Zach Bryan, often associated with country music, is pushing back against being confined to a single genre. In a candid Chat with Bruce Springsteen, the 28-year-old musician opened up about his desire to break free from the “country musician” label, which he feels limits his artistic identity.
“When I listen to your music,” Bryan told Springsteen, “I’m like, ‘If you put different production to this, it’s a country song.’” He emphasized that he doesn’t want to be boxed into one category. “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,” Bryan added, praising Springsteen for his diverse musical identity.
Drawing comparisons between Springsteen’s genre-defying career and his own aspirations, Bryan said, “No one calls Bruce Springsteen a rock musician… You’re all these things encapsulated in one man. And that’s what songwriting is.”
Bryan, who has often cited Springsteen as his “hero,” reiterated his admiration for the rock legend. Bryan once expressed his goal to carve out a space similar to early Springsteen, Kings of Leon, and Ed Sheeran, signaling his intent to evolve beyond the boundaries of country music.
As Bryan continues to rise in popularity, his vision of being recognized as a multifaceted songwriter rather than simply a country artist is becoming increasingly clear.
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