Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Zach Brandon

Up-and-coming singer-songwriter Zach Brandon is an artist who knows who he is. He writes from his heart and lets his words do all the talking, connecting with listeners around the world. Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Zach about discovering his passion for music, walking away and finding his way back, and his latest single, “Tell Everybody I Don’t“.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Zach: I was forced to take piano lessons as a child. [laughs] I didn’t love music at first because I was a soccer player. I did piano for a while but I fell out of that. Then sometime between eleven and fourteen, I played the drums, which I loved, as every young boy does. After that, I played guitar for a few years and headed to college. I really liked guitar, but I stuck with soccer, so I didn’t have time to practice guitar.

I was also started writing when I was like sixteen. Going into my senior year of college, I really saw music as a viable career path for me. I played a couple of songs for some people. All of my friends were like, “This is really good.” That was all the encouragement I needed to push me into trying to follow it as a career path.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Zach: Personally, I’ve been influenced by a lot of people. My dad has had a great influence on my work ethic. My older brother is a great example of perseverance—he’s a genius, but he had a tough time growing up. He is so smart. He’s one of those kids who had a bit of a stutter and people liked to pick on him. Now, he’s doing really well for himself, success wise. He’s the funniest guy I know and is truly my best friend. I love him so much.

Musically, it’s definitely John Mayer. He’s such a smart person, musically, and as a writer. He really owns his instrument. Looking at that confidence and watching him command an audience by himself is so inspiring. Because I think, especially in the modern music industry, it’s not easy to make good music, but it’s very easy to give into and rely on these modern production techniques. You lose some magic the more and more you lean to that side of the pendulum, especially live.

Watching John Mayer both live and in videos, and watching so many musicians in general on YouTube, you realize what really makes the superstars stand out. You look at Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, they’re playing these world arenas and the audience leaves feeling so good.

PC: That’s a great answer. You spoke about this a bit earlier, but you’ve had an interesting journey with your craft: you started writing at a young age, but left music behind while attending college. How difficult was that decision? How did you find your way back?
Zach: That’s an interesting question. It wasn’t a difficult decision at the time. I knew I wanted to play soccer in college. I knew I wanted to study real estate. In hindsight, I missed music a lot. I brought a cheap little acoustic guitar with me to my dorm room and I played it sometimes. It’s funny—I always had a guitar with me, even though I never really played it. Whenever I did play it, though, I felt so grounded. In retrospect, it was a very tough decision because of how full music makes me feel, but at the same time, it wasn’t even a decision because I was never a serious musician in high school.

I didn’t really think about it. I wasn’t like, “Real estate, music, real estate, music?” When I used to write, I would write it down on a piece of paper and throw it away. I never kept track of it—my lyrics, my chord progressions. I started doing that the summer that I decided I wanted to do music, and I never looked back. I never was like, “What’s going to be best for my future?” It was more like, “What’s going to be best for me?” That’s how I decided.

PC: What’s one thing that you know now that you wish you knew when you started your career?
Zach: Oh, man. There are a million things. Philosophically, I’m still learning today, and I’ll always be learning, but it’s about looking for the balance between being open to the opinion of others and being closed-minded and strong about your music. There’s a reason that all the greats were told no by everyone, including the people in their inner circle, and they still made it. There’s a reason that that’s the story of every single great artist. For example, Bob Dylan: when he switched to electric and his entire fan base gave him the finger, he said, “I’m still going to do this.” He was a great artist. It’s important to have that as an artist because there’s always going to be an audience for something. As long as you’re a strong person and artist and stand for something, it’s about finding that audience that needs you.

PC: You’ve got a new single out now. Tell us about “Tell Everybody I Don’t” and the inspiration behind the song.
Zach: Definitely. It’s a post-breakup song. I try to write about things that everybody is going through. I’ve been through a lot in my life, emotionally, and I’ve lost a lot of people. It’s given me this higher understanding that everyone goes through similar struggles. Everyone has hurt in the ways that the rest of the world has hurt. A lot of times, songs are the ideals of the human experience. I try to write about the realities of the human experience and the truth behind the curtain of what we’re all going through.

Yes, this song is a breakup song, but most breakup songs are either “I’m really happy that I did it, or I’m really sad. I miss you, blah blah blah.” It’s been written so many times. I wanted to write a song that was more honest and more of an expose of the reality is, “You know you made the right decision, but it’s okay that it still hurts a bit.” That’s where this line comes in: “Sometimes I think about you. Sometimes I don’t. On the days that I do, I’ll hurt. Sometimes I’ll think about you and sometimes I won’t. Sometimes I’ll think about you, and on the days that I do, I’ll tell everybody I don’t.” It’s like, “I’m trying to act cool and put on this face, but I still think about you. There’s a part of me that still hurts.” That was the inspiration behind the song.

PC: You’re gearing up for a huge 2020. When we look ahead to the rest of the year, what can fans expect?
Zach: A lot of new music. I’m trying to collaborate more with just artists that I like. I have a lot of stuff ready to get put out.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Zach: Avicii.

PC: First album you bought?
Zach: It’s All-American Rejects’ Move Along.

PC: First concert you attended?
Zach: The American Idiot musical.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Zach: That’s tough in the era of singles. I’d say the Beatles…more specifically, I’d say the White album. I love my brother so much, and he loved the Beatles. That was my first introduction to a full body of work. It’s such an amazing album.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Zach: Palladium.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Zach: I haven’t gone on the road yet but I just got a Switch. I think that’d be fun.

To keep up with Zach, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Stream “Tell Everybody I Don’t” today.