The Indie Sound with Jimmy Star
The Indie Sound with Jimmy Star

The Indie Sound with Jimmy Star - Amber Sauer

10 min
•Nov 13, 20257 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

Jimmy Star features indie artist Amber Sauer, who has performed on The Voice season 14 and toured with major artists including Faith Evans and Natalie Cole. The episode showcases her cover of Julia Michaels' 'Issues' and original song 'November,' highlighting her vocal talent and career trajectory in the independent music scene.

Insights
  • Television appearances on major platforms (The Voice, Dancing with the Stars, NCIS) serve as significant career catalysts for indie artists seeking mainstream recognition
  • Cover songs can be powerful portfolio pieces when executed with distinctive artistry, potentially reaching wider audiences than original work
  • Touring and supporting established artists provides credibility and exposure for emerging indie musicians in competitive music markets
  • Social media presence (Instagram, TikTok) is essential for indie artists to build direct fan connections and discoverability
Trends
Indie artists leveraging reality TV competition platforms for career breakthrough opportunitiesGospel and R&B-influenced vocal styles gaining prominence in mainstream indie musicMulti-platform media appearances (TV, streaming, social) becoming standard career development for emerging artistsCover songs as strategic content for indie artist portfolio building and audience engagementDirect-to-fan social media marketing as primary discovery channel for independent musicians
Topics
Indie Artist Career DevelopmentReality TV Music CompetitionsVocal Performance and TechniqueMusic Touring and Artist SupportSocial Media Music DiscoveryCover Song Performance StrategyGospel and R&B Music GenresIndependent Music IndustryArtist Branding and PositioningMusic Television Appearances
Companies
NBC's The Voice
Platform where Amber Sauer was featured on Kelly Clarkson's debut season (Season 14)
ABC's Dancing with the Stars
Amber Sauer performed during The Wicked Night episode featuring Wicked songs
Fox's I Can See Your Voice
Television appearance platform where Amber Sauer has performed
BET
Featured Amber Sauer on Celebration of Gospel program
Showtime
Platform featuring Amber Sauer in 'Your Honor' series
CBS's NCIS
Amber Sauer appeared on NCIS: Origins television series
CMT
Featured Amber Sauer on 'Smash and Glass' program
People
Amber Sauer
Indie artist featured on episode; vocalist with touring and TV appearance experience
Kelly Clarkson
Coach on The Voice Season 14 where Amber Sauer was a featured contestant
Jennifer Lopez
Icon supported by Amber Sauer during her career
Patti LaBelle
Icon supported by Amber Sauer during her career
Eric Benét
Icon supported by Amber Sauer during her career
Cheryl Lee Ralph
Icon supported by Amber Sauer during her career
B. Slade
Grammy-nominated artist supported by Amber Sauer during her career
Faith Evans
Artist with whom Amber Sauer has toured
Kelly Price
Artist with whom Amber Sauer has toured
Kenny Lattimore
Artist with whom Amber Sauer has toured
Angie Stone
Artist with whom Amber Sauer has toured
Natalie Cole
Artist with whom Amber Sauer has toured
Julia Michaels
Songwriter of 'Issues,' covered by Amber Sauer on the episode
T.D. Jakes
Host of show where Amber Sauer has appeared
Quotes
"I probably listened to this song 200 times in the last couple of days."
Jimmy Star•Mid-episode
"I probably look like the biggest idiot ever because I'm old with gray hair but I drive down the road in my car going to the grocery store with the windows open and the stereo blasting that song"
Jimmy Star•Post-cover performance
"I think she's super duper duper talented indie artist. I think you guys will love her."
Jimmy Star•Episode conclusion
Full Transcript
Hi, everybody. Welcome to the indie sound, which is me, Starr, your backstage past to the global independent music scene. Today, we're featuring an indie artist who's already accomplished amazing things in her career. And her name is Amber Sawyer, and I first became aware of her because she was on Kelly Clarkson's debut season on The Voice, which was the season 14, I believe. And she's a phenomenal, phenomenal singer. She's done wonderful things. She's supported all different kinds of icons, including Jennifer Lopez, Patty LeBelle, Eric Bene, Cheryl Lee Ralph, and Grammy nominated B Slade. She's toured with Faith Evans, Kelly Price, Kenny Latamore, Angie Stone, Natalie Cole. And she was recently on Dancing with the Stars when they did The Wicked Night, Singing Wicked. I don't know the name of the song, but she's a phenomenal talent. And she's also been on Fox's I Can See Your Voice, BET Celebration of Gospel, Show Times Your Honor, CBS's NCIS Origin, CMT's Smash and Glass in the TD Jakes Show. And now it's time for her to break out and be like the next biggest thing ever. She is so good. I'm going to play an original song and a cover for her. The original song actually she did this five years ago. And I'm playing this because it's one of my favorite songs. And I believe it's one of the best covers I've ever heard for anything of any covers. But the name of the song is Issues by Julia Michaels, done by Amber Sawyer. And this is the best best best song ever. I've probably listened to this song 200 times in the last couple of days. So check it out you guys. Amber Sawyer here's her version of Issues. I'm jealous. I'm over-sellist. When I'm down I get real down. When I'm higher I'm come down. I get angry. Maybe believe me. I can love you just like that. And I can leave you just as fast. But you don't. Judge me. Cause if you did baby I would judge you. No you don't. Judge me. Cause if you did baby I would judge you too. Cause I got issues you got on tour. So give them all to me. You're not gonna give mine to you. Breast in the glory of all the problems. Because we've got the kind of love it takes to solve them. Yeah I got issues. And one of them is how but I need you. Do shit on purpose. You get mad and you break things. Feel bad try to fix things. But you're perfect. But they why you're circling. Oh, hands on your shine. But you I'll pull you back in. But you don't. Judge me. Cause if you did baby I would judge you too. No you don't. Judge me. Cause you see it from the same point of view. Yeah I got issues. And you got on tour. So give them all to me. And I'll give mine to you. Breast in the glory of all the problems. Because we've got the kind of love it takes to solve them. Yeah I got issues. And one of them is how but I need you. Oh, cause you bit does it right. But we won't let's we give it a try. True love won't lie. But we won't know unless we give it a cause I've got issues. But you got them too. So give them all to me. And I'll give mine to you. Breast in the glory of all the problems. Because we've got the kind of love it takes to solve them. Yeah I got issues. And one of them is how but I need you. That's the end. Isn't that phenomenal you guys. I absolutely love it. I'm so I mean I probably look like the biggest idiot ever because I'm old with gray hair but I drive down the road in my car going to the grocery store with the windows open and the stereo blasting that song for literally for like about a week now I've been doing it. And I'm having a blast with it. I think she's so talented. So now I'm going to give you an opportunity to hear an original song. This is a song called November and I thought it was fitting since we're in November. So you guys check this one out. This is Amber Sawyer in the name of the song is November enjoy. Please. Fallen off the trees changes in the breeze. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. So that's Amber Sawyer. The name of the song was November. I think she's super duper duper talented indie artist. I think you guys will love her. You can follow her on on Instagram and tick tock at that Amber Sawyer and all her social medias and Sawyer is spelled SA UER. It's a M B E R SA UER. That's it for today for the indie sound with Jimmy start. Thanks so much for tuning in and we'll see you next time. Everybody.