Juliana: What comes to you first – the lyrics of the songs or the melodies?
Zane: Well, it really depends. Usually they come together, but sometimes I come up with a cool chord progression while playing around with the guitar. Then I randomly sing words and rhymes that would go with the chord progression without a melody in mind. By the time I figure out the lyrics, the melody is pretty much done, too.
Juliana: What is the best time for you to compose?
Zane: There are three main times when I feel inspired to compose: at night, when I’m driving, or in the shower.
Juliana: What do you use as inspiration? And how is that characteristic of country music in general?
Zane: What makes the best country lyrics are stories and events that are common to people. For example, there are many sayings that are cross-cultural. It’s nice to explore how truthful they are and how they affect a person’s life. Some lyrics are just common scenarios, like girls who date losers, guys married to girls who always dated losers, drinking, you know, country folk stuff.
Juliana: How does the audience change throughout the tour?
Zane: Well, the great thing about country music is the diversity of the audience. You can play the same songs at a family restaurant like Love & War or at a bar like Last Chance and still have people who love your music. The demographics change, but the appreciation is the same.
