The Entertainer recently had the chance to sit down with singer/songwriter and solo artist, Zac Grooms. The resulting question and answer session is provided for your reading enjoyment.

ENTERTAINER: When did you first become interested in music?

ZAC: There has always been music in my family’s house. I grew up with my mother listening to Carly Simon and James Taylor, my dad listening to Alabama and the Beach Boys, and my older sibling’s stereos blaring everything from AC/DC to Debbie Gibson. Yes, talk about variety! Strangely enough, not a whole lot of country music around our house, at least at that time. I didn’t start taking interest in music until I was around ten years old. In a time of family trouble I was inspired to pick up my dad’s old classical acoustic guitar and began learning everything I could on it. I would lock myself in my room for hours and learn a song by ear, note by note. At the time I was extremely shy and very quiet in school, so playing my guitar was something I could do in all of my spare time. After I was finally able to play and sing at the same time (hey, I was only eleven), I knew that music would eventually be my life. Through a few guitars and learning every Garth Brooks song there was, I went from that shy little singing country boy to that not so shy little singing country boy. Looking back, it’s kind of ironic how something so private would lead to something so public, but if hadn’t been so shy, I probably would have never picked up that old guitar in the first place.

ENTERTAINER: What is the style of music you play?

ZAC: I would have to say my music is generally modern country, but my style of writing pulls from several different genres. When I sit down to write a song, I don’t exactly think, “I’m going to write a rock song today, I’ll write a country song tomorrow.” I just write my song and it is what it is. I have a couple songs I have written or co-written that definitely lean more towards the alternative style, but these days the only difference is whether it has a fiddle and steel guitar or not. I have always followed current country music, and have tried to learn every new song that comes out on the radio. Most of the music I write falls in to the country category as well. But even though I play country, I have been told that my guitar playing and vocal characteristics are vary unique, So I’d like to think that my style is my own. When you hear a Zac Grooms song, I want you to think, Zac Grooms, not Tim McGraw or Garth Brooks—that’s my goal.

ENTERTAINER: What are you currently working on?

ZAC: I am always working on my music in general. My current big project is my band. Throughout the years I have always had a few musicians I could always call if I needed a full band for a function or gig. It wasn’t until last year that these guys really stepped up and came together musically. We have been working hard on learning new material and polishing the old stuff in order to be prepared for any venue. We have also been working hard arranging our newer original songs that have never been played with nothing more than just an acoustic guitar. I am really excited to finally have a mixture of opinions putting these songs together for our live show. I will hopefully start work on a new album in the near future. We almost have enough songs for another complete project. I just need one more relationship to fail to inspire me for the last song (that’s where real country music comes from).

ENTERTAINER: What has been your greatest memory as a musician?

ZAC: My favorite memory would have to be my first large stage experience. When I was 14 years old, I entered into a singing competition called The Jimmy Dean Country Showdown, now called the Colgate Country Showdown. This was the first time I had ever played for more than ten people at a time. Up until that point I had only played for family, a few friends and I think maybe one small redneck wedding. This competition was in front of about three hundred people. I will never forget the way I felt after the crowd’s response at the end of my performance. It was that single performance that jump-started my musical ambition into overdrive. It’s as though I have been feeling the same way since then.

ENTERTAINER: What does the future hold for your career?

ZAC: I wish I knew the exact answer to that, but at the same time that would take all the fun out of the journey now wouldn’t it. I would like to think that success is in my future. I am going to continue knocking on every door I find in hopes that one day one door will lead to another, and then maybe to a back door, then possibly to a window, who knows. The music business is all about being at the right place at the right time. For any musician, exposure is the key, so I am going to keep making my music heard. All I can really say is my career won’t be over for a very long time, it has just begun.

ENTERTAINER: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

ZAC: No. I think I over achieved on the rest of the questions. Do I get extra credit? [laughs]

ENTERTAINER: Thank you Zac for giving us this opportunity to get to know you and your music. The Entertainer wishes you the best in your musical endeavors! To find out more about Zac be sure to visit The Entertainer website (www.theentertainernewspaper.com/music). Once there you will be able to listen to free songs from Zac, find out when his next shows will be as well as purchase his latest album.Thank you for supporting our local musicians!