Sound Off is a continuing column in which we pose different artists the same series of crucial questions.
Zachary Lucky is a singer/song writer folk musician hailing from Saskatoon, Sask.. Lucky released his first full-length studio album, Come and Gone, in 2010 and is currently working on a new album due out early 2012. Lucky will be performing in Winnipeg on Dec. 12 at the Park Theatre Café as part of the Prairie Roots Revue tour, alongside Ryan Boldt, Carly Maicher and Northcote.
Manitoban: What substance / activity do you find most helpful in the creative process?
Zachary Lucky: The creative process for me is pretty give and take. I will be on the road for a few months, performing every night, and I won’t write a single line while I’m out. As soon as I get home I usually end up locking the door and hiding out for a week, and that’s when the creating happens. That being said, my creative process greatly needs both parts of that equation. The stillness (while I’m on the road) of the creative process is equally as important as the actual creating.
M: Whose work inspired you the most in your youth?
ZL: To be honest, I don’t know if I was “musically inspired” as a kid. I grew up in a scene where punk and hardcore music were pretty prominent, so naturally I played music like that, listened to music like that. It wasn’t till about halfway through high school that I branched off into acoustic and indie music, where I started to listen to artists like Iron and Wine, Joel Plaskett, etc..
M: Whose work inspires you currently?
ZL: I am constantly inspired by my friends, artists like the Deep Dark Woods, Andy Shauf, Jos. Fortin, the Bravest Ghost. Inspiration is never too far from home.
M: What’s the most embarrassing album you’ve ever owned?
ZL: I don’t think I ever purchased it, but I have a copy of Brad Paisley’s Mud on the Tires that quite often gets played during late night drives; sad, but true.
M: What bands / artists have you been listening to lately?
ZL: I’ve been listening to two artists a lot lately: Fionn Regan and Daniel Romano. There are lots of others that are constantly in rotation, like AA Bondy, Gillian Welch and Townes Van Zandt.
M: Do you have any hobbies or obsessions outside of music?
ZL: When I’m not on the road cooking is a fairly big part of my day. I think food is a fairly interesting medium to work with — it’s versatile. You can do a lot with a little. I think music and food are very similar in the sense that they’re both great connection points; they bring people together.
M: In memory, what’s the best advice you’ve received?
ZL: Stay focused on the song; write a good song and everything else will follow (hopefully!).
M*:* **What is your most cherished musical instrument?
ZL*:* My grandfather, Smiling Johnny Lucky, was a country musician for most of his life, and just before he passed away he handed down his 1951 Gibson Super 400. It’s an electric archtop — fairly rare. It rarely leaves my house.
M*:* **What’s your favourite song to cover?
ZL*:* I always enjoy singing a Townes Van Zandt song. He has a way of accomplishing a lot with very little. And although people are beginning to know who Townes is, a lot of people still don’t know his music — so any chance I get to share one of his songs with someone, I take it.
M*:* **What’s been the most surreal experience of your music career thus far?
ZL*:* I think the most surreal experience I’ve had thus far was getting the opportunity to perform on the main stage at the 2011 Regina Folk Festival. Getting a stage that size, in front of 6,000 people, all to yourself is pretty neat. It’s humbling and rewarding. I think I was rather speechless after that performance.
*Questions may vary
