Zach Oliver – See Me Down

By starrymag | October 14, 2022

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

 

 

Q) How would you best describe your sound?

A) I feel like it’s always changing for multiple reasons – but I do always try and tell a story and it tends to be sort of a British pop vibe, whether that’s upbeat bop or a slower tempo singer songwriter style.  Just whatever feels right in the moment making it.

 

Q) Tell us the story behind your upcoming single “See Me Down.”

A) “See Me Down” was the first track my good friend Damian Birdsey and I made in our trip to Nashville this year.  We wanted to create without putting any boundaries on what we were making.  So, it started with a whistle and guitar loop that we loved – it felt like I needed to say something cheeky but didn’t feel totally happy – so we ran with the idea of an ex who got off on seeing you down.  Everywhere you went you knew she’d be there just rubbing it in your face that you’re no longer together and she’s better off without you.

 

Q) Prior to “See Me Down” you released “Coat Check” and filmed a music video for it. How did you come up with the concept for that music video?

A) I like to do visualizers like that for a lot of my songs.  There’s really nothing too complex about it but it kind of shows where I’m at in that point in time in my life.  I feel like it can be super relatable to the viewers. Almost like a vlog style of video that I can look back on and say oh yeah that’s how I was feeling when that song was being made.

 

Q) What message do you hope fans take away from “See Me Down?”

A) I try not to touch too much on that just because I don’t ever want to take away from the way someone relates to the music or what they feel the words mean to them.  But all in all, I just wanted to express some of the harder things to deal with when someone you’re not with anymore seems to always be around for all the wrong reasons.

 

Q) You also recently collaborated with entoy on “Hard To Get.” How did that collaboration come to happen and what was it like getting to work with them?

A) They actually reached out to me on social media after hearing some of the music I’d already put out.  They sent me a bunch of beats they’d worked on and after hearing them I knew I had to hop on it.  I just love their style of creating its super refreshing and it’s the kind of music you’re dying to write on when you first hear it.  Loved collaborating with them it was very inspiring and I’m sure there will be plenty more in the future.

 

Q) With the release of many singles in 2022, is there a full-length album in the works?

A) I think eventually it will be comprised into an album that just ties it together for that year of music.  I do plan on releasing more projects that I’d like to be seen as a whole work of art with pretty specific concepts in terms of lyrics and the style of music.  I’d love to do a full-length album that’s super organic sounding – lots of acoustic live instruments.

 

Q) I absolutely love your cover of “Sweet Caroline” as it transforms the overall melody and mood of the song. Why did you decide to cover it?

A) My dad has actually always been a huge Neil Diamond fan so I’ve always loved the song.  I was playing a lot of bar gigs this summer and wanted to cover more songs that people could sing along to and “Sweet Caroline” has always been the ultimate bar star sing along track.  I tried my best to make it my own but still keep the original essence of it that everyone knows and loves.  Neil Diamond and I actually share the same birthday funny enough!

 

Q) Your YouTube channel has quite a few covers! Have you given thought to a potential album of just cover songs?

A) Yes, absolutely – I get a lot of requests for it so I think it may be something I’d do sooner rather than later.  It’s definitely a good way to gain a new audience because it’s something familiar with my own take on it.

 

Q) Who are some covers that you workshopped and didn’t work out or maybe plan to cover in the future?

A) I have a huge list of covers that I really want to get to but know I’ll have to be in the right mood to make sure I do them justice.  “I Can’t Make You Love Me” is one of my all-time favorite songs, so I reckon that would be a great one.  Just again need to be on it for that one because it’s such a big song that makes me feel so much.

 

Q) If I were to take a look at your music collection, what would I be surprised to find in it?

A) That’s a tough one to answer because I don’t know that you’d necessarily be surprised.  I feel like even in releasing my own music I tend to not stick to one genre and that definitely reflects in the music I listen to.  I mean a song you probably wouldn’t expect to find in my collection that I listen to a lot is “Clair du Lune” Claude Debussy. [laughs] That’s one of my favorite classical tracks that I listen to while driving a lot.

 

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters of your music?

A) I just wanna say thank you for listening.  It seriously means so much to have any support at all and the fact that I get to make music every day and put it out to a world where people connect to it blows my mind.  Lots more music to come!!