Country music is a widely known genre that has changed and evolved throughout the years. In the past, country could be defined by fiddles, guitars, banjos and other instruments that provided an acoustic sound. This same sound can be found in new upcoming artist, Zach Top.
In an article written by Jay Edwards, it states Top was born in Sunnyside, Washington. He began to play music at the age of five years-old when he took his first guitar lesson. The writer also mentions Top was in a bluegrass band with his family, which he started at the age of seven, called “Top String.”
Top incorporates a lot of instruments within his songs that have an old country feel, including the fiddle, steel guitar and the classic piano.
“I really like Zach Top, and I feel like he brings back the old genre to country music,” junior Addison Talley said.
In 2021, Top moved from Washington to Nashville, Tennessee,allowing him to perform in what is known as “Music City.” According to the Seattle Times, Top signed with a small start-up record label called Leo33. He soon released his single “Sounds Like the Radio,” which was his first song to be played on a country radio station.
“My goal has always been to play the kind of country music that made me fall in love with the format — fiddles, steel guitars and telecasters twanging,” Top told Billboard.
In an article by Tom Roland, he writes about country music’s presence in the 90’s, comparing artists such as George Strait, Keith Whitley, Brooks & Dunn, and many others to Top’s sound. The article talks about the contrasts between today’s country music and older country music.
“He sounded really familiar, like somebody who used to play old country,” junior Rylee Stokes said. “His songs sound older, but he kind of brings a new style to it.”
Top began touring with country music artist Lainey Wilson throughout her 2024 summer tour named “Country’s Cool Again.” . In an article by Erinn Callahan, he mentions Wilson attended one of Top’s performances wearing a baby costume. This made people on TikTok compare the two singers to “The New Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.” The two artists also toured together and had a joking relationship.
Top currently has 4.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify and has been performing in Florida, Texas and California. This increase in attention is due to Top’s release of his new album; the album consists of songs named “I Never Lie”, “Use Me” and “There’s the Sun.”
“I think it (country music) has been modernized and so it’s all pop country,” sophomore Londyn Hart said. “Zach Top sounds like older country music or at least his voice does.”
According to Savingcountrymusic.com, Top has sold out all of his tour dates for the upcoming year, 2025. With that said, he has released new dates for the months of April and May, which are also being expected to sell out.
“I think he is getting so popular because his voice is so unique and similar to 90’s country,” Talley said.
