Americana’s newest star, Zach Day, has dropped his debut full-length album, Throw Away The Pin. From the heartlands of Indiana, his music, therefore, rightly reflects the state’s roots in both blues and country, encompassing every one of those influences into a unique sound that speaks with authenticity and raw emotion.
It all started for Zach in Indiana, influenced by the soulful sounds of blues legends such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Walter Trout, and BB King. Raised amidst the cornfields, his parents opened an all-ages blues club. That and similar experience provided invaluable experience and a platform for him to develop his craft, quickly developing a loyal following.
This is Zach‘s full-length debut, and his capacity for harnessing storytelling is truly remarkable. In true Americana fashion, where inspiration is gathered from the everyday story and experience, each track on the album sheds further light on Zach’s world. Something that becomes immediately clear with the first song on the album, Throw Away The Pin, is that it represents the idea of rebellion or fighting against society’s constraints. “They held us under water, until we couldn’t breathe,” he sings in powerful sentiment: liberated from choking traditions.
In tracks such as “Outlaw Girl” and “Ellie,” the listener gets an idea of how well Zach can bring the raw honesty of country lyricism together with blues guitar. “Outlaw Girl” tells of a woman who just couldn’t let go of her past and had an itch for redemption. In contrast, “Ellie” is more about love and loss, but with really haunting melodies. These songs bring out Zach Day’s ability to create vivid, relatable narratives.
This is something definitely equated with some of the greats in this category, like Tyler Childers and Zach Bryan. These guys bring out compelling storytelling with deep emotion. However, the sound is uniquely Zach’s, a synthesis of blues, alt-country, and Americana that speaks to the spirit of the small-town everyman.
Other album highlights include a rootsy, neo-traditionalist reworking of “Ramblin‘” for the album’s brief, aching opener, while “Buy Your Way to Hell” is a true-to-form, hard-edged tale about redemption and consequence. The entire album is full of the small detail needed to transport the listener into another place in time.
It has always been a journey for Zach Day, filled with passion and perseverance. This power to connect with the audience underlines his authenticity as an artist. This, to him, is the success built on the lives and audiences he has been able to shape with his songs. As Zach continues to pave his way in the music industry, Throw Away The Pin is a foreshadowing of what’s to come. The album is out now on streaming services, so readers can get on board with Zach on this journey through the heart and soul of America.
Play Zach’s album here: