Post by fogdrip on Nov 28, 2016 18:02:51 GMT -5
From Farm to Fame
The Leader-Herald FEB 26, 2015
by Michael Anich
The Leader-Herald FEB 26, 2015
by Michael Anich
GLEN – Noticeable when entering Sawyer Fredericks’ farmhouse bedroom are the many musical instruments at his disposal.
He cradles one of them – a sleek black guitar he used in his performance on “The Voice” NBC TV show Monday night – like he’s holding a baby.
“It’s a little overwhelming,” the 15-year-old blue-eyed teen says of his newfound national celebrity. “But life doesn’t change too much on the farm.”
He lives at Windrake Farm on Raym Road with his father, Carl, “manager mom” Kirsten, older brothers Aric and Skyler, and his parents’ nephew, Art.
“We’re proud of all our boys,” said Kirsten Fredericks. “Sawyer just has a more public way of shining.”
Singer-songwriter Sawyer Fredericks, who has performed in the area at venues such as farmers markets and open mics, has been encouraged by his family to let his music flow.
“Definitely, all my family has been supportive,” he said.
He’s performed at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs and put out a CD in 2013 titled “Out My Window,” continuing to perform to appreciative local crowds.
Fredericks will perform a roughly 45-minute set at 5 p.m. Saturday during the annual Soup Sampler Fundraiser at the Glen Firehouse. His music also is available on his website, www.sawyerfredericks.com.
It was Fredericks’ online YouTube videos that caught the attention of producers of NBC’s popular reality show “The Voice.” The show promises a record contract to the winner.
The long-haired youth with his signature derby hat was asked to do a pre-audition in New York City. Kirsten Fredericks said Sawyer was “taken completely out of his comfort zone.” From there, “The Voice” gave him a shot on the big show in Los Angeles that airs Monday and Tuesday nights. The show’s celebrity judges – Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Pharrell Williams and Blake Shelton – all turned their chairs around on Monday’s premiere night, wildly cheering Fredericks’ song, “I’m a Man of Constant Sorrow,” and predicting future success. The youth picked the award-winning songwriter, rapper, record producer and fashion designer Williams to be his mentor.
“Pharrell is extremely calming,” Fredericks said of his choice. “I picked Team Pharrell because he talks all about originality.”
On the farm, Fredericks is a long way from Hollywood.
Even though he may be a few weeks away from performing again on “The Voice,” the homeschooled teen remains at home, just being Sawyer. In his spare time, he likes to “listen to a lot of music” and play games such as Magic: The Gathering. The family has been dealing with the phone ringing off the hook as people call about the teen’s involvement with “The Voice.”
He does all the farming chores, regularly pitching in with the haying and attending to the needs of the beef cattle in the barn.
Away from Windrake and in front of a crowd, the self-admitted “very, very shy” young artist says he’s perfectly fine.
“I’m very confident with my voice,” Fredericks said. “When I’m onstage, I try to get into my own zone.”
Fredericks said he started singing when he was a baby.
“My mom said I was always humming. I was 12 when I took up the guitar,” he said.
Fredericks’ folksy style is reminiscent of singer-songwriters of the early 1970s, and he was influenced by his dad’s Creedence Clearwater Revival records. On his wall is a poster of New England artist Ray LaMontagne, and he loves Langhorne Slim & The Law.
The teen may not be pigeonholed into one certain musical genre.
His CD, in which he sings at a higher pitch, was made two years ago. It belies his age with many personal messages in songs such as “So Lucky,” “Not My Girl” and “Why So Blue.”
In a conference call with national media Tuesday afternoon, Fredericks used the words “awesome” and “great opportunity” when describing “The Voice.”
“I think the biggest thing for me was going up on that stage and coming out of my shell,” he said. “Yeah, this really is just amazing coming from this farm and being away from the outside world. It’s made me a better person.”
He doesn’t know where he’ll be in four or five years.
Kirsten Fredericks, who is managing Sawyer’s possible burgeoning music career, said of her son’s home life, “We’re a pretty introverted family.”
On one hand, he’s shy, but on the other hand, he can belt out a song in front of a national TV audience.
Sitting in his room, he said, “I’m not at all competitive.”
Still, he said, “I would love to win this. It’s the exposure and the experience.”
“We’re proud of all our boys,” said Kirsten Fredericks. “Sawyer just has a more public way of shining.”
Singer-songwriter Sawyer Fredericks, who has performed in the area at venues such as farmers markets and open mics, has been encouraged by his family to let his music flow.
“Definitely, all my family has been supportive,” he said.
He’s performed at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs and put out a CD in 2013 titled “Out My Window,” continuing to perform to appreciative local crowds.
Fredericks will perform a roughly 45-minute set at 5 p.m. Saturday during the annual Soup Sampler Fundraiser at the Glen Firehouse. His music also is available on his website, www.sawyerfredericks.com.
It was Fredericks’ online YouTube videos that caught the attention of producers of NBC’s popular reality show “The Voice.” The show promises a record contract to the winner.
The long-haired youth with his signature derby hat was asked to do a pre-audition in New York City. Kirsten Fredericks said Sawyer was “taken completely out of his comfort zone.” From there, “The Voice” gave him a shot on the big show in Los Angeles that airs Monday and Tuesday nights. The show’s celebrity judges – Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Pharrell Williams and Blake Shelton – all turned their chairs around on Monday’s premiere night, wildly cheering Fredericks’ song, “I’m a Man of Constant Sorrow,” and predicting future success. The youth picked the award-winning songwriter, rapper, record producer and fashion designer Williams to be his mentor.
“Pharrell is extremely calming,” Fredericks said of his choice. “I picked Team Pharrell because he talks all about originality.”
On the farm, Fredericks is a long way from Hollywood.
Even though he may be a few weeks away from performing again on “The Voice,” the homeschooled teen remains at home, just being Sawyer. In his spare time, he likes to “listen to a lot of music” and play games such as Magic: The Gathering. The family has been dealing with the phone ringing off the hook as people call about the teen’s involvement with “The Voice.”
He does all the farming chores, regularly pitching in with the haying and attending to the needs of the beef cattle in the barn.
Away from Windrake and in front of a crowd, the self-admitted “very, very shy” young artist says he’s perfectly fine.
“I’m very confident with my voice,” Fredericks said. “When I’m onstage, I try to get into my own zone.”
Fredericks said he started singing when he was a baby.
“My mom said I was always humming. I was 12 when I took up the guitar,” he said.
Fredericks’ folksy style is reminiscent of singer-songwriters of the early 1970s, and he was influenced by his dad’s Creedence Clearwater Revival records. On his wall is a poster of New England artist Ray LaMontagne, and he loves Langhorne Slim & The Law.
The teen may not be pigeonholed into one certain musical genre.
His CD, in which he sings at a higher pitch, was made two years ago. It belies his age with many personal messages in songs such as “So Lucky,” “Not My Girl” and “Why So Blue.”
In a conference call with national media Tuesday afternoon, Fredericks used the words “awesome” and “great opportunity” when describing “The Voice.”
“I think the biggest thing for me was going up on that stage and coming out of my shell,” he said. “Yeah, this really is just amazing coming from this farm and being away from the outside world. It’s made me a better person.”
He doesn’t know where he’ll be in four or five years.
Kirsten Fredericks, who is managing Sawyer’s possible burgeoning music career, said of her son’s home life, “We’re a pretty introverted family.”
On one hand, he’s shy, but on the other hand, he can belt out a song in front of a national TV audience.
Sitting in his room, he said, “I’m not at all competitive.”
Still, he said, “I would love to win this. It’s the exposure and the experience.”