Zach Riley Channels His Inside Romantic on Radiant Pop-Rock Monitor, “Your Contact”
Winnipeg singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Zach Riley wears his coronary heart on his sleeve in his new single, “Your Contact,” a feel-good, guitar-driven pop-rock monitor that beams with gratitude, vitality, and emotional readability. A celebration of the individuals who maintain us grounded, “Your Contact” captures what it means to really feel protected in somebody’s presence, even in your worst days.
Impressed by his spouse, Zach faucets into the uncooked fantastic thing about relational intimacy with sentiments that really feel each timeless and refreshingly private. The tune’s emotional anchor is matched by its sonic sparkle – a shimmering mix of pop and rock influences that channel the earnestness of The Band CAMINO and the hook-driven pleasure of The 1975.
A spotlight on the monitor is the hovering guitar solo, carried out by Zach’s longtime bandmate Alec and marking the primary recorded collaboration between the 2.
“I knew I wished a guitar solo on the finish, however I’m a reasonably subpar guitarist,” Zach laughs. “So I requested Alec, and he immediately nailed it. It was precisely what I hoped for.”
“I simply really feel like “Your Contact” completely captures that feeling of getting that individual in your life that may assist take the burden off your shoulders or make you are feeling entire once more while you don’t really feel such as you’re sufficient. This tune makes me really feel actually pleased truthfully. It is perhaps tacky to say that about your personal tune, however I bear in mind listening to the total factor for the primary time and I simply had this large dumb smile on my face. Only a actually enjoyable tune throughout and I like the best way it got here collectively.“
First off, care to introduce your self to our readers?
In fact! My title is Zach Riley and I’m a musician from Winnipeg, Canada. I used to be born and raised within the prairies and grew up enjoying each sport I may. I didn’t begin enjoying music till I began enjoying drums in 2010. Shortly after, I began importing drum covers to YouTube. After doing that for a number of years, I joined my first band in late 2017 and we toured Japanese Canada for 4 months. Now we have since parted methods, however I’ve drummed in a number of totally different bands since then, and I nonetheless do play drums for a number of individuals. In 2023, I lastly determined to begin pursuing my very own music. I had been writing my very own music for a number of years, and I at all times actually loved drumming in bands, however it at all times felt like I used to be simply enjoying another person’s music. I actually wished to begin enjoying the music I wished to play, and I’m so glad I made a decision to step out from behind the package!
Congrats on the discharge of Your Contact! Are you able to share the story behind the tune and what impressed you to put in writing it?
Thanks! One in all my favorite songs is Put It All on Me by Ed Sheeran and Ella Mai. I actually love the lyrics, and it at all times amazed me that that tune wasn’t extra widespread. I at all times discovered it so lovely. For a very long time, I actually wished to put in writing a tune that conveyed the identical kind of message as that tune, in order that was in all probability the preliminary inspiration for me to put in writing Your Contact. Despite the fact that I didn’t write it till like 6 years later.
You’ve stated the tune was impressed by your spouse — what does she consider it, and the way did she react the primary time she heard it?
My spouse grew up on artists like Ozzy Osbourne and Iron Maiden, so pop music isn’t precisely her favorite style. She undoubtedly loved it and completely appreciated the sentiment behind it, however I assure it wasn’t her favorite tune of mine that I’ve proven her lol. However it wasn’t the primary tune I’ve written about her, and it received’t be the final.
The sound blends pop-rock influences with a lot coronary heart. Who’re some artists that formed your musical fashion or influenced this tune?
I’ve had so many alternative artists encourage me over time, and I type of undergo phases of actually moving into totally different artists. A number of that come to thoughts for this tune particularly, although, could be Ed Sheeran as I discussed earlier than, but additionally The Band CAMINO and Knox. Ed Sheeran has at all times been an enormous affect on my songwriting and I’m certain at all times will probably be. However over the previous few years I’ve actually fallen in love with the music of each The Band CAMINO and Knox. They each stroll that line of pop with just a bit extra grit that offers it a bit of one thing further. I like each of their songs a lot.
The guitar solo on the finish is such a standout second! How was it collaborating with Alec, and what did that add to the monitor for you?
The guitar solo is by far my favorite a part of the tune. Alec and I began enjoying collectively for the primary time in October of 2024. We truly met via our important others. Alec’s girlfriend labored with my spouse, and so they joked that “earlier than we all know it, we’d be enjoying in a band collectively”. Positive sufficient, they have been proper. I knew from the get go that I wished a guitar solo on this tune, and Alec has provide you with a number of guitar elements for a few of my unreleased songs that we’ve performed stay, so there was little doubt in my thoughts that he may write one thing that will actually tie all of it collectively. I couldn’t think about the tune with out his solo in there.
You’re a multi-instrumentalist — how do you resolve which elements you wish to play your self and when to herald others?
Once I know another person can play it higher than I can, lol. As a lot as I like enjoying guitar, I’m a reasonably common guitar participant. I’ve made fairly a number of pals over the previous couple of years who’re all much more gifted than I’m. Whether or not it’s on drums, bass, guitar, and so forth., so the actual problem is deciding who I wish to ask to play on one in every of my songs. Everybody I do know has a barely totally different fashion and may carry one thing totally different to a tune.
What’s subsequent on the horizon? Any upcoming singles, albums, or stay exhibits we ought to be enthusiastic about?
I’m engaged on a number of new tracks in the mean time. No launch dates as of but, however one “new” tune that may characteristic one other Canadian artist that I’m tremendous stoked about. I’d actually prefer to launch an EP quickly, so that’s undoubtedly the subsequent plan so far as releasing extra music goes. As for stay exhibits, I’ve a number of festivals and exhibits in and across the Winnipeg space however I’m at all times searching for new artists and alternatives outdoors of town as nicely. Ideas of a small tour have been on my thoughts for fairly a while, so hopefully I could make {that a} actuality within the close to future as nicely.