Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with Zac Henderson
Tasmanian based singer/songwriter.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I remember my grandmother on my mums side used to pull out the accordion on christmas day and play around with little irish jigs and us kids would dance around the living room.
My grandmother on my dads side used to play the piano and I would sit on her knee when we would visit and tinker around on the keys.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
We had a little cheap keyboard that had drum beats built in and I would set that up and put on silly little shows and make up songs. I used to love writing little short stories and that soon turned to poetry. I always had a heart for the arts. I loved drawing and painting and thought maybe one day I’d write graphic novels or something but as I grew I found that music really combined all of those interests. I could tell stories through song and perform and it just seemed to tick all of the boxes for me.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
My new album ‘Change The Tides’ is due to release Jan 16th. It is an 8 track album with songs that have been composed over the last couple of years since my 2021 album ‘Lay The Stones’. I wrote some of the songs while on the road touring, some during covid lockdowns and others along the way. It’s an album that ebbs and flows between introspection, love, loss and growth.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music
before?
A folky-bluesy sound littered in lyricism sometimes full of sincerity and other times full of humor and light hearted-ness.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
I think that accepting that what you create is heard and taken in differently by different people. You have to trust your process. Sometimes the songs you don’t think will work are others favorites. You just have to keep the creative muscle working and the songs and inspiration finds you.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Legitimately anything. A pen and paper. A guitar is preferable but I try to keep open with how to create and just keep consistent with the process regardless of what tools may be available.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
The Deadlians – Cheeky Monkey is an incredible piece of song.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I had a fella come to talk with me after a show some months back. He shared that he was a war veteran with quite severe PTSD. He told me that he had come into contact with my music and bought a CD and the music was his daily morning album. He told me that he would listen to it in the shower to start his days and it helped him get through some really hard times. Him there in front of me, sharing his vulnerability and telling me that my music had helped him in his struggles warmed my heart and reminded my why I make music and how impactful that can be on strangers’ lives.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Strength, Resilience, Reflection and Patience.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
To be yourself and trust in your journey despite how tough it may be.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I’m not sure I really have one. I’d love to play ’em all!
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
That’s such a tricky question because my influences span so far and wide. I’m not sure I could really pick one. There’s some incredible songwriters- Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, Tom Waits. But I’m not sure if collaborating would even be a thing I think I’d just love to sit back and watch those guys work.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music?
https://zachenderson.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@zachendersonmusic
https://www.instagram.com/zachendersonmusic/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1qgAtBROW1J33F6yCeyNCI
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical
journey?
I want to tour as much as I possibly can, keep sharing my music with people and keep writing and recording. I have a lot of music to share and I just want to keep going until I can’t.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I hope they find something of themselves in what I can share. Listening to music is such a good tool to help understand myself and others and I hope my music can have that effect on people like it has for me.
