INTERVIEW: Zac Cross on the light and shade in new album The Music Lives On
The debut long player for Queensland four-piece Zac Cross Band
[Listen to the audio version of the interview above or watch it on YouTube.]
The first time I interviewed Rockhampton local Zac Cross I was struck by how thoughtful he was about his music and songwriting. That thoughtfulness has been applied to The Music Lives On, the debut album from his Zac Cross Band, a tight four-piece who love to play live and took that live energy into the studio for this album which is a combination of rock, country and country-rock, with some slower numbers that give Cross the opportunity to show us the range in his vocal.
There are, Cross says, personal stories behind these songs, and the title track is a tribute to his late grandfather as well as to the power of music in his own life.
‘Music's always helped me forever get through something,’ he says. ‘That's why I wanted “The Music Lives On” to be that twelfth song, because music has always been that constant.’
Cross grew up a musical family, Cross knew the stakes were high for his own music, and after some performing while he was at school he took a break from music for a while. In the interview we discuss how the band was formed, and how bass player Jaymon Bob– who was a top 6 finalist in this year’s Australian Idol – managed his band responsibilities with Idol commitments.
The album was recorded with producer Jared Adlam on the Gold Coast. This was a collaboration that proved productive and rewarding, and Cross is already anticipating a new recording session. They’ll be fitting that in before they appear at various events including the Gympie Muster in August (show dates below). It’s been a big year already for Cross, who was married in April, but there’s no sign of him slowing down this high-energy band or their trajectory.
SEE ZAC CROSS BAND LIVE
Saturday 5th July - Pig Day Out - Tannum Sands, QLD
Friday 25th July - Country On Quay - Rockhampton, QLD
Saturday 23rd August - Maraboon Tavern - Emerald, QLD
Sunday 24th August - Our Rainbow House Fundraiser - Emerald, QLD
Sunday 31st August - Gympie Music Muster, Amamoor, QLD
Friday 19th September - Twin Hills Campdraft & Rodeo - Twin Hills, QLD
Saturday 27th September - Bull, Bronc & Barrels - Imbil, QLD
Saturday 11th October - PBR - Kilkivan, QLD
Listen to The Music Lives On on Apple Music
Listen to The Music Lives On on Spotify