If you have not already been following the career of rising blues rock artist Zach Person, you should prepare yourself to hop onboard and buckle in for his inevitable rise to the top.

A multi-instrumentalist, powerhouse vocalist, and the flagship artist of BlackDenim Records, Person has achieved a long list of accomplishments to date. From appearing on season 15 of American Idol to going onto becoming a House of Blues Music Forward alumni and representing the Houston Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge, Person has been working non stop at honing in on his craft and making music that speaks to both himself and his listeners.

Now, after his first self titled EP dropped last year and gave fans a taste of Person’s unique fusion of blues, rock and roll and indie folk groove, Person is ready to give everyone a full taste of his talent with his debut album. Featuring 11 tracks, including some of his previously released singles and an Elvis cover, the new album is sure to put Person on the map and captivate anyone who is looking to get lost in some brand new, full bodied music.

And though he has been extremely hard at work and staying busy over the past few months, we were fortunate to chat with Zach Person ahead of his debut album, to get to learn a bit more about the artist behind the music.

You can read our full interview below, and be sure to check out his debut album, Zach Person out this Friday.

Second Society Report: First off, thank you for taking the time to answer a few of our questions! Before we dive in though I wanted to start by just asking a simple how are you? I know that the world has been anything but normal the past year and so I think it’s important to take a second to check in and just see how everyone is doing? Hopefully staying safe/healthy! 

Zach Person: Definitely! I’ve been really fortunate to remain healthy throughout this entire pandemic. Funny enough, with the absence of shows and touring we’ve been busier than ever recording my new LP, shooting music videos, and  launching BlackDenim Records. It’s been quite a team effort to get to this point, but I feel we’re poised and ready for the upcoming year.

Second Society Report: Now you are gearing up for the release of your debut album on April 2nd which is rapidly approaching now. Can you give us a bit of a glimpse into the process of writing and recording the album? 

Zach Person: Yeah. When I write a song I like to be in a quiet space free from distractions. I usually have an acoustic guitar and pen and paper. I try to flesh out the whole song as much in my head as possible before picking up the guitar. Sometimes I’ll need to mess around with the guitar or a piano to get inspired, and then I can continue the process in my head / notebook.

Once I have the song completed and it feels good with just an acoustic guitar and my voice, I’ll start making demos and adding in bass, drums, and electronic elements. My drummer, Jake, always elevates my often “basic” percussion ideas, and makes the “pop.” Then it’s a process of recording, listening, tweaking, and repeat.

Second Society Report: A follow up to that- how was the process of writing and recording this record different from previous tracks you have released? Not to focus too much on the pandemic, but do you feel that the state of the world affected either the writing or recording in a way you may not have otherwise gone about it? 

Zach Person: Definitely. The events of 2020 inspired a handful of songs on the album. Songs like “Wanna Fly,” “How Long,” and “R.D.M.S. (Demo Version)” reflect some of the emotions of the past year throughout the pandemic. In the process of writing and recording this set of songs, I tried to dig deeper and take more of a confessional and storyteller approach.

Second Society Report: Of the unreleased songs on the album, do you have a favorite? Can we hear any more about it or what inspired any of the songs? 

Zach Person: There’s a song called “Crossroads” that means a lot to me. It was inspired by posing the question, “What would have happened if Robert Johnson had a second chance, or got to have a do-over at the crossroads?”. I’m a person of faith, so this song is a picture of what I’d envision my experience would be as a “modern” bluesman going down to the crossroads and being tempted by the “devil.”

Second Society Report: I know you have shared that you are inspired by artists such as Lenny Kravitz and The Black Keys- what specifically about their music/style catches your eye and how do you think that inspiration is reflected in your music? 

Zach Person: I love the sound of fuzzy guitars! Combine that with fat drum grooves and hooky, catchy melodies and you can’t really go wrong in my opinion. That’s been the basis for a lot of my music.

Second Society Report: What would you like listener’s to take away from your music? This could either be a thought, a feeling, an experience, etc.

Zach Person: I’ve been fortunate to have experienced a lot of different cultures and music in my life thus far. Each music scene and genre has elements within them that resonate with me. The heavy longing of the blues, the excitement and untamed energy of rock, the mystical slide sounds of Americana and folk, the deep and meaningful story-telling of country, the bright, twangy licks of southern guitar styles, the soulful vocals and complex chords of Neo soul, and the “fat beats” and 808’s of hip-hop… Over the course of a show (or an album), my hope is that I can evoke all of these feelings in the listener, and create real moments that they can hold on to and treasure for a lifetime. With these tracks, I believe I accomplished just that!  

Second Society Report: Beyond your new album you have also had an impressive history between both appearing on American Idol and being a House of Blues Music Forward alumni. For readers who may not know, can you explain what the Music Forward program is/how it impacted your trajectory in music?

Zach Person: House of Blues Music Forward is an incredible organization that provides artist development and music industry career programs to empower the next generation of leaders and innovators. They offer a series of industry panels and workshops that help teach and prepare future, developing artists for having a career in the music and entertainment business. They also host a huge concert at the end of the course for all the artists on the main stage of House of Blues at each location around the country. They’re doing some really great things for young artists, and I’m glad to still be connected to them and participate in events that benefit the next generation of artists.

Second Society Report: If you could share one piece of advice for anyone looking to break into the music industry- specifically in the blues or rock sectors- what would you tell them?

Zach Person: Find what makes you unique, and then do the heck out of that. No one can out do you at being “You”!  Also, focus on songwriting. The earlier you start, the better. Without really good original songs, it’s nearly impossible to thrive as an artist in this industry. Focus on the song. A good song can knock down a lot of doors, and forgive a “less than perfect” voice, or recording / production!

Second Society Report: Are there any big plans beyond the debut release in the works for Zach Person in 2021 that fans should keep an eye out for?

Zach Person: I’ll be heading out for my first tour in Europe this August! I’m really looking forward to experiencing the reaction to my songs by European music fans. I hear they love “the blues”!

Second Society Report: Is there anything we haven’t asked that you’d like to share? 

Zach Person: Sure. Along with recording this album throughout the pandemic, my managers / partners and I founded BlackDenim Records. We’re an indie label based in Austin, TX, and I’m being positioned as its flagship artist. It was formed first and foremost as a way to protect my intellectual property (master recordings, etc.) and retain ownership of my music. We do have plans to expand the label and have been building out our team as things start to open up (post-covid). We hope to see great success this year for me as an artist and the label as a whole!

You can stream Person’s latest single “Can’t Stop Running,” out now, and be sure to stay tuned for the debut album Zach Person, out Friday April 2nd.

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