Interview with zach top
Some interviews feel special right from the very first moment - and this one truly was, because I never thought I’d get the chance to talk to Zach Top. I’ve already had the opportunity to see him live twice, and every time he steps on stage, it reminds me why I adore his music so much. His sound, his storytelling, and his deep respect for traditional country music make him an artist I keep coming back to - and one I genuinely can’t wait to see again. Being able to say that I’ll basically see him three more times (five times in total) feels absolutely incredible.
Sitting down with Zach for this interview felt less like ticking something off a list and more like a moment I wished could have lasted longer. He’s genuinely kind, incredibly grounded, and someone I admire deeply as an artist.
If you haven’t secured your tickets yet, make sure not to miss out on seeing him live. TICKETS HERE
Check out the whole interview by listening to the video or read the whole interview! Enjoy
Country Live Switzerland: Hi, Zach.
Zach Top: Hey, Ana-Larina. How are you?
CLS: Hi, so nice to meet you. I’m great. How are you?
Zach Top: I’m doing well. Nice to meet you as well. Thank you for taking the time.
CLS: Thank you so much, and happy New Year too.
Zach Top: Happy New Year as well.
CLS: I keep forgetting that it’s already New Year’s.
Zach Top: Yeah, and I don’t know where the last one went, but I guess we’re here now.
CLS: You had a great year last year — winning the CMA Awards. That must have felt good.
Zach Top: Yes, ma’am.
CLS: Are you happy about that?
Zach Top: Yeah, absolutely. I’m very excited. I wouldn’t say the awards are a measure of success by any means, but it’s fun when your peers and other people in your industry give you a pat on the back and let you know you’ve had a great year. It feels really nice, so I was very excited about it.
CLS: That’s great. I was very happy for you too.
Zach Top: Thank you.
CLS: But when was the moment you realized that your time is right now?
Zach Top: I would say probably since we put out the first album, Cold Beer & Country Music. It’s felt like that to me ever since. But the moments just keep stacking on top of each other. It feels like that.
Once we put out the “I Ain’t In It For My Health” record at the end of August and kicked off our fall tour, the first two shows we played were two sold-out nights at Red Rocks in Colorado. I got to have my whole family there and a bunch of friends, and that felt big time. Cause the only other time I’d played that venue was as the first of three openers, with a 25-minute set opening for Dierks Bentley. So coming back the very next year to play two sold-out nights of our own felt like, dang, this thing is for real. People actually love it, and it’s not going away. That was a big moment for me, for sure.
CLS: Amazing. That venue is special. It’s my dream venue to visit.
Zach Top: Oh yeah, you’ve got to make it over and see it.
CLS: I will.
Zach Top: It’s incredible.
CLS: Hopefully I’ll see you play there again one day.
Zach Top: There we go — absolutely.
CLS: That’s my goal. Your music, to me, is how traditional country should sound. It really goes in that direction compared to a lot of more mainstream country artists. Was that always your style, or did it evolve over the years?
Zach Top: No, ever since I can remember, this is the kind of music I’ve wanted to make. I’ve always had a pretty traditional view of country music. It feels like there are some components you can’t make country music without — fiddle, steel guitar, things like that.
That’s just who I am. When I open my mouth or play my guitar, that’s what comes out. I’m not really able to do anything else. I’m glad people are enjoying it and that it’s working, because otherwise you’d be doing the same thing and making no money.
CLS: Just keep doing it — you’re amazing. You mentioned fiddle and steel guitar. Is that how you define country music?
Zach Top: Not necessarily. There’s a lot of great country music that doesn’t include those things. But for me, when I’m making country music, I love hearing a fiddle and a steel guitar. There are certain things I can’t do without.
Take Don Williams, for example — a country music icon with almost no fiddle on his recordings, and not much steel guitar either. He used a lot more Dobro. So there are different strokes for different folks. That’s still as country as it gets to me. I just know what I want when I make a record.
It’s hard to define, and I don’t want to draw hard lines around what country music is. The lines get very blurred.
CLS: Storytelling is also really important.
Zach Top: That’s probably the most important piece to me — a good story in a song.
CLS: When you’re writing, do you start with lyrics or with a sound in mind?
Zach Top: It always changes. Most commonly, it starts with a title or hook. With “I Never Lie,” we had the title first, built the chorus around it, and then wrote the verses to support it. That’s a pretty traditional way of writing a commercial song.
But then you take a song like “Dirt Turns to Gold,” which we just started from the beginning and running with it. Sometimes it starts with a guitar lick that I think is cool. They all come from different places and you never know where the inspiration is gonna strike.
CLS: That’s the good part about being creative!
Zach Top: I guess so.
CLS: Since you mentioned “I Never Lie,” I have to ask — do you sleep like a baby?
Zach Top: Sometimes. Depends. laughs
CLS: I’m sorry — I had to. I love that song.
Zach Top: Thank you. I appreciate that. It’s one of my favorites I’ve ever written.
CLS: What’s your favorite song?
Zach Top: That one’s definitely up there. I wouldn’t have picked it to be the hit if you lined up all the songs on that first record. I thought some others might be more palatable. So it was funny to see how big it became, but I’m so glad it did.
“Use Me” I think is one of my favorites. “Between the Ditches” from the new album is a big one, I love that. “When You See Me” as well, and “Guitar”. I love them all — it’s like picking a favorite kid. But those are a few highlights for me.
CLS: We don’t have much time left, but I’m so excited you’re coming to Switzerland.
Zach Top: That’s awesome. We’re really excited too. Our first taste of international touring was Australia last March, and it opened my eyes. I was scared at first — it’s expensive, and you don’t know if people you know or will show up.
But after Australia, I thought, if people around the world love our music, I need to go play for them. This is our first little journey over, and hopefully the first of many.
CLS: Have you been to Switzerland before?
Zach Top: Yes. My oldest sister and her husband lived in Zurich for four or five years while he was working on his PhD. We visited Zurich and Zermatt — it’s a beautiful country. I can’t wait to be back.
CLS: You know where to go, then.
Zach Top: We’re going to have a ball.
CLS: I’ll see you at C2C — maybe Berlin and London too.
Zach Top: You’re going to get an overdose then.
CLS: A good one. As a Swiss country fan, it used to feel impossible to see artists live. Now I look at lineups and realize how many I’ve already seen. It’s a passion.
Zach Top: That’s great to hear. We’re excited to bring the music over.
CLS: Are you already writing new songs?
Zach Top: Oh yeah. January and February are all about writing for the next record.
CLS: I’m excited.
Zach Top: Same here.
CLS: Never stop.
Zach Top: I don’t plan to.
CLS: The Swiss crowd can be a bit reserved.
Zach Top: I’ve heard that, but we’re really excited to be over there.
CLS: You’ll hear me screaming and singing along.
Zach Top: I love it. Thank you for taking the time — hopefully we’ll meet in Zurich.
CLS: Thank you so much, Zach. It was great to meet you.
Zach Top: Absolutely. See you.
