The man, the myth, the legend– Zach Top.
Undoubtedly, the 27-year-old hit-maker has become the face of the 90’s country revival, and he can’t be praised enough for it. Last year marked his rise to fame with several viral hits, the release of an album, and the announcement of his highly anticipated tour. It’s been fun to watch country music history unfold in front of our eyes with this fast-rising legend.
When people hear “Zach Top,” they think of prominent hits from his album Cold Beer and Country Music, like “I Never Lie,” “Bad Luck,” and “Use Me.” While many consider this album to be his debut, and it certainly put him on the map, he has an earlier EP that deserves some recognition, too.
Before becoming the mustache-wielding icon he is today, Top’s career began with singles that showcase his bluegrass roots, including “In a World Gone Wrong” (2019) and “I Don’t Mind” (2021). Finally, on May 13, 2022, he blessed the world with the release of his self-titled EP, Zach Top. While loved by hardcore fans, it still remains criminally under-streamed and unhighlighted. Later that same year, he dropped singles like “Cold Beer and Country Music,” “There’s The Sun,” and “Bad Luck,” which seemed to have stolen the spotlight from his earlier work.
If there’s one thing to be said about Top, he’s one hell of a guitar player, and these skills shine through on this quintessential bluegrass album. He’s been a prodigy on the strings since he was a kid, and scrolling back on his social media is a goldmine of his raw talent over the years. One video that resurfaced on TikTok shows a young Top, just 12 years old, banging on the guitar with his band of siblings, Top String.
Top also had stints with bands like North Country and Modern Tradition, and the eight-track album is a fierce reflection of these roots. His signature smooth twang lends itself extremely well to the pairing of a lively fiddle and upbeat guitar. If “Bad Luck” gets your foot tapping, then you need to add “I Don’t Mind” to your playlist. Its fast-paced plucking and captivating harmonies will have you hooked. “Showboat Gambler” showcases the most rapid tempo out of all the tracks, with a classic electric bluegrass beat, but for a slower, melancholic tune,
“Three Sheets to the Wind” is a personal favorite with its strung-out fiddle that captures the lonesome blues feel perfectly. And, of course, “Forget You” can’t be forgotten with its catchy chorus and rhythmic low bass fiddle that’ll be stuck in your mind for weeks.
Although he’s become a staple in honky-tonk country, it’s clear that Top wants to preserve the bluegrass sound in his music throughout his career. His upcoming collaboration with Billy Strings, Me and Billy Live, set to release on February 28, promises three more bluegrass tracks. Fans of his early work will also be happy to know that he’s performing his original singles, “I Don’t Mind” and “In a World Gone Wrong,” along with covers like “Don’t Cheat in Our Hometown” on his Cold Beer and Country Music tour. So, if you’re lucky enough to have snagged tickets, be sure to study up on these gems before the show.
Check out some of Zach Top’s first released songs below: