Sawyer Fredericks has released his brand new EP The Golden Tree, featuring tracks “Lonely Bear” and “The Golden Tree,” recorded at Dreamland Studios in Woodstock in the summer of 2022.
Sawyer Fredericks became the youngest male winner of the Voice in 2015 at the age of 16, and ever since then has cemented himself in the folk scene, his latest release being his record Flowers For You in 2020. Fredericks has lived in Fultonville on an 88-acre farm since he was eight, learning how to sing at age 11 and performing at clubs such as The Bitter End for the experience. Discussing the EP, he says “I couldn’t be happier with how this EP came out. I feel the recordings really captured the sort of melancholy beauty that I wanted. I’m very excited to get to perform the songs live on this upcoming tour.”
The album includes four new tracks featuring his band, Gannon Ferrell on bass, Jerome Goosman on dobro, and Chris Thomas on drums, as well as Sav Buist and Katie Larson of The Accidentals on strings and backing vocals.
The first song “The Golden Tree” starts out slow and sweet, with Fredericks’s signature folk vocals shining through, with background vocals that make listening feel easygoing and calm. The song has deep emotional resonance, and Fredericks talks about growing up in poetic terms, singing “But with the light shined on me, a shadow is what I’ll be/To those below that watched me grow from seed to golden leaves.” He also goes on to sing about toxic masculinity and the dangers of growing up, and how you become noticed once you are older.
The second song “Lonely Bear” is just as slow as the song that comes before it. Speaking on the song, he says “I wanted ‘Lonely Bear’ to progress like a kid’s book, but the character and story itself is inspired by my dad, as well as my own personal struggles. I feel this song captured the sort of misguided hero I wanted, he is always helping others, but never letting others help him.” He makes me feel fuzzy and warm inside, as well as comforted when he sings “They’ll be times I’m lost and scared/And I’ll reach out to lonely Bear/And he’ll come running bruised and battered/He’ll make me feel I’m all that matters.” Everyone needs to have a “lonely bear” in their life to feel safe and sound, and it makes me think about my parents and how they protect me. The slow guitar solos near the end of the song wrap it up well and make the listener be able to sway to the music.
The third single “Farm Song” is a nostalgic folk tune about his life growing up on a farm and seeing life being born then feeling grief when they leave. I can’t imagine growing the emotional attachment one does with animals just to see them leave, but he puts it into words with fiery words and passion-filled vocal arrangements. The song is beautiful with added strings to show this emotion further and makes tears well in my eyes as I keep listening to him paint this picture of a beautiful farm.
The final single “So Smooth” talks about a relationship ending but in the best possible way, knowing it is going to be okay, and that the future will be much better. This song is much different than the previous ones as he adds drums in the background, maybe to signify his pounding heartbeat as he has to leave the relationship. All he longs for is happiness with himself, and he is going to experience that. There is a sad and sorrow-filled string solo near the middle of the song that tugs on your heartstrings and makes the listener feel emotional along with Fredericks. Overall, the EP The Golden Tree took me on a journey of happiness, sadness, nostalgia, and more as his smooth and sharp vocals filled my ears with delight. The guitars, strings, and drums in some songs all worked together harmoniously to create something enjoyable.
Fredericks will be returning to the road with a two-part tour with Chastity Brown, beginning on March 16 and stopping at the City Wineries in Boston, Nashville, Chicago, and NYC. To purchase tickets to his tour, go here.
Sawyer Fredericks Tour
March 16 Boston, MA – City Winery
March 17 Keene, NH – Colonial Performing Arts Center
March 18 Portsmouth, NH – The Music Hall, The Lounge
March 20 NYC, NY – City Winery Loft
March 21 Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theater
March 24 Asheville, NC – AyurPrana Listening Room
March 25 Charlotte, NC – The Evening Muse
May 1 Nashville, TN – City Winery
May 2 St Louis, MO – City Winery
May 3 Chicago, IL – City Winery
May 5 Des Moines, IA – xBk Live
May 6 Redwing, MN – Sheldon Theater
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