In this episode of Bonus Tracks, Aria spotlights rising country folk artist Zach Bryan, tracing his journey from Navy Service to viral success. Highlighting songs like Heading South, Something in the Orange, and his Grammy-winning collaboration with Kacey Musgraves, The episode explores Bryan’s raw, heartfelt style and rapid rise, along with his emotional songwriting.
Transcript:
0:02: From KXCI Tucson, this is Bonus Tracks.
0:05: I am Aria and I want to talk about Zach Bryan.
0:08: Zach Bryan was born on April 2nd, 1996, and he is 29 years old.
0:17: In 2013, he enlisted in the Navy and was in the military for eight years.
0:22: At the end of his service, he started publishing music.
0:26: His song Heading South was filmed on his phone outside the Navy barracks.
0:31: He got his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Navy.
0:37: music sample: (0:43) Zach Bryan, Heading South, 2019, Belting Broncho Records
0:39:He makes country music and folk music with his top song being I Remember Everything with the artist Kacey Musgraves.
0:40: music sample: (0:21) Zach Bryan, I Remember Everything, 2023, Belting Broncho Records
1:00: Which he got a Grammy for.
1:10: He got on the Billboard 100 for this song and got on the Billboard 200 for his song Something in the Orange.
1:20: music sample: (0:32) Zach Bryan, Something in the Orange, 2022, Belting Broncho Records
1:32: His album The Great American Bar Scene was top in Billboard 200.
1:38: My personal favorite song is Blue Jean Baby, my favorite part in the song is when he says.
1:44: I don’t know if it’s just me, but I find peace in these evenings.
1:48: There’s a barely lit cigarette burning a hole in your blue jeans.
1:55: music sample: (0;39) Zach Bryan, Blue Jean Baby, 2025, Belting Broncho Records
1:59: Blue Jean Baby was a single published on January 27, 2025.
2:10: Zach Brian is from Oklahoma.
2:13: He started making music on YouTube in 2017 and started getting popular on there in 2019.
2:21: In August 2019, he released his debut album, Deanne, which is named after his late mother.
2:30: In 2026, he released his latest album called With Heaven on Top.
2:37: He is now on tour for all of 2026.
2:43:music sample: (0:21) Zach Bryan, I Remember Everything, 2023, Belting Broncho Records
3:06: I’m Arya, and you just heard bonus tracks from KXCI.
3:11: To hear more episodes, visit our website at KXCI.org.
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Recorded, edited, and produced by Bridgitte Thum
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