We’d Like to Introduce You to Zach Zeller & The Crooked Timbers

Zach Zeller is an old soul. He is alert and insightful far beyond his 25 years and these aspects live comfortably in his music. He paints beautifully delicate scenes through his choice of words and adept musicianship revolving around the elegance, subtleties and not so subtle intricacies of love. Zeller has succeeded in providing listeners with a rarity; real, organic and honest indie-folk music.

Zach took some time to speak with us here at UTG about his many creative outlets and what he’s been working on and preparing to share with the world. Read through and get acquainted with a genuine artist (for fans of Bowerbirds, Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s) and be sure to take advantage of a gift Zach has given us to share with you; his recent single “Limbs in a Fight” can be streamed and downloaded for free via Soundcloud after the interview. Enjoy!

When did you first become involved with music?
I first started playing guitar when I was seventeen. I would come home after school and teach myself chords out of a book my great grandfather gave me called ‘Roy Clark’s Deluxe Big Note Guitar Method Songbook’. I learned basic chords and song structure. From there I just experimented. I bought a banjo at a bluegrass festival from a guy named Sticky Fingers. I messed around on it and learned chords. I’m just fascinated with instruments and the different textures they bring to music. Listening to music and going to shows had always been a release for me. I felt like it was something I could do if I took a stab at it.

I first became involved with [bands] music around 2004 in Redding, CA. At that time, there was an amazing music scene. Venues like The Dip and The Space were bringing great acts to town. I went to shows every weekend and ended up meeting a lot of wonderful folks. I would meet one person who would introduce me to five more people and next thing you know, we had a band. Those friends have always been a part of my musical journey. We ended up all relocating to Chico, CA in 2007 to attend school and play to a bigger audience. From there we met even more supportive friends that continue to inspire me today.

What are some of the biggest influences that go into your sound and lyrical content?
With any song, I try to portray a mood. I’ve always been drawn to music that makes the listener feel something. Whether it’s disgust or admiration, I think it’s better to feel something rather than nothing at all. I often write the music first and lyrics second. Many times I’m in a certain mind frame, so the music will naturally reflect what I’m going to say. I listen to all styles of music, so that has a huge influence on my writing as well. I was recently listening to a lot of Washed Out, so a lot of the newer songs have a pulsating feel to them. Kind of like a steady heartbeat, which ended up working well with the lyrical content. I write the simplified version of the songs, but when the band gets a hold of them is when the ‘sound’ really takes form. Everyone in the band is from a different musical background, so it’s fun to see where the song ends up going in the end.

Who are some folk/indie artists that have been especially influential to you?
My friend Rick Barnett of Last Workhorse is a lyrical hero of mine. He’s able to craft melancholy imagery in such a beautiful and dynamic way. Jake Bellows of Neva Dinova is another singer/songwriter I look up to. Everything he writes, I love. There’s a huge list of musical inspiration, it could go on and on.

You’ve been involved in several projects but what is priority number one for you?
Priority number one is whatever project I’m in at that time. I feel I’m at my best when I dedicate myself fully to one project. At one point, I think I was playing/recording with five bands. It got to be too much. I was playing a lot of solo shows, but not writing any new material. That two year break from writing solo music was good though, because I learned a lot from the musicians I was playing with. I feel I became a better songwriter from playing with Harlowe & The Great North Woods. Those guys are the sweetest, most talented guys you’ll meet. I learned so much about dynamics and harmonization from them. Playing with Soft Crest was another great experience. I guess my solo music will always be top priority by default, but I’ll always be inspired to write by the musicians I’m surrounded with.

What’s the furthest you’ve expanded your sound between projects as far as genre bending from what you’re more comfortable or familiar with?
Soft Crest was the biggest leap out of my comfort zone for sure. It was a shoegaze/noise/rock band that I played electric guitar in for a couple of years. I had played with everyone in the band in past projects, but this one was different in the sense that noise and the lack of instrument definition was part of the band’s sound. I grew up listening to shoegaze and punk, but playing it was something else. Paul Harper wrote and recorded all the material. The other band members came in and played what was on the recordings. After the initial learning curve, I had a total blast. It was one of the funnest projects I’ve been a part of.

How did you come to the decision to add The Crooked Timbers to your solo project? How did you guys come together?
I’ve pretty much always had a backup band, but it was time to define the current lineup. The lineup we have now, has been playing together for about two years. The songs wouldn’t be what they are without everyone in the band. We came to the agreement to add a band name, so that’s what we did. Originally it was going to be Zach Zeller & The Rippers (inspired by Uncle Jesse of Full House) but then we decided on The Crooked Timbers.

