Viral Star Zach Bryan Is Working with Producer Dave Cobb
The team assembling around viral country songwriter Zach Bryan continues to be stocked with top shelf talent. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native shocked the country music world on August 23rd when he released a completely self-produced and self-distributed solo acoustic record called DeAnn, and it began racking up incredible streaming numbers simply off of word of mouth promotion and the power of Zach Bryan’s songs. Soon labels, managers, and publishers were in hot pursuit of the young star, despite him being a full-time active duty Naval enlistee committed to the military for the foreseeable future.
On Tuesday (11-12), Zach Bryan revealed that he’s been working with Grammy-winning producer extraordinaire Dave Cobb in the studio. Zach tweeted out a photo of himself in a studio control room with Dave Cobb hovering over the mixing board, and a couple of days previous Zach posted pictures of the famous RCA dog statue that hangs out in Dave Cobb’s haunt of RCA Studio ‘A’ in Nashville. Saving Country Music has since been able to confirm that Zach Bryan is indeed working with Dave Cobb on music.
In early October it was revealed that Zach Bryan had signed with WME for representation. WME is the preeminent name for booking in country music, also representing names like Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert, and Garth Brooks, along with more independent-minded outfits like Blackberry Smoke and Parker McCollum—the latter of whom helped Zach Bryan’s ascent by supporting the songwriter on social media early on.
It also appears that Zach Bryan is working with manager Danny Kang. Kang is the guy that swept in and started managing Mason Ramsey when the “Wal-Mart yodel kid” and his cover of “Lovesick Blues” went mega viral in the spring of 2018. He did the same with Lil Nas X as “Old Town Road” was making it big, and now manages both viral artists.
It’s way too preliminary to determine when we might hear the results of the efforts between Zach Bryan and Dave Cobb, but chatter has the songwriter has either signed or is close to signing a deal with Columbia Records or another major label outfit. In the meantime Zach Bryan has posted a new song and video called “Old Man,” which once again exemplifies his incredible talent with words and melody (see below).
The one criticism some listeners had with Zach Bryan’s breakout record was the lack of production. Though the 6-time Grammy winner has had his hits and misses over the years, Dave Cobb is definitely considered one of the best in the business.
Conrad Fisher
November 12, 2019 @ 7:48 pm
Dave Cobb is a predictable choice.
I do not understand this type of hookless, musically meandering songwriting that seems to be in vogue right now. This would not have worked 40 years ago, and it won’t work 40 years from now.
Paul Walker
November 12, 2019 @ 8:23 pm
Find me the hook in “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain.” It’s not exactly the most innovative musically either. Simple songs with powerful words will always have a place in music
Conrad Fisher
November 12, 2019 @ 9:05 pm
Maybe not innovative, but memorable enough, and pleasant. Also, the lyric comes at you slow enough to comprehend and enjoy without needing to dig through word salad. Maybe its just personal taste, but I believe we’ll still be singing Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain in 50 years and will have all but forgotten a lot of what has been coming down the pike lately.
Bri
November 12, 2019 @ 9:52 pm
“We’ll still be singing Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain in 50 years and will have all but forgotten a lot of what has been coming down the pike lately.”
Isn’t that always the case though? The best and most memorable songs/albums have the staying power to last decades, whereas the forgettable ones sink to the bottom. “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” is a classic Willie song that will always be remembered. The same can’t be said for some of his other songs, such as “It Could Be Said That Way” or “Samba for Charlie”…
Similarly, I think that a lot of modern stuff will be forgotten, but the very best of this generation will be remembered for decades onward. Only time can tell what those songs/albums will be.
Evan
November 12, 2019 @ 9:59 pm
“Tennessee Whiskey” and “Feathered Indians” and “Wagon Wheel” and “Beautiful Crazy” will be remembered.
Kevin Smith
November 13, 2019 @ 5:16 am
Im not a fan of the overly windy meandering style either. But I have listened to a fair amount of Dylan in my time and it seems to me he specialized in that style, and for better or worse , is an icon today. You could say he made millions writing extremely wordy, meandering tunes often without a solid hook.( Thats not to say Bob didn’t write some amazing tunes, he did for sure.)
