Sawyer Hill Brought His Fiery Rock and Roll Energy to Outside Lands

Sawyer Hill, originally from Arkansas but now making waves around the world with his smoky vocals and hearty instrumentals, combines his southern roots with the cathartic clashing and hot passion of classic rock and roll. His music experiments with a variety of genres within the indie-rock and blues landscape, making for an addictive sound where he can play with unique rhythms and sharp storytelling. Hill’s bold and naturally worn-in vocals become one with the instrumentals, demonstrating years of honing his sound and knowing that music was always the path for him.

Before becoming recognized on a wide scale, Hill performed at small local venues, relishing in the irreplaceable energy that live performance creates. Even though his music has since found a larger group of listeners and fans, Hill remains true to himself and he exudes a contagious confidence and authenticity. The music is made even better by the way Hill carries himself. He embodies his music with a cool and energetic rock and roll persona, like he has stepped directly out of the 1970s.

Flaunting a long-sleeved burgundy shirt and checkered bell-bottomed pants, Hill graced the Panhandle stage in Hellman Hollow at Outside Lands, guitar in hand, to a roar of unabashed cheers. He enticed the audience to scream louder and louder while he performed hits such as “For The Hell Of It” and “Firestarters,” both of which received enthusiastic singing from the audience while Hill jammed out with his band: “Take me as you see me/I’ll tell you when to leave me/Don’t you fight my hold on you/Pour the gasoline/Strike your match on me/Firestarters, we are.”

Teasing his album Everybody’s Home, Nobody’s Happy, out now, Hill delivered the debut live performance of his lead single “Bad Lovers.” Naturally, the audience fell into a comfortable rhythm with the song before quickly diving head first into the track and singing the lyrics back at Hill: “Oh dear, I should've known better/She showed me the blade and I let her/Put it straight in my heart/And I bled enough for two.” Hill’s performance felt warm and cathartic as the audience connected with him, not only over a mutual passion for his discography, but music as an art form and way of life.

Following his show-stopping set at the Panhandle stage, Hill spoke with Off the Record Press about his upcoming tour and the unmatched Ruch of performing live.

How are you feeling after your set here at Outside Lands? What does it mean to you to be at this iconic Bay Area festival?

I feel honored. The show went well. Very well. How do I feel after the set? I feel like I took a shot of whiskey. I had three chocolate chip cookies afterwards. And now I'm cold because I need my jacket. And nobody told me it would be freaking 30 degrees in San Francisco.

Yeah, the fog will really get you here.

Big time.

You're going on tour in the fall! What are you most excited for?

I'm most excited to see the people that I love and see the new faces and the people that are coming to the shows again…the familiar faces. To see them singing the words. That's everything I always wanted when I was a kid. My biggest dream was to have people singing my songs back. I'm excited to see them having learned the new songs.

You had a really nice crowd at your set today. It was a good mix of new and familiar fans. Can you describe how you feel looking out at the crowd and seeing people sing along and dance and rock and roll with you?

It's the best feeling in the world. That's why I started doing it. My band, we went into the studio maybe twice the entire six years that we were together. It was just all live shows and that's my favorite part of the whole thing. Playing new songs is fun because people are always trying to wrap their heads around it. When we played the new song today, “Bad Lovers,” I was looking at how the crowd was going to react to it but they were reacting really well so it was good to see that reaction.

That was one of my favorite songs from the set and I’m excited for more people to hear it! How does your experience here at Outside Lands differ from touring a regular show? How does the festival affect how you perform?

It's big time, way different. The main difference is that you are with other artists and you get to bro it down, which is great. You get to go watch other amazing artists and get inspired. It's a whole different ballgame.

Who are some of your favorite artists that you're excited to see here?

My main squeeze, producer Chris Greatti, is playing guitar with Charlie XCX tonight. I’m super pumped to see that. I'd like to go watch Goldie Boutilier. She's playing the same stage that I played. I’m such a huge fan of her work.

While you tour and travel, how do you stay true to yourself and your art and stay grounded in the music you make?

You just got to keep it real and you got to keep your head on your shoulders and your feet on the ground. I feel like some people are good at being a different person and maybe my life would be easier if I could just turn into a different person. But I feel like I always try to keep it the same speed. I'm a little different on stage, you know? I got my stage voice, I guess. But I'm basically the same guy.

You can listen to Sawyer Hill’s new album, Everybody’s Home, Nobody’s Happy below!