You have 14 members listed on your Facebook, including yourself. Is this a revolving cast of characters or do you have 14 people on stage when performing live?
It’s a revolving lineup. It depends on who’s available and where the show is. I now live four hours away from Chico, so when we play shows where I live, it’s a different lineup. I keep the list going because everyone has contributed to the project’s sound at one time or another. I think it’s only right that everyone gets recognition for their contribution. Some people have played live, others have only been on recordings. I guess it’s a list of people that I can always count on to create art with. 

Zeller and some of the Crooked Timbers.

What are you currently working on?
The Crooked Timbers are currently working on a full length record. We’ve tracked drums, bass, trumpet and acoustic guitar so far. It will be the first album that features the whole as well as my first professionally recorded album. Our keys player Scott Barwick, is recording/producing the album at his studio, Origami Lounge in Chico, CA. We’ll be releasing it sometime in 2013. We all want it to be its best, so we’re not rushing, but for sure next year. I recently released a free EP on Bandcamp, Forever Wake. They’re tracks I recorded at my home and one of them will be recorded by the full band for the new album. It kind of gives listeners a taste for what’s to come on the full length.

How do you manage balancing your separate projects and keeping any one of them progressing forward?
I love listening to acoustic singer/songwriter music, but too much of anything gets old after awhile. Sometimes I need to let my hair down and listen to Sabertooth Zombie or Converge, something that’s going to put my gut in knots. It’s the same when it comes to writing/playing music. I have to have that balance between solo music and heavier projects. Although with The Crooked Timbers, it’s a great happy medium. It still possesses a singer/songwriter foundation, but with the band it’s much more heavy and dark than it’s been before. Ultimately, each project ends up benefiting the others in a positive way.

What can you tell me about Around Town Collective?
The ATC is a DIY artist collective. We do everything from recording, promotion, distribution, packaging, etc… At the time of its conception, I was living with my band-mates. We were playing shows, recording, painting and writing every day. We wanted to share these things with as many people as possible and meet new artists along the way. It’s been a lot of fun seeing friends’ projects come to life and having that support system. We have The Crooked Timbers album as well as a new Last Workhorse album set to release next year. This is our fifth year in existence and every year is full of exciting projects and events. 

Any touring plans in the works?
A tour with the full band would be amazing. Nothing in the works yet, but when the album’s finished that could change. I’m sure we’ll play shows here and there while recording though.

What do you hope listeners gain from experiencing your music?
If the lyrics speak to them or the music moves them, that’s fantastic! I’ve never been a fan of music that preaches to the listener. I usually write lyrics down, not really knowing what they mean. Later in life, I can see how those lyrical images were mirroring the personal experiences at that moment in time. Those same lyrics could mean something completely different to someone else and that’s really cool. I’ll never be able to wrap my head around the musical experience and I absolutely love that.

Do you have a favorite lyric that you’ve written that may hold the most personal weight for you?
The three songs on the new EP are quite personal. I wrote the songs at the end of 2011 and they’re all centered around the concept of death. 2012 ended up being the most difficult year, because I lost so many loved ones. The songs were almost foretelling what was in the year to come. Yet again, another concept I’ll never be able to fully understand.

So you’re no longer living in Chico, CA but what kind of effect did a small college town like that have on your music?
I moved from Chico to the coast about a year ago. Chico was nothing but positive in every way. The town is, and I think will always be, a hidden gem. It’s full of some of the most talented and artistic people you’ll ever meet. It’s a community that fully embraces the arts. I met a lot of great friends through Chico State as well as the local music scene. That sense of community has probably had the biggest impact on my music. When you get like-minds together and share ideas, that’s when amazing things can happen.

If you could work with any artist currently in business, who would it be and why?
I would have to go back to Jake Bellows. He’s one of those guys who I feel creates music for the right reasons. You can tell he’s a musically passionate guy and wants to bring the listeners together. It’s been a dream of mine to do a split with him. Maybe someday our paths will cross.

How has being involved with music changed you as a person?
I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it weren’t for the experiences I’ve gained through music. I’ve become a better communicator through creating music with band-mates. I’ve gained and lost some amazing friends, who have had an everlasting impact. I’ve learned that there are so many talented people in the world and I hope to meet as many as I possibly can in my lifetime. Music is my passion and I’m glad I’m stuck with it. 

What is your primary goal for this project?
My primary goal for The Crooked Timbers is to make meaningful music. We have a lot of fun creating music together, but I think we all feel it’s more than just a few dudes jamming out and playing shows. Everyone in the band very much ‘feels’ music and wants to portray that to the listener. I want to share that to as many people as possible, whether it’s coming to shows or streaming it online. As long as the listener takes something from it, I’ll continue writing music.


Exclusive FREE download of “Limbs in a Fight”!

Also, we suggest listening to his new Forever Wake EP. If you like what you hear, please make a purchase!

 
Written and conducted by: Brian Lion Follow him on Twitter.

Brian Leak
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