In a candid interview Grammy winner Zach Bryan opened up about his reluctance to be labelled as a “country musician”. Despite his success on the country charts, Bryan wants to be recognised for his songwriting rather than being confined to one genre.
During the conversation with Bruce Springsteen, Bryan explained, “I don’t want to be a country musician. Everyone calls me that. I want to be a songwriter, and you’re quintessentially a songwriter.” Although Bryan’s songs, like ‘Something in the Orange’ and ‘I Remember Everything’ with Kacey Musgraves, have dominated country charts, he craves the freedom to explore different musical styles.
Image Courtesy: Rolling Stone
Bryan admires Springsteen for his genre-blending career and shared why he considers him a lifelong hero. He noted that Springsteen has never been restricted to one musical lane, which is something Bryan aspires to in his own career. This flexibility, according to Bryan, is what makes Springsteen’s work so powerful and timeless.
Reflecting on his early days in music, Bryan recalled telling his managers that he wanted to create music that defied categorisation. He said, “I want to be in a lane where, when people look back, they can listen to my music and it’s supremely whatever you were doing.”
Image Courtesy: Rolling Stone
Bryan further praised Springsteen, saying, “No one calls Bruce Springsteen a freaking rock musician. You’re also an indie musician, you’re also a country musician. You’re all these things encapsulated in one man. And that’s what songwriting is.”
In response, Springsteen complimented the “energy” Bryan brings to his performances, acknowledging that Bryan transcends genre boundaries with his work.
-Sushmita Sarkar