And of course, Zach is influenced by Childers and Felker who are also known for the same. And your right Conrad, it’s quite in vogue right now with this current generation. Ask folks why they like it and usually you hear the word “heartfelt” thrown around. I suppose, in the mind of the fans of this stuff, its “who cares about the music structure, hooks, memorable chorus, melody etc; its heartfelt and that is more important. “
Heyday
November 13, 2019 @ 6:40 am
Two words: Marty Brown. I remember a time he was considered The Next Big Thing in country music because folks saw his music as “heartfelt.” I would posit that one of the attractions of Bryan’s music (and I, too, find it largely a word salad) is that with years of country songs written by and for focus groups, then over-produced to within a hair of its life and marketed like Coke or Chevrolet, people have forgotten what “heartfelt” actually looks and sounds like. ALL art, be it painting, sculpting or songwriting, requires editing and this guy needs an editor. And the simple fact is, there are songwriters out there you’ve never heard of who are better than this guy, but Dame Fortune has chosen him, for some reason. I hope he makes it, learns to edit and that Dave Cobb can figure out a way to make his songs not all sound like the same song.
Conrad Fisher
November 13, 2019 @ 7:31 am
@Kevin
I think what you said about our generation craving authenticity about sums it up.
MH
November 13, 2019 @ 7:06 am
Ok, boomer.
Conrad Fisher
November 13, 2019 @ 8:58 am
Don’t ok boomer me. I’m not even crowding thirty.
Trigger
November 13, 2019 @ 9:38 am
I just don’t think this music is “hookless” or “meandering” at all. If you listen to the song above, it’s got great structure, and the “Old Man” chorus is melodic and hooky. It just needs to be produced in a studio with a band for the music to really come out and sell itself. That is what a producer does. Give this kid some time.
Conrad Fisher
November 13, 2019 @ 3:26 pm
My over arching point is that none of these late Americana (country, if you prefer) darlings come close to touching the clarity of thought, musical sense, and skill in welding the English language like Kristofferson, Haggard, Cash, Bob Mcdill, Allen Reynolds, John Prine, Roger Cook, or Cowboy Jack (the list goes on…) We aren’t doing ourselves or country music any favors by lowering the standards. Maybe you don’t feel like we are. I don’t want to come off grumpy or cynical. I just don’t get the hubbub. Feels like a fad.
Cool Lester Smooth
November 14, 2019 @ 8:04 am
I’ll put Isbell up against any of them – and that includes catchiness.
Greg Green
November 19, 2019 @ 4:02 am
I think one of the great benefits of the old radio structure that required songs to be less than three minutes was that it forced the songwriters and musicians to get to the point quickly. You had to get that musical or lyrical hook in and established because literally a few minutes later the audience would be listening to a different song. It made the artists great self editors.
Trigger
November 19, 2019 @ 8:50 am
That’s sort of a double-edge sword though, right? It also made songs formulaic and often didn’t allow enough time for a story to develop.
Lizzie Kay
November 12, 2019 @ 7:50 pm
I don’t think I have heard a bad song from Zach Bryan yet. I think my favorite would have to be “From a Lover’s Point of View” or “Godspeed”. Truly hope that he keeps what makes him so unique, it is so refreshing to listen to him. I’ve listen to DeAnn multplie times and it never gets old and have recommended it numerous times to people.
Cameron
November 13, 2019 @ 7:57 am
kid has a lot of talent. But right. Ow he’s not unique. He’s imitating childers. Hopefully Cobb makes him find something that makes him unique.
Bill Goodman
November 13, 2019 @ 5:19 pm
Let’s hope any big label he may sign to make him come off as a Tyler clone and then he get all the credit for that sound and style despite Tyler doing it better and first.
NateEsq.
November 12, 2019 @ 9:10 pm
I, for one, am beyond thrilled.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
November 12, 2019 @ 9:16 pm
This guy is Tyler Childers, minus the everything.
Chef in Mpls
November 13, 2019 @ 3:59 am
Agree. Tyler Childers imitation. I do wish the kid luck though. Dave Cobb must see something unique in him.
Trigger
November 13, 2019 @ 9:42 am
The primary similarity between Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers is they’re finding success, which puts them on the wrong side of the hip, grassroots paradigm that loves to see their favorite artists continue to fail so their careers and songs can continue to be sold as having “soul.”
“I’ve heard all the stories of you back in your prime when you held all your pride in hand stains. ‘Cause you’d go to work for bread crumbs and dirt so your kids could stand tall in their names.”
If you can’t recognize the power of that songwriting, I feel sorry for you.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
November 13, 2019 @ 10:45 am
It takes more than a few sentimental lines (or even a song full of them) to make a great song that is delivered with a full package worthy of overnight major label and big time manager recognition. This guy needs to slow down, tour a bit, and come into his own sound and playing ability. Anything like this that is built on being viral and chasing a quick buck (like yodel kid) is on shaky ground.
As it relates to writing power, i literally just wrote the below in 1 minute….and I am at least as good as this guy on the guitar (not as young or good looking though). I may be in the wrong business…..
