Zach Bryan’s ‘Pink Skies,’ ‘I Remember Everything,’ ‘Something in the Orange’: Why the Singer-Songwriter’s Hits Have Staying Power

variety.com:

Steven J. Horowitz Senior Music Writer Zach Bryan tends to shoot from the hip. Though the singer-songwriter’s breakthrough came in 2022 with his third album “American Heartbreak,” audiences had already warmed to his direct-to-fan style, whether it be through frank posts on social media or with his confessional songwriting that merges Americana, country, folk and heartland rock.

It’s something that has brought him to sold-out arenas, where his performances connect on broad levels. This year, Bryan released “The Great American Bar Scene,” a sprawling 19-track collection led by the single “Pink Skies,” featuring the band Watchhouse.

That song, plus 2022’s “Something in the Orange” and last year’s “I Remember Everything” featuring Kacey Musgraves, are each in the Hitmakers Top 25, a testament to the durability of Bryan’s songs.

For David Goldsen, senior vice president of North America A&R at Warner Chappell Music, Bryan’ssuccess in creating music with such staying power comes down to his storytelling. “He just has a way of putting the time and place in his music,” says Goldsen, who signed him to a global publishing deal in early 2023. “A short while ago he was in the Navy and playing in clubs.