An Honest But Catchy Single from Zach Riley
A driving new single from Zach Riley delivers a combination of honesty and personality that's given off and spun into this brilliantly bright and colorful pop-rock approach that blends in the edginess perfectly while still having that immense pop overcoat, keeping things catchy and addictive while still feeling kind of vast and its undertone.
"Your Touch" is a track that certainly feels like it came from someplace real, and it's connective because we can all relate to it.
This feels like a track that has some emotional backbone, and Zach is letting inner thoughts spill out everywhere for everyone to soak up, and I think that's a little bit brave, slightly vulnerable, but also makes for something impactful.
All of this is going on while the music has this brightness to it. It's got a vibrancy that lets his presence as an artist really shine as the songwriting and tonality of it all comes through a little intense at times, but with a great rock soundscape that still incorporates this almost live energy.
I love listening to a song and knowing that it's authentic. You can hear this one time and automatically understand that this is a genuine track that has some depth to it for the artist.
He was getting some stuff off his chest, and it's a song that feels good when you listen to it.
The production here is really amazing because it lends a hand to the flow of the song itself.
There are all kinds of great production elements that let the song come in and feel bigger during those choruses, along with again, blending the pop and the edginess of rock together and eventually having it feel completely full.
The song introduces itself with just a kick drum, and the guitars have this kind of funnel feeling effect on them, while the vocals are sitting right on top, loud and clear.
The way they drive that into the big bang of the track is outstanding because they know that it's going to have more impact when it finally kicks in and the guitars are in full along with the drums coming in full swing.
This was a brilliant approach to the arrangement and composition of the track itself, but it also has a lot to do with the mix.
I don't always touch on the mix of a song, but here it's super imperative. Whoever mixed this track completely understood their mission and made it their job to have the more impactful parts come in with a punch.
This was all beautifully done, and the vocals came through with a passionate approach. The singing has heart to it, and it feels so full that you automatically get connected to the premise and lyrics of the song itself while soaking in all of the melodies and layers that are happening.
This track feels radio-friendly. It seems like the kind of track you can hear on any major rock or even pop radio station out there.
You can tell a lot of attention to detail went into the production and tonalities of this track, but it never loses the personality it begins with, and that is probably the most important aspect of the entire thing.
The sentiment comes through loud and clear, and that's why the song has so much strength to it.
There are a few surprises around the corners, and it's the kind of track that speaks volumes for an artist like this because it showcases how he's able to make something personal but still very catchy, probably a little cathartic for him to write and release, but also making sure those hooks are memorable.
It's the combination of pop song writing and emotion that makes this special.
This is a track that you listen to a few times over, and by the second or third time, you're singing right along with Zach himself.
It's got that sort of addictive mentality to it.
With the release of such a well-woven single, we wanted to have a chat with Zach about the song to find out where it came from and what may be coming up next for the artist.
Here's what happened.
TSWS: Let's talk about "Your Touch"! This was a warm and honest pop rock style track that had amazing production and authentic feeling vocals! Where did this track come from?A:
I had been trying to write this song for a couple of months and it just never seemed to be working the way I wanted it to. I kept putting it off because everytime I came back to it I just hated what I was writing. Eventually we got there but it took some time and some patience. I recorded a demo once I finally had the song completely written and brought it to my producer Josh. He brought it to life and I couldn't have done it without him.
TSWS: I'm hearing a few different approaches on this single! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?A:
I have quite a few different ones, but for this song in particular I really drew inspiration from artists like. The Band CAMINO, Knox, and Ed Sheeran. Ed Sheeran will probably have an influence on my songwriting in some capacity, but The Band CAMINO and Knox are both amazing artists that toe the line between pop and rock and I really drew inspiration from them on this one.
TSWS: When did this all start for you as an artist? When did you fall in love with music?
A: Honestly my relationship with music has kind of been a slow burn. I started playing drums in highschool so I didn't grow up playing music or anything like that. Over the years between drumming, playing guitar, singing, performing, it's just become where I'm most comfortable and it's not something I could live without. It truly keeps me sane.
TSWS: Are you performing live right now? Any touring in support of this release?
A: I am not touring at the moment, but I do have shows booked and am performing in and around my hometown. My band and I are constantly performing and looking for more opportunities though! I would love to hit the road with the band in the very near future!
TSWS: Did you record this in a home studio setup, or did you go to a big studio for this?
A: I recorded this one with my friend Joshua Raposo who also produced my song With You. He has a home studio setup so we just did everything out of there and I couldn't be happier with the result.
TSWS: Now that this is out, what's next for you as an artist?
A: I'm currently working on a few singles at the moment and one of them is featuring another artist from Canada. It's a little different from anything I've released, so I'm really excited for people to hear that one. Other than that, my band and I are still constantly looking for shows and opportunities to perform for people.
TSWS: Who's in your headphones right now?
A: A few albums I always go back to when summer rolls around are "tryhard" and "The Dark" by The Band CAMINO. They're both amazing albums and they've got a great summer vibe to them as well. Same with the album "Joyride" by Transit. That's gotta be a top 5 album for me and it's always my go to when the weather gets nicer out. I recently came across an artist by the name of Ash Molloy as well. I've really been enjoying their stuff and I highly recommend checking them out!
TSWS: This was a pretty big song! Was it a big undertaking? How long did it take to finish this?
A: This song took me a few months to write. Sometimes I can finish a song in an hour, and other times they take me a couple months. Honestly it just depends on the song and how quickly the ideas come to me. The recording process was done over a few months as well, but Josh and I probably only got together about 5 or 6 times. We were really productive with our time togethers and it all came together super quickly in his studio.
TSWS: What would you tell people they can expect on this release?
A: I think people can expect a song that they might hear on the radio somewhere. Josh and I really tried to capture that perfect balance of pop and rock and I think we succeeded in doing just that. I truly believe this song has the potential to be some people's favourite song of the summer.
TSWS: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music?
A: I just can't say thank you enough to anyone that takes the time to listen. I've never really thought I was good enough to even make it this far, but I've already had so many great interactions with people telling me how much they enjoy my music. It really is the thing that keeps me going so, to anyone that has listened to even just 30 seconds of my music, it was appreciated more than you can possibly imagine!
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