The Voice‘s youngest victor in history, Sawyer Fredericks has finally debuted his latest album “A Good Storm” and it’s something worth raving about.
At the mere age of 17, Fredericks has already cultivated his sound and artistic vision. But even though he’s still in his teens, don’t let that angelic profile fool you. Much like former The Voice star Melanie Martinez, this New York native is an old soul with a peculiar interest in depressing topics. With his husky tone to his melancholic vibes, Fredericks’ rather dark aesthetic will submerge you into a whole other realm leaving you hot and bothered. In case you’re still unsure of whether or not his music will suite your taste, I broke down the 6 tracks that I guarantee will change your mind in a snap.
A Good Storm is available now on all digital and music retailer platforms.
Take It All
 “Take the hurt in my chest. Take the pain in my eyes.
Take the fear in my soul. Take the tears that I cry, “
The first track to open up the album is the only pop-like song on the list. The lyrics, the banjo, and Sawyer’s smooth vocals fuse together to bring a lighthearted track that immediately grabs your attention. The song reminds me of “Hey Soul Sister”, but with a more romantic feel. “Take It All” is zesty, explosive, and surprisingly cheerful compared to Sawyer’s signature work.
This Fire
“There goes the night, but there’ll be another. So darlin’, you don’t have to go.”
The romantic tone continues as we move on to “This Fire”. Right of the bat, this mid-tempo ballad gives off a Coldplay meets folk kind of vibe. Sawyer sings about a man who’s professing his undying love, much like what we see in the early stages of a relationship. This is the kind of song that I could see being played as a pair of newlyweds have their first dance. Once again, we’re washed over with a wave of instruments that compliment Sawyer’s amazing vocals. During the bridge, Sawyer showcases just how well he can control his voice by pulling it back into this fragile, emotional state. The passion within the song will not only toggle with your emotions, but also with your mind.
Stranger ft. Mia Z
“For the last time dear, do you love him?”
In “Stranger”, Sawyer teams up with The Voice season 8 contestant Mia Z to create this battle-like duet. In the intro, Sawyer changes up his usually smooth tone to a more breathy sound. The feel of this song is much like “I Know What You Did Last Summer” by Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello, but way more bitter than sweet. Overall, this tune does a great job bringing the audience from a lovey-dovey high to a state of disillusionment. Classic Sawyer.
Still Here
“Goodnight my love, it’s been a long day.”
Things have now taken a dark turn as we get deeper into the LP. “Still Here” revolves around a relationship that seems to have lost his spark, but the main character is still hoping to reconcile. He asks his significant other of she’s still here, but it doesn’t seem make much of a difference. As he says his last goodbyes, you can feel the genuine pain he’s going through. Sawyer’s raspy, thunderous tone truly captures the drama within both the song and the troubled relationship.
What I’ve Done
“No, you couldn’t stand to see me go. You couldn’t bare to let me stay.
So you went to that roof, standing close to the edge.
‘Cause even though your heart is breakin’, you couldn’t take that step.”
“What I’ve Done” is one of the most haunting songs I’ve ever came across. This track perfectly describes Sawyer and his artistic vision. It’s mysterious, wicked, and addictive. As the song progresses, we quickly understand the depressing story behind it – a broken lover who is giving a heart-shattering confession of how he drove his significant other to the brink of suicide. The melancholic feel mixed with the beautifully composed instrumental will leave you curled up in a ball of feels.
4 Pockets ft. Pharrell
“I got four pockets and they’re full of rocks. And I’m movin’ towards the sea.”
Sawyer finished off his record with two beautifully done versions of the same track. The first one, is the original tune that Sawyer recorded. The second song features Fredericks’ former coach Pharrell Williams. The original is good, but I have to admit that the remix is 10x better. It’s the perfect clash of Sawyer’s contemporary folk feel with Pharrell’s cool, funky vibe. Pharrell doesn’t sing a peep at all, but instead works his magic on the soundboard turning the stripped-down track into an upbeat hit (even though the lyrics far from upbeat).