A chat with Sawyer Utah

cover art for tears & wishes

Our lovely writer Maddie recently had a chat with Sawyer Utah regarding his recently debuted album, brand new single, and the ins & outs of being a young artist in the music industry. Be sure to take a look at the official video released for tears & wishes, have a listen to WHEREVER U ARE ✭ and read more about Sawyer's journey below!

Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us! Just to do a little check-in, how did you start your day today and what’s one word for how you’re feeling right now?

Thank you so much for having me! I'm feeling refreshed - I started the day with a bowl of Mini Wheats and a banana, and just finished color grading the official video for “tears & wishes”!

Your debut ep WHEREVER U ARE ✭ came out at the end of February. First of all, congrats on the release! How long has this EP been in the works? 

 Thank you so much!! It has been a long time coming - I started creating these songs in 2022 and spent a lot of time finding the feelings and words I wanted to uncover for my debut project.

What’s something you’ve learned about yourself as an artist throughout the process of releasing the EP?

Throughout the process, a big lesson I learned was to trust my gut. Whether it be for visuals or for creating the EP itself, I noticed when I went with my gut things turned out best!

I was really drawn to the way you focused on imagery of cars. We see this in the cover art for the album itself but also in many of the singles as well as your music video for “TEXAS.” What would you say this represents for you?

This is a large theme throughout all my visuals mainly because of the feeling it conveys and helps extend with the music. I always have this idea in my head that I like my music best when it feels like you're “going somewhere”...and that’s exactly the feeling that the cars accomplish for me in the visuals!

You’ve travelled a lot, both for your own music and for opportunities to produce. How do you find the different cities and environments you’ve worked in have impacted your sound and process? 

The changing environments definitely play a role in what I create - I think it keeps my mind fresh and open to new sounds and feelings. As I’m answering this question, I just noticed that most of my songs feel like a specific city to me. Sometimes it’s NYC, sometimes it’s LA, etc. There’s a place where I picture each song “taking place", if that makes sense, even if I didn't create it there!

As someone who has jumped between a few different cities at quite a young age, what has been your way of finding community in new places?

I really was closed off when I was first traveling because I truly would fill all of my time with work. But I think moving to Nashville recently and being there more than just a week or two at a time has definitely helped. The more you go to events and sessions you start to find people that you want to hang and work with.

Your upcoming release “tears & wishes” is such a beautiful track and I want it on a late night driving playlist, stat! Would you say this release is a continuation of themes you explored in WHEREVER U ARE ✭? Or does this mark a shift into a new era?

Oh thank you so much!! I’m so excited for this one - it definitely shifts to a new era, but at the same time takes inspiration from the WHERECER U ARE✭ era. I want to forever keep evolving as an artist, but I think there will always be underlying feelings/emotions that stay similar throughout my projects.

What’s your astrological sign and which song of yours do you think best represents that sign?

I’m going to be honest - I don’t know a lot about signs - but I know I’m a Taurus! I just looked it up…I think “Old Me” would represent me as a Taurus, feeling super nostalgic and seeking comfort.

What would you say are some of the struggles of being a young artist in the industry right now? Are there ways you’ve worked to overcome them?

I think a large obstacle for me is social media and the amount we rely on the internet in this industry. I grew up going to a Waldorf school until the 7th grade, where the use of screened devices was restricted. It’s not that I am fully “against” it, but I appreciate and desire in person connections most. That said, I am always trying to find ways to enjoy the online experiences and make the most of the human-to-human interactions and connections that are still possible within it!

You began playing guitar at just 6 years old back in Wisconsin. Who were some of your earliest musical inspirations and how have they changed since?

Chris Daughtry was an early inspiration for me to start playing guitar and start singing. Watching him on American Idol was so exciting to me and it was a captivating performance every time he was on. It made me think “I kinda wanna do that too”! Over time, I became even more inspired by Top 40 radio and really got into Pop music as I got into middle school and high school!

What has been your favorite live show you’ve played to date and why?

I played a show my senior year of high school for about 1,000 students at my show choir invitational back in La Crosse, Wisconsin. I performed a song that I had released back then, and so many people knew the words and were holding up their phone lights. It was my first true experience of that and I’ll never forget it!

You have worked with a long list of fellow artists on top of pursuing your solo work. Who is a dream collaboration of yours?

I would say writing some songs with Paul Jason Klein from LANY would be top of my list! I’ve always appreciated his writing and delivery. What he has done with the band is super special and has no borders.

What’s on the horizon for you in 2025? What are you most excited for?

I am so excited to roll out this next project and play shows with the new music! I continue to expand my body of work to perform and promote, which I am pumped about. Can’t wait for y’all to hear what we’ve got lined up!

Thank you again so much for your time, we can’t wait to see more of your work this year!

Thank you so much!!