I wasn’t changing out songs every Sunday, that went along with it. I thought I was going to
either, we weren’t always doing a brand new be a famous rock star and I thought I had to live
song every week. We were getting these songs hard and party all the time to get that. But that
down before we were moving on to anything can only really last for a season, you just can’t
else. But you know, we do, we spend a lot of live like that and be successful.
time practicing songs for these tours and less
time practicing for Sunday worship. I think we For me, I came to a place in my life where I
should probably take more time and give our couldn’t go on, I couldn’t do it anymore on my
best to the Lord. own, and I knew that I was going to have to
make a commitment to follow the Lord if I was
[WM] As I was listening to Live from Harding going to get better. Luckily there was a song by
Prison I have to admit that I was kind of hoping Big Daddy Weave that I heard while I was touring
to hear some sort of ‘Slash-infused’ guitar solos. Europe, that just spoke to me and stopped me
Ironically, as I was checking out Zach Williams [WM] Your testimony is pretty amazing for a in my tracks and put me on a whole new course
and the Reformation, Luther Dickinson’s solo couple of reasons. First of all, you were kind for life. I know that if it had not been for that
on “Fallen Angel” was exactly that sound of a jock and in fact you got a scholarship as a moment, and just for me committing my life to
that I was hearing in my head. Lead guitar is basketball player, but broke your ankle the day the Lord, that I wouldn’t have the opportunities
obviously something that has been in your before your first game. Your roommate had a and be where I’m at today, or be doing this at all.
playbook. Getting back to the whole Christian guitar, and the rest is history. Can you connect Rock artist thing, how conscious was the ‘no the ‘God dots’ of your journey for us?
wailing guitar solos’ thing, and do you miss
having that decoration in your arrangements?
[WM] You mentioned touring, do you mind
if I ask what you do to prevent yourself from
[Zach] For me I grew up in church, my dad slipping into ‘old ways’ when you’re out on
led church as a worship leader, so I was around the road?
[Zach] I can’t go full force into that just yet, music my whole life. I want to think that when I I’ve got to ease people into that kind of music was young I made a commitment to follow the [Zach] We try to stay grounded. Obviously,
in the CCM world. So maybe on my third record Lord, but as I got older there was nothing in devotionals and things like that, spending our
we’ll be playing some of those blistering solos. my life that resembled any kind of relationship own personal time in the word and journaling.
other than just getting up and going to church The biggest thing is you’ve just got to put
[WM] Speaking of Classic Rock-infused because my parents made me. When I got yourself out and surround yourself with people
Christian music, you’re going to be doing some older I made some bad decisions and things who are going to be accountable for you, and
touring with label mate Matt Maher, what a hadn’t worked out as I had hoped. And they be partners, and who have the same things
great combination! Are you guys going to do shouldn’t have, I had completely lost sight of in common with you. When you’ve got that
some songs together and has there been any God and everything that my parents had taught around you it makes it easy not to slip back
talk about a deeper collaboration than just me. You know, I picked up that guitar and into old ways.
a tour? I taught myself to play, and I fell in love with
music, but I fell in love with the lifestyle as well
[WM] Congratulations on your American
[Zach] Actually we are, we’re going to open Music Awards nomination. Ironically, you’re
the night together with just an acoustic guitar getting the recognition as a Christian artist that
and a piano. Then we’re going to close the is dwarfing what happened when you were in
night with both bands on stage and everyone the mainstream. That photo with John Mayer at
playing a couple of songs together. It’s going the Grammy’s is pretty surreal. Does it ever feel
to be fun. Honesty Matt and I have been trying strange to be rewarded for what God is doing
to get together all summer to write a song in your life?
together, and every time we have time in the
books something has happened. I’ve got a [Zach] You know it does, but I think at the
feeling when we finally get the chance to sit same time it’s just God’s blessings for us being
down and write… something good is going to faithful. He wants these things for us more
come from it. than we want them for ourselves. It feels odd
sometimes, especially when you or your media
November 2018
WorshipMusician.com
21