Artists to Watch #16

With a deep-rooted love for traditional music, Zach Top is poised to invigorate the country genre with his homage to classic sounds and authentic storytelling. Zach embodies the spirit of 90’s country legends, shaped by his upbringing in Sunnyside, WA listening to classic country music while driving around his family’s ranch tending to livestock. At the age of seven, he formed a band with his siblings called the Top Springs which set the stage for his musical ambitions.

Zach developed his bluegrass music skills by performing with several bands during his youth. He was a member of a family band for ten years, then played with North Country for four years, and subsequently joined Modern Tradition, which he encountered at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards. Modern Tradition went on to win the International Band Contest at the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America (SPBGMA) conference in 2017.

Honky-Tonk dreams took him to Nashville in 2021, where he secured a crucial publishing deal with Bob Doyle’s Major Bob Music.

In the dynamic world of music, crossover artists often bring a fresh wave of creativity and innovation. This was clearly demonstrated in 2022 when Top unveiled a self-titled album that was a remarkable intersection of genres and talents. Among the contributing musicians, Modern Tradition played a significant role in the project. Their collaboration birthed the standout track “Like It Ain’t No Thing,” which quickly gained momentum and acclaim, leading it to secure a top spot on the Bluegrass Today chart—an achievement signifying its resonation with fans and critics alike.

Even amidst this success in the bluegrass genre, Top was already looking beyond, aiming to cast a wider net across the musical landscape. His ambitions were leaning towards the country music scene, which is known for storytelling and connecting deeply with the audience on an emotional level. The move towards country was not just a shift in musical direction but represented an artist’s desire to evolve and to resonate with a new audience.

This narrative of artistic growth and the bridging of genres captured a snapshot of Top’s musical evolution. It signaled a promising future, one where Top could leverage his bluegrass success as a springboard into the rich, storied world of country music like numerous artists before him.

Since then, Zach has established himself as an artist to watch, being asked to perform at the Grand Ole Opry several times, where he debuted his first country single, “Cold Beer & Country Music.” While at the Opry, he also got the opportunity to join Vince Gill on the historic stage to perform “One More Last Chance” which also led to the two writing the song “Love Ain’t No Love Song, Baby” together.

Zach has a staggering five cuts on Joshua Hedley’s new album, Neon Blue (Country & Western, Down To My Last Lie, Free (One Heart), Found In A Bar, and Wonder If You Wonder). He’s also the young-gun collaborator to guys like Carson Chamberlain (a #1 songwriter, producer, and musician whose worked with Keith Whitley, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, and George Strait); Paul Overstreet (a two-time Grammy winner and Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame Inductee); Tim Nichols (Grammy winner for Best Country Song and Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee); Mark Nesler (George Strait, Tim McGraw, Billy Currington, Keith Urban); Gary Harrison (Deana Carter, George Strait); and Michael White (Blake Shelton).

Fresh off the release of his debut single, “Sounds Like The Radio,” Zach is excited to reveal that his debut album, Cold Beer & Country Music, is set for release on April 5. A testament to Zach’s unwavering commitment to authenticity, Zach co-wrote every song on the album to help further his personal connection with fans. Renowned producer and songwriter Carson Chamberlain collaborated with Zach to bring the album to life as sole producer on the project. 

Previously touring with Ashley McBryde, Zach is set to join CMA Award Winners Luke Bryan, Brothers Osborne and Lainey Wilson on their respective 2024 tours.

Label: Leo33
Hometown: Sunnyside, WA
Current City: Nashville, Tennessee
Hot Release (s): “Sounds Like The Radio”; “Bad Luck”; “Cold Beer & Country Music”
Musical Influences: George Strait, Keith Whitley, Marty Robbins, Randy Travis
If You Like: Parker McCollum, Jake Owen, Luke Combs
KEEP UP WITH ZACH TOP:
www.zach-top.com www.facebook.com/zachtopmusic www.youtube.com/@zachtop Instagram: @zach_top
TikTok: @ZachTop