By Kylee Crisswell, Yukon High School
Similar to how wind can carry waves softly and peacefully, music can carry emotion. The sound of music wading in the listener’s ear can be comforting. However, looking past the surface, there are often more complexities and rough edges waiting to be discovered underneath the water.
Zach Bryan is an artist from Oologah, although he was born in Japan. The artist found his start in music by releasing songs online through YouTube. This began with him and his friends uploading music on YouTube in 2017. His debut album is one that the artist dedicated to his mother. In 2020 the album Elisabeth was released. The song “Heading South” off of that album went viral shortly after being released.
This is because the music Bryan produces is within the genre of country, however his writing and performance style is much different than other country artists who are prevalent in musical media.
Bryan uses instruments that add a warmer, softer tone to his music. Bryan combines the guitar, a banjo and a fiddle in many of his songs which gives the music almost a folk feel, bringing the singer/songwriters art form to life.
Not only this, but his music overall is consistent in presenting themes of internal struggle and how he conveys that emotion is consistent as well. I appreciate artists that are able to style-ize their voice in a unique way without completely deviating from the style they create their music in.
For example, more recently, Bryan released a new song titled “Hey, Driver,” which really demonstrates his talent as an artist. The fact that this artist is not afraid of alluding to hard topics in his music means a lot to me. I feel as though this adds to his authenticity, and character not just as an artist, but as a person. This song also takes us back to how Bryan got his start, as it was initially uploaded to YouTube as a recording done with his friends.
In “Hey, Driver” Bryan uses those elements and a slow pace to convey a struggle between himself and God. These stylistic choices are an addition used to convey the emotional struggle Bryan was talking about. The artist also uses vocal techniques of holding out certain sections of the song. Conversely, the artist clips other sections to display the idea of a complex communication. Being able to use both the instruments and his style of singing to convey emotion elevates him as an artist.
For reference, the opening line of the song states “Hey driver pull on over I’m in a fight with God.” When he presents this opening line it has a genuine and raw feeling implemented in his tone. The first half of the opening line is also clipped as if it’s an argument he doesn’t want to think about. The next section of the opening draws out the phrase “And this Carolina shoulder is where I’m gettin’ off.” Almost as if leaving the place he’s currently in would help him get away from the argument he’s having in his head.
In the chorus and throughout other sections of the song, Bryan uses some metaphors to further convey the emotion he feels. “So take me down a road that’s a little bit windy. To a place they still put sugar in their iced tea.”
This line references the idea of home, or Southern comfort, similar to how many people find comfort in God. That also further portrays the complexity of Bryan’s relationship to God.
Just this year, the artist won the Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year. This is a well deserved award based on the passion and talent the musical artist has. Overall, Zach Bryan is a well developed artist who uses every creative aspect he has access to. Doing this allows his audience to connect with the raw emotions his music displays.
