SAWYER HELLMANN
Interviewed July 2024. Photographed by James Kramer. Written & Edited by Mila Fowler.
We sat down for a conversation with Sawyer Hellmann, a multi-talented DJ and videographer whose creative imprint is all over the Milwaukee music scene. Known for his distinct use of VHS, Sawyer brings a raw, gritty feel to the music videos he has shot for local artists, like Tombo and Lowkeykeenan. He approaches his projects with a laidback, experimental mindset, trying not to overthink the process while creating something that feels genuine and fun. For him, creative pursuits are less about a perfect outcome and more about connecting with a community bigger than himself. We talk about his favorite movies, music, and his conspiracy theory about aliens secretly running the world.
3: So, what got you into all of this?
S: I moved to Milwaukee, from Waukesha for school, and I wasn't doing anything. My friend Josh over there, produces music, and at this time, he was producing for that guy named Maz G and we were at Niche Exhibit, my first time there. We met this dude named Lake and 2Hi, both rappers. Talked with them about all this stuff and Lake had asked me, Sawyer, what do you do? And I'm like, hmmm, what do I do? I mean, I love movies. I’ve done some camera and picture stuff in the past. I had this old VHS camera. Let me just start doing music videos. Let me just do something creative. Then I just really got inspired by the people around me and went from there. I would say a big thing is that studio that I went to, that’s really where I started. They had the whole setup and everything.
3: We found a lot of satirical bold imagery in your work. How do you choose the themes and subjects for your videos? For example, the big Xanax.
S: Haha yeah, I don’t know. I feel like it's congruent with Milwaukee's rap scene. People that look at it and they’re like, this shits goofy, right? Some popular rappers like JP, write goofy lyrics. I think a reason for the goofiness is that there’s so much bullshit going around in Milwaukee especially when you’re in the trenches, people are dying all around you, you want to have that little bit of that escape of goofiness and silliness. I think that’s where Milwaukee rap is misunderstood. But the goofiness, just having fun with it. I’ll just be faded and especially when they’re rapping goofy lyrics. I'm like, let's do this. Just having fun with it.
Still from Money Comin in $$$ by AyooLiii
Still from Headlines by Eli White
Still from In 785 I Trust by 785cash
Still from Me N My Shadow + Messy by Tombo
3: How do you feel that your style has evolved since your first video?
S: Well, definitely, more of being around different people that inspire me, like my friends, Tombo, Tommy, and Neely especially have just pushed me. Seeing their work and how they have given me certain things that have helped me evolve in my work as well. I'm still kind of on that thing of I'm not exactly sure what I'm doing, but when people get in the thing of like, okay, I need to do the same, exactly. They put themselves in a box and their shit starts looking the same every time. I think just experimenting with new ideas has just kept me able to evolve.
3: What project are you most proud of?
S:I’ve made, probably, three, I think, just of my own short films or music that I’ve made. Mainly just some ambient stuff, those are probably my favorite because they’re from me. Or probably some stuff that I’ve made with my friend Tombo, who’s pushed me a lot, they have put out music, they make beats, like, three beats a day, and it’s that type of shit that is inspiring.
3: Is Milwaukee important to you and your practice at all?
S: Definitely. Milwaukee is key. I wouldn’t be shit without Milwaukee. I think it’s a very underlooked environment. There are a lot of like corners of it where there are very talented people that are very underlooked. There are a lot of record labels that will pick up people in Milwaukee, and kind of just throw darts blindly at these people hoping one will hit and it’s sad to see these people that are almost flat-lining. I wish I could see more spotlight on different people. Milwaukee is just underrated. In my work though, I think that’s key with keeping it authentic is really what it is. A lot of people are scared to do that in Milwaukee and I think it takes a lot of confidence, and it’s like, praise the people that are being goofy, or being silly or being hated on still by a lot of people.
3: Do you always wear a tie?
S: No.
3: Just today?
S: Just today.
Read more about Sawyer Hellmann in Triple Issue 1
