Zach Bryan is putting a new perspective on country music and separating himself from the typical “bro” country on the radio.

On August 25, Bryan released a self-titled new album which grew popular very quickly. He finished his “Burn, Burn, Burn” tour on August 28, where he made $ 44 million according to Billboard magazine.

Bryan, from Oologah, Oklahoma, served seven years in the Navy, where he wrote his first song, “Heading South.”  On September 7, 2019, he recorded a video on his iPhone of him singing the song and uploaded it to YouTube. This video, that caught everyone’s attention with his raspy voice and emotional tone, was filmed outside of his Navy barracks in the 95-degree heat of Washington state, and currently has 23 million views. 

In 2021, Bryan was honorably discharged from the Navy to pursue his music career and signed a record deal with Warner Records. He has released five major albums so far; “Deann,” “Elizabeth,” “American Heartbreak,” “All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster,” and “Zach Bryan”. His most famous songs include “Something in the Orange,” “Sun to me,” “Heading South,” “Dawns” “Revival,” “Hey Driver,” “Tourniquet,” and “I Remember Everything,” a duet with country star Kacey Musgraves.

Juniors Olivier Lapointe and Gabriel Qureshi went to go see Bryan play in Quebec on July 19. Olivier loved the show, held at Plaines d’Abraham , and its intimacy.

“I liked the crowd and how everyone knew the words to his songs, which made the show better,” he said. “I also thought he sounded the same in the concert as he does in his songs.”

Olivier showed Gabriel Bryan’s music, which influenced him to go to the concert. Gabriel was very moved by the emotion Bryan conveys through his lyrics.

“His story telling is extremely good along with his performance at his concerts,” he says, “He has an amazing voice, and his songs are extremely touching.”

Bryan has a different style of music than other modern country music singers. He is more folk country rather than pop, like Morgan Wallen, Sam Hunt, and Luke Combs. On songs like “Hey Driver,” “Revival,” and “East Side of Sorrow,” he talks about friendships, his childhood, and love, rather than beer, whiskey and trucks.

Hudson Fulcher-Melendy, a senior day student, is a fan of Zach Bryan’s music and likes that the rising star is genuine, which makes him stand out compared to other country music artists.

“You can hear the lyrics better since his voice is less auto tuned,” he says, His music is more authentic and feels like you are hearing it live, which I like.”

Bryan has influenced people to discover other folk country music artists such as Tyler Childers and Kacey Musgraves.

Gabriel said Bryan has changed his listening preferences from pop to folk country.

” Before I went to his concert, I was more of a pop country guy, but Zach Bryan made me start listening to more folk country and now I love it.”

Olivier has seen a difference between Bryan’s music and other pop country artists and believes he is growing in the industry.

“He tells a story through his songs unlike most other country artists that talk about beer, women, and trucks,” he says, “He brings a different perspective.”

Bryans new album, “Zach Bryan,” tells his life story through his music. Bryan says that his songs are both poems and songs that are special to him because they are personal. He posted to Instagram an explanation behind the album on August 24.

“Most of our lives are indifferent stints of time and if we are lucky, we get small moments of joy, of sadness, of love, of hope and of music,” Bryan said. “All I pray is that someone out there relates enough to not feel alone.” The post read, “I wrote and produced an album that I would want to listen to. I self-titled it because I hear every cell of my being in it. Some of its slow and low, some of its quiet, but its all me at twenty-seven.”

Hudson loved the new album and thinks that it is perfectly toned down from his past albums.

“I like how his new album is a little more toned down, mellow and less up- beat compared to his past albums,” he said, “I think it reflects who he is with its mix of hopefulness and heartbreak as a theme.”