It is not common to find an artist honing their craft and instruments in an Arkansas garage who wants to create songs that strike like a “knife in the gut,” puncture your senses, and paralyze you emotionally. To the already impressive list of uncommon skills that Sawyer Hill expertly possesses: a young live performance veteran, a connoisseur of exquisite compositions, and a venerable gift for poetic narrative. Hill is an artist who both embodies and rejects the stereotype of a retro guitarist, having grown up in the bucolic world of guitar bands with pals and a week of practice sessions before going out to the neighborhood bar.
He is an immersive songwriter without boundaries, and the song “High On My Lows” perfectly captures that sensation. It’s as though you’re hanging from the artist while scooting around on a wild journey, experiencing the chorus with your eyes wide and jaws clenched. The rhythmic tone of the song, which is a little off-kilter, muffled, and gives the impression that the world is foggy, supports the striking effect of the lyrics. With the help of the legendary Chris Greatti, the song hits all the right notes, with percussion and guitars transitioning into a festive mood before slowing down into an acoustic outro. What’s even more amazing about this artist who’s not ashamed to say, “I wanna write great songs,” and who shares the belief that great songs “tell the truth,” is how surprisingly approachable and honest his music is. It’s not a hefty lift of pretension or judgment, simply an arsenal of positive feelings that everyone can latch onto. Putting aside the cliché of musicians on the verge of stardom, Hill is positioned to be among the greatest of this generation. If you’re feeling down and need a good song to cheer you up for the next day, this writer has the sound bites to revive you.
English