Ep 861 : Sawyer Hill / Singer Songwriter
A single viral moment can transform an unknown musician into a superstar overnight—Sawyer Hill’s journey from playing for nobody in Arkansas to headlining tours after a 15-year grind is a masterclass in authenticity. In this candid conversation, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter reveals how he built his career not through algorithmic hacks, but through relentless live performance, emotional honesty, and a voice so uniquely haunting it echoes Mark Lanegan and Johnny Cash. He’s not chasing trends; he’s painting with every color in the palette—slide guitar, vocoders, heavy riffs, and raw vulnerability—on his new album *Everybody’s Home, Nobody’s Happy*, dropping August 21st. What’s shocking isn’t just his sound, but his unflinching truth: fame is a drug, social media is a bad dealer, and the real test of artistry isn’t popularity—it’s whether you can still love your own work when no one’s watching.
The most powerful music comes from artists who’ve suffered in obscurity before the spotlight—Sawyer Hill spent 10 years playing for empty rooms before going viral.
Social media success doesn’t equal live audience loyalty—6 million views on a comedy special doesn’t mean you can sell out a 500-cap venue.
A record label is just a group of people with money—Sawyer Hill’s label, AWOL, is artist-first, not hit-driven, and supports risk-taking art.
The best songs are written for yourself first—Sawyer Hill says he only includes songs he’d still love if no one else ever heard them.
In-ears are non-negotiable for low-voiced singers—without them, you can’t hear the nuances of a baritone performance in a loud band.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Tour Dates & Podcast Catch-Up
Dean Delray shares upcoming tour dates across the U.S., including performances in Batavia, Illinois, Las Vegas, and Fort Collins, Colorado. He explains the podcast delay due to a grueling Atlanta run and expresses gratitude to fans who attended.
Introducing Sawyer Hill
“If you're into Mark Lanigan, if you're into that low baritone haunting voice, you are going to love this man and his songs.”
The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media
“It's just a bad drug dealer. I mean, it is a bad drug dealer. I feel like even for people who don't use it for their job.”
From Obscurity to Breakthrough
“I'm grateful that I had, you know, 10 years or so of just playing shows for nobody playing rooms that where nobody gave a fuck and You know suffering silently before all this happened to where once it happens you you know what you're doing on a stage”
The Art of Record-Making: Painting with Sound
Hill details the creative process behind his new album, explaining how he shifted from alt-rock to a darker, eclectic sound using slide guitar, vocoders, and emotional storytelling rooted in his Pentecostal upbringing.
“But, you know, I'm grateful that I had, you know, 10 years or so of just playing shows for nobody playing rooms that where nobody gave a fuck and You know suffering silently before all this happened to where once it happens you you know what you're doing on a stage”
“And it's just a bad drug dealer. I mean, it is a bad drug dealer. I feel like even for people who don't use it for their job.”
“It can change your life overnight. Totally. You don't have to be As cool as Youngblood, you can be literally Joe Blow.”
Host
Guest
Sawyer Hill
person
Dean Delray
person
The Beatles
other
TikTok
other
Youngblood
other
Johnny Cash
person
AWOL
other
other
Mark Lanegan
person
Bill Burr
person
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