Zach Bryan seeks to break free from 'country musician' label, Internet calls him 'reverse Post-Malone'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Zach Bryan refuses to be confined to a single genre, and he's making that crystal clear.

In a candid cover story with Rolling Stone, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter expressed his desire to move beyond the label of "country musician."

Zach Bryan expressed his desire to be seen primarily as a songwriter

Engaging in a thought-provoking dialogue with rock icon Bruce Springsteen, Zach Bryan expressed his aspiration to be recognized primarily as a songwriter, stating, “I don’t want to be a country musician. Everyone calls me it. I want to be a songwriter, and you’re quintessentially a songwriter.”

This declaration comes on the heels of his successful career, where he has topped the country charts with hits like 'Something in the Orange' and 'I Remember Everything', featuring Kacey Musgraves.

Despite this success, the 28-year-old Oklahoma-raised artist is eager to explore artistic freedom beyond the confines of traditional country music.

Zach Bryan admires Bruce Springsteen's ability to transcend genre

Zach Bryan drew comparisons to Bruce Springsteen’s diverse musical identity, noting, “No one calls Bruce Springsteen — hate to use your name in front of you — but no one calls Bruce Springsteen a freaking rock musician which you are one, but you’re also an indie musician, you’re also a country musician."

"You’re all these things encapsulated in one man. And that’s what songwriting is.” Springsteen, now 75, acknowledged the “energy” of the 'Pink Skies' singer's performances, remarking, “You bust all those different genre boundaries down.”

Springsteen's flair for genre-bending is precisely why Bryan has always viewed him as a "hero" in his life, explaining, "because no one’s ever come up to you and said you were in any sort of lane."

Zach Bryan underscores his desire for artistic authenticity

Reflecting on his early days in music, Zach Bryan shared, "When I first started making music, I told Stefan and Danny, my managers, I was like, I want to be in a lane where, when people look back, they can listen to my music and it’s supremely whatever you were doing.”

“You were the only person in my head that has ever done that,” the songwriter emphasized to Springsteen.

In a notable move, Bryan also decided not to submit his music for this year's Grammy Awards, reinforcing his belief that music should not be viewed as a competition.

According to Variety, Bryan feels that this approach allows for a more genuine connection with fans and a deeper appreciation for the art itself.

Zach Bryan's musical identity sparks lively debate among fans on social media

In a lively online debate regarding Zach Bryan's musical identity, fans are expressing their opinions on whether the rising star should be confined to the country genre.

"Zach Bryan is one of the best damn musicians right now, regardless of genre," a user commented on Reddit.

"I think Zach's music is better defined as 'Americana'. He's definitely not the sort of mainstream pop country I think largely defines the genre," added a second.

"Most of his music isn't country.  More folky Springsteen + Lumineers.  But his voice has a country sound," said a user. 

"Too late now!" mocked another user.

"I love his perspective. There really is something magical about artists like Springsteen who can seamlessly transition genre while staying quintessentially themselves. It’s an art form in and of itself, and most artists don’t survive a transition from genres like that. It takes a real professional to be able to do that and thrive," chimed another.

"He needs to have a long chat with Sturgill Simpson. Seems like he’s been through all this before and found some peace with it," read a comment.

"Reverse Post-Malone," said a user.

"Whoops too late he’s already a country musician," penned a user.

"Maybe lose the twangy slide guitar then?" mocked another.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.