As everyone predicted, the iTunes king, Sawyer Fredericks, was crowned winner of The Voice 8 Tuesday night. He was declared the victor and accepted his trophy at the conclusion of an all-star finale, that boasted appearances from Kelly Clarkson, Ed Sheeran and more. It was the first time Pharrell Williams coached a winner.
The rest of the final 4 shook out like this: Team Blake Shelton’s Meghan Linsey came in 2nd. Team Adam Levine’s Joshua Davis took the number 3 spot and Sawyer’s teammate, Koryn Hawthorne took 4th place.
After Sawyer performed his single, the Ray Lamontagne tune “Please,” and the confetti fell, he sat in a press conference with Pharrell and host Carson Daly, to answer questions from reporters.
Check out a few soundbites from the presser. Sawyer claims he would have been happy whether he won or not. He does NOT want to move to Los Angeles. He’s going to go back to the farm. “I’m really just excited to be able to get back to work on the farm and just really take in the open space and the nature around my home is just amazing,” he said.
“I couldn’t ask for a better coach,” Sawyer said about Pharrell. “I feel like he’s really helped me through all this and really wanted me to be true to myself and that was the biggest thing he wanted me to be. Just stay true to myself and enjoy the music.”
“The whole season was him just saying ‘This is what I like to do. These are the kind of songs I like.’ I never interfered,” said Pharrell. “I just feel good that like I was able to sit back and watch this guy just do his thing. Be himself. That’s a pleasure to me, to not change him.”
“Don’t change for anyone because right when you think it takes one thing to make it, or you have to be this or you have to sing this kind of song or if you have to dress this kind of way or if you have to talk this kind of way, here’s a guy that possesses this ability to tap into something that we all know is bigger than all of us,” Pharrell added. “He’s humble and he’s proud of being a farm hand and he’s named all of his animals, believe it or not. Straight up. He has this amazing life that he wouldn’t trade for anything.”
This should be interesting! I can’t help but think that when all is said and done, Sawyer will wind up an indie artist.
Here’s another interview, held with a few reporters after the official press conference concluded. Pharrell interrupts toward the end to hug Sawyer goodbye. Aw. Sawyer just turned 16, and doesn’t have his driver’s license yet. He’s partial to vintage Ford trucks. SORRY NISSAN! He can’t wait to see his dogs.
https://youtu.be/Embdnkby4ss
From Rollingstone:
How he received “Please” from Ray Lamontagne, “I got a text from Ray and he sent me one of the songs that he just kind of played through. . . loose, and he really just sat down and recorded it and wanted me to hear it. I was the only one who was getting to hear him sing this song, and it was amazing.”
His voice is still changing, “Every day I’m worrying about that. Some days, my head voice is gone and I have to find different notes to hit. When I was younger, I was writing songs and singing a lot in my head voice. I had very much like an angel voice sound. As I got older, my voice literally dropped two steps, so I had to tune my guitar down and figure out how I was going to sing my songs. It was very difficult. My voice is still changing. I’m just seeing it’s starting to settle.”
The weird thing Christina Aguilera whispered in his ear after his win, “She said it was all my fault. I don’t really know what that means!”
Pharrell’s more sensible reaction, “Don’t read the comments.”
UPDATE:
Sawyer dropped by Access Hollywood Live on Wednesday
The Today Show Thursday Morning
Photo Gallery
THE VOICE -- "Live Finals" Episode 818B -- Pictured: (l-r) Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera -- (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)
