INTERVIEW: Zack Robertson drops new single “Lovely”

Zack Robertson is an award-winning singer-songwriter hailing from the South West of the UK, who’s been steadily building his musical world since dropping his emphatic debut single “Adrenaline” in June last year. Drawing inspiration from artists such as The Hunna, You Me At Six, Travis Barker and Titus, Zack’s sonic journey has been marked by compelling studio recordings and electrifying live performances.

His music, an energetic blend of indie rock and pop punk, reflects the energy of his performances, from festival stages like Isle Of White Festival and Teddy Rocks to headline shows in Bournemouth and Southampton. Zack Robertson has not only caught the attention of fans worldwide but has also earned extensive radio support.

Following his breakout year which saw his release five well-received singles, he now brings us his first release of 2024 with his brand new single titled “Lovely,” serving up another display of his epic indie rock sound. Started off with the bubbling tones of soft piano, a playful scene gives way to the crunch of guitar chords and crash of drums as Zack’s commanding vocal leads thread bright melodies carrying heartfelt lyricism above.

Flowing through the verse, the energy builds to burst into the chorus where lively drums pound and the blend of powerful guitar tones of smooth vocal hooks crafts an anthemic pop punk sound. Rattling hi hats accent the uptempo rhythm as intricate sonic textures add colour to the arrangement, resulting in an instantly catchy pop-focused rock outing that sees Zack continue to thrill with his stellar sound.

Themed on the relatable experience of falling for someone’s beauty, “Lovely” delivers a sonic dose positivity and optimism. Commenting on the single, Zack shares, “Lovely isn’t just a love song; it’s a song that I feel the world needs. It has an extremely positive outlook and pulls no punches when describing the feeling involved.”

With this release, Zack Robertson continues confirm his status as a rising rock artist who’s able to connect with audience across the UK and beyond. As he steps into his second year as a solo artist, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this exciting talent.

We caught up with Zack Robertson to find out more about his musical journey so far, his new single “Lovely” and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Zack Robertson below.

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

My earliest memory of making music is having guitar lessons from my dad when I was a kid, I was really lucky and grew up in an extremely musical family who were also very supportive of my goals.

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?

I draw inspiration from a lot of different places, I don’t think I could narrow it down to just one artist. I always love listening to the older and more modern pop punk sounds.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

A lot of my songs are written about real things that have happened in my life, I like to make my songs relatable on an emotional level so I think being real and honest is the best way to achieve that.

What was your highlight of the year for 2023?

My highlight of 2023 would have to be performing at Isle Of Wight Festival just weeks before Adrenaline came out and my career really kicked off.

What do you love about the UK music scene?

There’s so much to love about the UK scene, especially my local scene. Everyone wants to support each other and just have a good time and enjoy the music which makes it so much more fun than worrying about who’s paying who all the time.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

A few of my songs have been described as songs you can scream sing while driving in your car so I guess they’re driving songs.

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

It’s been less than a year since my first release. But I think that my most recent (Lovely) stands out from the rest as I’ve moved away from the self produced route and started working with an extremely talented team of producers to make my music more commercial.

Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

In todays world collaborations are so important to an artists growth, and in the pop punk scene it seems everything Travis Barker touches turns to gold. I’d love to jump in the studio with Travis for sure.

How did you find making your new single “Lovely”?

Making Lovely was a real eye opener for me. The producers really put me through my paces and at the end of the process I think you can really appreciate the added production elements and time spent on making it perfect. It was such an important song to get right I put a lot of pressure on myself while recording.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

I just wanted this song to be super honest and tell a story. Everyone has those moments when they see someone and just think “wow!” And that’s what Lovely is about.

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

Recently I’ve been listening to a lot of Between You And Me. I really admire their sound.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

Listening to music should be cathartic in one way or another but it’s super subjective. I want my songs to spark the right emotion but also act as a calming or reassuring experience to people who need it.

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

It would have to be playing to a sold out crowd in Bournemouth last year. It was such a great show and all round good time!

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

3 headline artists would have to be Blink 182, You Me At Six and The Hunna. Hyde Park for sure.

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

My advice for a new artists would be to focus first on creating really good music, that’s half the battle. Then promote it as much as you can on as many different platforms as possible.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2024?

I have 3 more songs coming out in 2024 and they are some of my favourites so far! I’m headlining a show in Wycombe in April which is gonna be amazing and playing loads of support slots and a couple festivals over the summer.

Listen to Lovely below