Zach McKenzie is a rising star with a sound that beautifully fuses Country, Soul, and Gospel influences into heartfelt, authentic music. Known for his deeply personal songwriting, Zach’s latest single, “The Day That I Found You,” reflects the life-changing moment of meeting his wife and captures the magic of finding love when you least expect it. From his early days winning Arkansas Idol and competing on American Idol to performing at Nashville’s iconic Tootsies and venturing into filmmaking, Zach’s journey is one of discovery, creativity, and staying true to his roots. In this interview, he opens up about his inspirations, lessons learned, and dreams for the future, offering a glimpse into the heart of an artist destined to connect with audiences far and wide.
“The Day that I Found You” is your latest single. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the song and what message you hope to convey to your listeners?
That song is definitely one of the most personal songs I’ve ever come out with. I wrote it shortly after I met my wife. The message is simple. It’s description of what it feels like to find that special someone when you weren’t even looking.
You’ve had quite a journey from winning Arkansas Idol to competing on American Idol and now releasing new music. How has your experience on these platforms shaped your career and growth as an artist?
A hard lesson that I took from American idol was the importance of knowing what kind of artist you are. I knew that I could sing but didn’t really know what kind of record I wanted to make. I feel like I am finally in a place where I know what kind of music I want to create and what kind of artist I want to be.
Your music blends Country, Soul, and Gospel elements beautifully. How do your personal experiences and upbringing influence your sound, and what artists or genres have been the biggest influences on your style?
That song is definitely one of the most personal songs I’ve ever come out with. I wrote it shortly after I met my wife. The message is simple. It’s description of what it feels like to find that special someone when you weren’t even looking.
You’ve had quite a journey from winning Arkansas Idol to competing on American Idol and now releasing new music. How has your experience on these platforms shaped your career and growth as an artist?
A hard lesson that I took from American idol was the importance of knowing what kind of artist you are. I knew that I could sing but didn’t really know what kind of record I wanted to make. I feel like I am finally in a place where I know what kind of music I want to create and what kind of artist I want to be.
Your music blends Country, Soul, and Gospel elements beautifully. How do your personal experiences and upbringing influence your sound, and what artists or genres have been the biggest influences on your style?
Growing up in church was a huge influence. Southern Gospel is my first love. It wasn’t until I was a tenant that I heard Rascal Flatts and Gavin DeGraw. I knew that I wanted to be like those guys. It’s interesting, personally experience can often be difficult to express in a song. I draw songwriting inspiration from classic country music and vocal inspiration from Motown music because, for me, that’s as real as it gets.
You’ve been performing for over 15 years across various venues and have also led bands. What are some of the most memorable performances in your career, and how have those experiences helped you evolve as a performer?
I was in a band that got the opportunity to open for Josh Turner and Hanson. I will never forget the experience of opening for acts on that level. It’s a very different game putting on a show for a crowd of that size verses singing in a restaurant. I also performed at Tootsies in Nashville for almost three years. In that environment, you really need to maintain the energy because it’s a tourist attraction. during that time, I learned a lot and I still apply it to this day.
In addition to your music, you’ve ventured into filmmaking with your directorial debut in “Joanett Road.” How does filmmaking compare to music in terms of creative expression, and do you see yourself pursuing more projects in the future?
For as long as I can remember, I have always loved movies. I am a storyteller and I enjoy getting to tell stories in different formats. Whether it’s through songwriting or screenwriting. Although music is the focus at the moment, I would love to dive deeper into filmmaking in the future. Joanett Road is a short film. The plan is to make a feature from that idea someday.
Your new single reflects a lot of raw emotion and heartfelt lyrics. As a songwriter, what is your process like when creating music? Do you draw primarily from personal experiences or do you find inspiration in other places as well?
It really depends. I can’t say that I have much of a process. Sometimes it’s a melody that comes to me, other times, an idea comes to me, and oftentimes, I draw from real life experiences.
You’ve been married and settled in Little Rock for some time now. How has your personal life, particularly your marriage and life in Arkansas, influenced your music and your approach to songwriting?
I’m lucky to be married to someone who is honest with me. She is the first person to hear my songs now and she calls it like she sees it. For the most part, she likes what she hears. Life is Arkansas is fairly simple. There are a lot of small towns. It’s inspiration for a lot of my feel good songs.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for the future, both musically and personally? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations we can look forward to, and what can your fans expect from you next?
I just want to continue to make music and hopefully make a feature film. I am currently working on an album. I’ve been making a lot of trips to Nashville to work on the new record. I can’t wait for everyone to hear the new music!
I was in a band that got the opportunity to open for Josh Turner and Hanson. I will never forget the experience of opening for acts on that level. It’s a very different game putting on a show for a crowd of that size verses singing in a restaurant. I also performed at Tootsies in Nashville for almost three years. In that environment, you really need to maintain the energy because it’s a tourist attraction. during that time, I learned a lot and I still apply it to this day.
In addition to your music, you’ve ventured into filmmaking with your directorial debut in “Joanett Road.” How does filmmaking compare to music in terms of creative expression, and do you see yourself pursuing more projects in the future?
For as long as I can remember, I have always loved movies. I am a storyteller and I enjoy getting to tell stories in different formats. Whether it’s through songwriting or screenwriting. Although music is the focus at the moment, I would love to dive deeper into filmmaking in the future. Joanett Road is a short film. The plan is to make a feature from that idea someday.
Your new single reflects a lot of raw emotion and heartfelt lyrics. As a songwriter, what is your process like when creating music? Do you draw primarily from personal experiences or do you find inspiration in other places as well?
It really depends. I can’t say that I have much of a process. Sometimes it’s a melody that comes to me, other times, an idea comes to me, and oftentimes, I draw from real life experiences.
You’ve been married and settled in Little Rock for some time now. How has your personal life, particularly your marriage and life in Arkansas, influenced your music and your approach to songwriting?
I’m lucky to be married to someone who is honest with me. She is the first person to hear my songs now and she calls it like she sees it. For the most part, she likes what she hears. Life is Arkansas is fairly simple. There are a lot of small towns. It’s inspiration for a lot of my feel good songs.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for the future, both musically and personally? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations we can look forward to, and what can your fans expect from you next?
I just want to continue to make music and hopefully make a feature film. I am currently working on an album. I’ve been making a lot of trips to Nashville to work on the new record. I can’t wait for everyone to hear the new music!
