Rocking Out with Sawyer Utah and the new single Where Do U Go?

Photo Credit: Orchee Sorker

Rocking Out with Sawyer Utah and the new single Where Do U Go?

Fast-rising singer, songwriter and producer Sawyer Utah has released his new single “Where Do U Go?”.  Oozing with 2010s pop nostalgia, the new track is for all the overthinkers out there.  Written alongside Zhone (Troye Sivan) and Sophie Simmons (Leah Kate), the new single shows off an angstier side of Utah while still saying true to his own unique sound. The journey of Sawyer Utah began in his home state of Wisconsin, and would include both sides of the States before finally landing in the legendary musical city of Nashville.  Highwire Daze recently interviewed Sawyer Utah to find out more about this amazing new artist well on his way into the big leagues…

We’re here with Sawyer Utah. First of all, you recently played at The Ryman in Nashville. What was that experience like?
That was a dream come true for sure. I went to Nashville originally for the first time when I was in high school in my senior year – and one of the main things I was saw The Ryman. I was thinking it’s such a legendary place and so many amazing artists have played there. It was an honor to have a chance to play there and to hear the music coming from the speakers as you’re standing onstage. There’s not much like that opportunity, so I was just grateful to be there – and I had an absolute blast.

You recently moved out to Nashville. What has that overall experience been like?
It’s been awesome! I’m from Wisconsin originally, so it definitely reminds me of home – kind of midwestern. It’s close to home, but it’s a great base of my career for being able to go to New York when I need to or fly to L.A. when I need to. It worked out well in so many ways.

You were based out of here in Los Angeles for a while. What did you think about our local Los Angeles music scene?
I was out there for a little bit. I was bouncing back and forth between New York and L.A. at the time. I would really come in for a couple of weeks at a time and just do sessions. I really got my writing sessions down during that time, and kind of built my network out there in L.A. I didn’t play too many shows while I was out there, but now as I’m building my project and it’s coming together, I’m so excited to go out there and play shows in L.A.

Where Do U Go cover art

Let’s talk about your music. Where Do U Go? is the upcoming single. What is the inspiration behind that song?
I wrote that song originally a couple of years ago in the summer – and I wrote it with Sophie Simmons and Zhone – shout out – just two awesome creatives. And we wrote that song about – I think so many people go through it when they’re either meeting someone for the first time or they’ve been seeing someone for a while and are interested in them. And they always wonder when they leave them, where do they go? And I think there’s also so many other meanings to the song – just the overall fact of where does everyone go when they’re not together? So that’s kind of where it came from.

tears & wishes is the current single. Tell me a little about that one and the inspiration behind it.
That one was cool because it was a different creative process for me. A lot of times I start with my production and just kind of hash out the song – whether it’s on my own or with other producers. And that happened to come from a producer who just reached out on email and sent me a pack of three different beats. And they were all kind of similar to each other, but this one was titled tears & wishes – and it had no lyric yet. But as soon as I played that beat that he had sent me, I started recording that chorus.

You have a recent EP entitled Wherever U Are. Tell me a little about the EP and the title.
So that – speaking of L.A. and New York _ I was kind of bouncing around for a while where I was writing those songs. I was travelling so much and just experiencing so many new things – and I think that played so much in how I wrote those songs. And just my everyday experience, whether I’d be flying to a new place and meeting new people. I think it all came into kind of how these songs came together – and I think it has multiple meanings for me. Just overall, wherever you are, wherever you’re listening, whoever you are – I hope you could relate to these songs. From that to the actual titles of the songs – San Fran, TEXAS – a bunch of different locations – there’s kind of multiple meanings to that title.

I notice that you’re good with the many different locations…
…yeah, and my middle name is Utah. There’s all sorts of stuff going on there!

One of your songs Nights Like This has half a million plays on Spotify. What does a number like that even mean to you?
Just the fact that the song has been played that many times – and that so many people have been impacted by it, and the messages that have come in – people enjoying it, whether it be a summer night with their friends or being with their loved ones. I think it’s so inspiring for me to keep going whenever I see that reaction and just the overall impact a song like that could have.

