We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zach Neil a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Zach , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I’ve been blessed to make a living writing, traveling and performing music for awhile now. Like any job, some days are easier than others, but I’m grateful to do what I love, and when a song or a live performance connects with an audience, its very rewarding!

Zach , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was supposed to have been a farmer. Farming was the family business and still is, but when I was 16 years old, my country band entered a “Battle of the Bands” competition at our high school and tied for first place. We didn’t tie for first place because we were one of the best, but because we were different. While the other kids were playing rock music, we were playing classic country hits. I soon found the confidence to take the work ethic I acquired from my family and focus on a career in music.

I moved to Nashville shortly after graduating and have been a singer, songwriter and live performer ever since. I try to put my own twist on traditional country music and tell stories people can relate to.

I broke into the Texas Music Scene in 2019 and have not looked back. I feel very fortunate to have been named the 2022 Texas Country Music Association’s Male Artist of the Year, and I now have five consecutive Top 40 Texas country singles.

Previous Top 40 Texas country singles are: “When She Drinks Whiskey” (2019); “Something In The Stars” (2020); “Half Bad” (2021); and “Long Live The Cowboy” (2022). My latest single is, “All The Pretty Horses,” and it metaphorically takes us on a journey as horses break loose and run free. “All The Pretty Horses” integrates cinematic drama and heartfelt poetry. People have really responded to it, and it became a Top 20 hit for us.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’m always trying to write the best songs I can and make the best recording of them I can and then giving the best live performance of those songs that I can. I guess you could shorten that to taking pride in what I do.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love music and have so much being on a stage playing for people. But, when its most rewarding is when someone tells you how a song or a concert helped them get through something in their lives. That’s when its most rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: zachneilmusic.com
• Instagram: @zachneilmusic
• Facebook: @zachneilmusic
• Youtube: @zachneilmusic

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