Sawyer Lived Up To His Hype On 'The Voice'

It's taken me a while to figure it out, but I've finally realized why there's so much hype about Sawyer Fredericks. The Voice coaches have been obsessed with the contestant since day one, and his Live Playoff performance proved why. The 16-year-old made a mature song choice with Ray LaMontagne's "Trouble," but it paid off. He showcased his old soul and really gave the audience a glimpse into who he is. Fredericks' indie vibes are unique in this aspiring pop-star dominated competition, and that's why America is destined to fall in love with him.

Something really clicked tonight for Team Pharrell — as seen in Caitlin Caporale's Beyonce moment and Koryn Hawthorne's powerful performance — and Fredericks is no exception. He admitted that he was having a little trouble getting used to being in the spotlight, but that disappeared once he hit the stage. The young artist dominated the Live Playoffs by just standing at the microphone with his guitar and singing from his heart. Fredericks let his originality and artistry shine through the arrangement of his song and how he sang it — and that's why the coaches love him so much. Fredericks doesn't hide behind crazy vocal tricks like many young artists. He's confident in his abilities and knows he can win without going over the top.

Fredericks' old soul is what will take him far in the music industry. It encourages him to make unique song choices while still pushing the envelope. His song choice tonight seemed easy, but was actually a risk because of it's older content. Fredericks has probably never experienced the words he was singing about it, but he performed it as though he had. This performance ability paired with his mature sound and boyish looks set Fredericks apart in the competition. He's sure to win over plenty of viewers' hearts — which is why we'll definitely be seeing him in the Top 12.

Image: Tyler Golden/NBC