When it comes to production on albums, sometimes it is hard to even know what the artist sounds like anymore. Technology has created an era where anyone can record an album with all of the bells and whistles, for better or worse.
Folk country artist Zachary Lucky knew that for his latest album, The Ballad of Losing You, he wanted to strip things down.
“It got a very poor review from this one blog in the U.K. when I released it and it made me real sad, but the whole shtick was that they said it didn’t sound modern,” said Lucky one the phone just before playing a gig in Windsor, Ont.
Lucky said he thought about the review for a few days and eventually realized it was a backhanded compliment.
“That is exactly what I was trying to do, was make an anti-modern record. I wanted to make something that resembled the music I was enjoying,” he said.
Lucky said when he went to record the album he didn’t really have a lot of it planned out, but a non-negotiable point for him was that they would do the whole record analog.
He said he had been listening to a lot of older bluegrass and country records, knowing that these musicians had just been sitting in a room together making music with no special effects and it really inspired him.
“I don’t think we could have made that record not on tape, it wouldn’t have turned out the same way. Every instrument was played on every song, front to back. It just felt like a very organic experience. You’ve got to approach music in a way that makes you comfortable,” he explained.
And part of that approach to music for Lucky is being on the road, the reason he said he first got into music. He said he grew up seeing bands come to his hometown of Saskatoon every week that were doing huge tours and playing every night.
There was something about that lifestyle that was attractive to Lucky.
“I could be pushing papers at some desk and wasting my days away doing something I don’t like, and the fact that I get to be out here doing this is incredible,” Lucky said. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll keep doing this or how many records I’ll put out. It is just one day at a time and I’m thankful for every single day.”
When he isn’t on the road he calls Saskatchewan home, a place he described as having a huge part of his heart. This is no surprise given that the title of his last album is Saskatchewan.
He described the province as an interesting place, stuck between Alberta and Manitoba basically in the middle of nowhere.
“It sort of creates this sense of self-reliance just having to get by with what you have and take inspiration from the people around,” said Lucky. “I may leave Saskatchewan one day but it will always be a part of who I am as a person and as a songwriter too.”
You can catch Lucky perform at Legacy Guitar and Coffee House Nov. 21.
