Zach Bryan, possibly the most well-known Country artist currently has been writing music since the age of 14 and whilst serving in the US Navy continued to do so. Born to an American family in Okinawa, Japan, Bryan’s family soon moved to Oklahoma, a state known for wide open farmland, ranching riding, and Country music, inspiring him to write within this genre.
Bryan however had other ideas when it came to how he would convey Country music. He places an emphasis on his lyrics, much like poetry, seen best in his collaboration with Kacey Musgraves in his 2023 song I Remember Everything, a melancholic song reminiscing about a past love and the pain and joy it caused. The music that Zach Bryan produces alludes to the small towns of the American South, possibly from his touring or stories overheard in a smoky bar, usually differing from the idea of cowboys and life in the old west with only a few exceptions (If she wants a cowboy and Open the Gates). Bryan’s work transports a listener to heartbreak in a modern world, alcohol, drugs and the pain, joy, highs and lows that come along with it, often pairing up with other artists attempting to do the same as can be heard in his latest album Zach Bryan (2023).
One of Zach Bryan’s stand-out track, is a spoken poem entitled This road I know from his American Heartbreak album (2022). The sentimental and deeply personal quality of this work is the final track of an album (which should be listened to in order) that provokes so much emotion it brought me and many of my friends to tears the first time listening. Bryan described the album as an explanation of the past 5 years of his life and stated that it was an “effort at trying to explain what being a 26-year-old man in America is like. There's love, loss, rivalry, resentment, and forgiveness all wrapped into one piece of work." This road I know ends the journey through American Heartbreak in a bittersweet tone, exacting confusion in love and joy upon the listener. This track was introduced to me by a friend and sparked my love of Zach Bryan’s music.
The idea of the 21st century is an alien one to the genre of Country, as the music came to its forefront in the 50’s 60’s and 70’s with artists such as John Denver, Dolly Parton, and Marty Robbins allowing it to do so, and towards the end of the century it seemed to stagnate. Within the early 2000’s however it saw a revival with artists such as Toby Keith bringing a new more Rock-based style to Country, what cannot go unnoticed as well is the artist Luke Combs, with songs such as Fast Car and Beautiful Crazy reaching the US main charts. Zach Bryan has however outdone this, winning a Grammy with his song I remember everything and being nominated for three other major music awards. In bringing the genre of country to the forefront of 21st century music, through a combination of emotional lyrics, fusion of Country and rock and his ability to develop a real connection to anyone listening, whether emotional, physical or within a memory, Zach Bryan will have it all.
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‘effort at trying to explain what being a 26-year-old man in America is like. There's love, loss, rivalry, resentment, and forgiveness all wrapped into one piece of work’ –Interview with Amplify
Photo Credit: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for stagecoach
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