“You broke your back chasing broken dreams, but kept your head on high and gave us everything. The pain in your eyes, lord, to this day it gives me pain, but its with that fire that I carry on your name” (copyright 2019 Billy Wayne Productions)
Billy Wayne Ruddick
November 13, 2019 @ 10:50 am
*strain in your eyes….
Trigger
November 13, 2019 @ 11:55 am
The reason Zach Bryan is receiving overnight major label and big time manager recognition is due to one thing and one thing only: numbers. The guy’s numbers are incredible, even with no support behind him at all. You can pick holes in his writing all you want, but it’s resonating far and wide, and not just one song, but everything he releases. That is why the industry is so hot on his trail.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
November 14, 2019 @ 9:01 am
“the reason Zach Bryan is receiving overnight major label and big time manager recognition is due to one thing and one thing only: numbers”
That is exactly my point. It’s not based on talent, it’s based on the $ signs that the streaming numbers have put in the eyes of these folks. And the streaming numbers are high because on the surface he scratches that popular Childers itch right now, PLUS, he throws in more of a pop sensibility (Jason Mraz comes to mind, although not a perfect example) that is ripe for initial shares and clicks by people who think they are part of discovering the next “big thing”.
Going straight from his living room to the studio with Cobb is not a good thing for his career. He needs a few more years of coming into his own, then we will see if he’s ready for the big stage. Of course, that is just my opinion.
Billy Wayne Ruddick
November 17, 2019 @ 6:24 pm
As a follow up on the “power” song writing comment, listen to Blake Berglund’s “Crooked old Earth” for a true reference to top notch contemporary writing. He’s not a name known by SCM, but he’s one of the best songwriters out there today. None of this Zach Bryan “Follow you to Virgie” ripoff stuff.
albert
November 13, 2019 @ 2:21 am
man…. i share conrad’s bewilderment above . if i need a translator to listen to a song i’m already on to the next . this is pretty dreadful and i’d be embarrassed to post it . I hope its a decent lyric ….but i could never tell by this video .
Ryan
November 13, 2019 @ 7:07 am
Sometimes I regret reading the comment sections.
SnarkyAnarky
November 13, 2019 @ 7:34 am
my rule is ‘never read the comments’… but i obviously do…
Aaron
November 13, 2019 @ 8:20 am
I hope Dave Cobb doesn’t low-fi it to death like he did to the Highwomen record.
Saul V. Ambulando
November 13, 2019 @ 8:32 am
I don’t know why, but even though the Childers influence is obvious, I’ve enjoyed Zach Bryan more than Tyler. And based on what I’ve seen around here, I’m probably more enthusiastic about the Dave Cobb influence than most. I think I share his vision (or rather, ear) for what country “should” sound like – I love what he did with Colter Wall and hope for a similarly-focused collaboration with Zach.
Colter
November 13, 2019 @ 9:34 am
I guess I just don’t get him. I can’t figure out why everyone is so obsessed with him.
Blockman
November 14, 2019 @ 8:18 am
I agree. Can hear the same fare at any open-mic, low rent hostel or songwriter night. Maybe il become a big time YouTube country star too. Trig can you make me viril?
Cool Lester Smooth
November 13, 2019 @ 11:28 am
Cobb is a damn near perfect fit for his sound, honestly – he professionalizes the “guy with a guitar telling stories” sound, but doesn’t sterilize it.
Solely in terms of the production maximizing the material…this has Southeastern potential.
(Again, not talking about the quality – Southeastern might be my favorite album of the decade)
Jacob W.
November 13, 2019 @ 2:41 pm
Really, it does have a lot of potential and whatever record comes out of it I’m going to buy( outside of some sturgill type bullshit) it’s worth giving a shot.
Crum
November 13, 2019 @ 11:42 am
Cobb usually does better with singer-songwriter types. Ian Noe’s album sounds great, for example. Hopefully he approaches Bryan’s music the same way.
I like Bryan’s music, and enjoy most of the songs of his that I’ve heard, but I do think some of his lyrics can be repetitive and his guitar playing isn’t great. Hopefully that changes as his writing matures and develops his sound.
Blockman
November 14, 2019 @ 8:15 am
Maybe Cobb will get Zach on the dope and il have another record to fall asleep to like the Highwomen one.
Toddxolsen
November 14, 2019 @ 8:15 pm
Some people like Zach Bryan some people don’t.
Some people like fried chicken some people don’t.
The same can be said for every single thing on the planet.
If you don’t get Zach Bryan that doesn’t make him suck, or a Tyler Childers clone or whatever other nonsense you come up with. It just means he doesn’t fall in the bounds of your tastes.
There’s no arguing in matters of taste. Some of y’all are so tired.