kolson Pickard of the Slambovians signs shirt at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Lawn seating at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Guitars of all shapes and sizes, at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
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FINDING HIS VOICE

Fredericks’ legion of online followers caught the eye of talent scouts from The Voice, who invited him to audition.

Some tests were involved–the first tests of his life. His parents, fans of “unschooling,” removed him from kindergarten and he never attended another class.

“It’s different from home schooling,” he explained. “Home schooling is like your parents give you homework at home. Unschooling is just what I’m doing right now. It’s life, it’s learning through life and self-directed learning.”

Sawyer Fredericks, 2015 winner of 'The Voice,' makes his first appearance at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Sawyer Fredericks, 2015 winner of ‘The Voice,’ makes his first appearance at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

More challenges faced Fredericks on his journey to becoming the youngest winner on The Voice.

He tamed dyslexia with a card game, Magic: The Gathering.  (“It’s really wordy.”)

And he won The Voice while his voice was changing.

“It’s still only just starting to settle. I’m starting to get my head voice back,” Fredericks said, using a music term for the vocal register above one’s deeper chest voice. “During a long period of time I didn’t have my head voice and it was extremely hard to control.”

He embraced the transitional tones nature dealt him. It worked out. At 16, he went home with the $100,000 top prize and a record deal.

An introvert, Fredericks found the interview segments of The Voice tougher than performing. And he was far more nervous returning in triumph to sing his own song, Take It All, than he was doing covers during the competition, he said.

“Being on The Voice, I was thinking more of just enjoying the moment,” he said.

‘AN OLD SOUL’

At Falcon Ridge, Fredericks sang songs from his upcoming third album, Hide Your Ghost.  They contained enough heartache for several lifetimes–certainly more than he possibly could have mined from his current six-month romance.

“I get a lot of ‘You’re an old soul,’” acknowledged Fredericks, who tunes his angst antenna to TV, movies and the news for ideas.

“When I write music I try to use a lot of imagination, I try to put myself in the situation that I’ve imagined. I try to think of what emotions a person would be feeling and how I would react in the situation,” he said.

Delivering those lyrics to an audience is something he clearly relishes.

“When everything’s going the way it’s supposed to be, I should be connected to the lyrics, and really in the story of the song, and just kind of enjoying myself. Especially if my vocals are decent that day. Then I can actually sing with passion, and not be taken out of the song if my voice cracks or something,” he said.

Pharrell Williams, Fredericks’ coach on The Voice, advised him to avoid reading viewer comments–good or bad.

“Just because it starts getting into your head, and you start catering to your audience instead of catering to yourself,” Fredericks said.

Singer-songwriter Sawyer Frederick, 18, in civilian attire, at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. His family moved to a farm like this when he was 8. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Singer-songwriter Sawyer Frederick, 18, in civilian attire, at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, August 2017. His family moved to a farm like this when he was 8. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

He offers similar tips to aspiring entertainers.

“My advice for people starting off is just to perform for yourself,” Fredericks said.

“Enjoy the music that you’re playing, connect with the lyrics, and not worry about what the audience thinks. Do the best that you want yourself to do, and then if they don’t like it, that’s their problem.”

Back home, near Fultonville, Fredericks tries to keep a low profile. “Mostly, because I get recognized and mobbed,” he said, laughing at the wonder of such a thing.

Yet die-hard Sawyer Fredericks fans know where they can find him.

Just look for the chicken coop.

When Sawyer Fredericks swings through New Jersey, we’ll let you know. Until then, here’s another video from Falcon Ridge:

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3 COMMENTS

  1. I was in the audience and his set was definitely NOT a highlight of the Festival. I would say he got a tepid reception, at best. Everyone I spoke with, veterans of many Falcon Ridge Folk Festivals, wondered how he was chosen for a mainstage performance.

  2. An amazing interview! Thought I knew most everything about the Mulitalented Sawyer Fredericks, but I learned a few new things. Thank you!!!

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