Your song San Fran with mxrgan. Tell me about that song and how the collaboration came about?
We were in New York – me and mxrgan – and we were making a bunch of songs about a year and a half ago or so now. And we just kind of got together to make a bunch of songs for his EP / his project. And we had just been making so many songs. And we had made that song one night and it was a super fun experience of making a song and we were all pumped in the studio. And then that night I went back – and originally it just had just his vocal on the whole song. And I went back home, and I was listening to it, and I was like “this could be kind of cool to do together.” So, I called, and I was like, “Bro, what if we did this together?”  He was all for it, and I ended up cutting all these vocals with him. We just had so much fun shooting a video for it and promoting it. It’s been so fun to perform – I can’t wait to perform it with him as well.

Another artist you’ve collaborated with was Zach Hood. Tell me about that collaboration. He has some crazy numbers on Spotify too!
We’re roommates in Nashville and I’m the guitarist for his band – and so we do a lot together. We do so much writing together for his project. When we made the song Neon Skies was the first day that we met in L.A. – we just happened to be put together for a writing session. And that song ended up coming out on his project – and the rest is history – and we’ve been going ever since.

The director for your videos Orchee Sorker – I had not heard of this person and I looked them up. A female video director – yes!
Yes, totally, yes!

Give me a little background on Orchee and the videos.
She had reached out to me back in October on direct message on Instagram. I remember seeing her stuff and she said, “Hey, I love the song San Fran and would love to work with you sometime.” And I quickly hit her back and was like, “Yeah, let’s do it sometime for sure!”  And then a couple of months later, I came back to Nashville, and I was thinking I need to do some more video – I need to work on some stuff. And I remembered that she had messaged me – and so I hit her up and said, “Hey, let’s do a content shoot.”  And the first one went great! And it just kept going, and we ended up bringing her on to the team – and now she does all the visuals with me. She just takes what I have in mind and brings it to a whole other level. She has been such an integral piece of the puzzle here to put the project together.

You directed a few of your own videos as well. Is that something you would like to do – maybe video directing for other people?
You never know. I do love just the visual kind of connecting the song to the visual content. I feel like with that with other artists that I write songs with or end up producing for. There’s been some instances already where I’m involved with helping the vision of the song visually as well. I have a blast doing that for sure!

If you could open for any artist either now or from the past, who would it be and why?
I would say the band Lany. I have always loved their music. I went to their concert about a year ago, and it was such an inspirational experience. I just made me further think that I love this and I want to do this. And just seeing the impact they have live on people is pretty special. I think that would be one of mine for sure.

You’re a successful young artist and you’ve produced successful young artists. What message would you give to a young artist reading this right now who is trying to break their music though?
I would say one of the biggest things – and I have so much to learn forever. I never feel like I know everything I’m doing and it’s always a learning experience. I would say keep learning more and working on your craft. If it’s something that you love, just keep diving into it and teaching yourself how to do it. And if you love it, keep driving forward with it.

If the music of Sawyer Utah was a donut, what kind of donut would it be and why?
I love this! I would say like a cream filled donut with sprinkles on top. That does happen to be my favorite donut, so that’s partly why. But also, because you never know what’s coming. There’s sprinkles to kind of distract you – and then you’re getting inside and you’re like, “Oh my gosh, all this cream!”  You never know what’s going to happen – the unpredictability – and I always like to keep the listener on their toes.

What’s up next for you?
Where You U Go is the single we’re putting together. I’ve been working on video content with Orchee a bunch, getting that all set. And then, just starting to roll out this project and lining up the new songs. I’m so excited for people to hear the new stuff. And I’d like to play more shows and get this music out even more.

Do you have any messages for your ever-growing fan base who are reading this right now?
I would say there is so much music coming so soon. I just can’t wait for you all to hear it, because it’s stuff I haven’t even touched on yet in so many ways. I’m excited for everyone to hear it!

(Interview by Ken Morton)

Sawyer Utah on Instagram