Zach Deputy, a one-man band who specializes in looping and layering his sound to provide a full band experience, will look to make local music fans happy this Saturday as he performs at Blarney Stones at Broadway at the Beach (show details here).
The acoustic artist, who was born in Savannah and grew up just across the bridge from Hilton Head in Bluffton, S.C., spoke with ListenUp recently to discuss his musical upbringing, his role as a father and where he fits into the musical landscape. Here’s what he had to say:
The acoustic artist, who was born in Savannah and grew up just across the bridge from Hilton Head in Bluffton, S.C., spoke with ListenUp recently to discuss his musical upbringing, his role as a father and where he fits into the musical landscape. Here’s what he had to say:
So you grew up in Bluffton, SC. What was it like playing there and around Hilton Head growing up?
How did you get into to playing that type of music?
How would you compare Hilton Head and that area’s music scene to what you’ve seen in Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach Music: Zach Deputy
When you get out and tour other places what do you think people’s perception is of the music scene in our region?
I don’t know, but I do know that for me it seems like the further away from home I get the bigger I am.
I think that in South Carolina, you know, people are more likely to just listen to straight up country music and just music that they know. So if your a country act or even a metal act you might be able to make a following, but what I do is completely original.
When I first started going up north I noticed that people really grabbed on tow what I was doing and there I just didn’t have to work as hard for it – to feel the love – as I did down south.
But that’s really a recurring theme throughout time. For so many Southern artists that’s just how it is. Jimi Hendrix got no love down here until he started touring overseas, James Brown didn’t really get it here until he started going up north and Ray Charles is from here but he didn’t really make it in the south until he started, you know, playing in N.Y.
You have a young daughter at home. Has having a child changed the way your write songs or even the way you approach the music business in general?
Yeah it changes you, and all the parents know that it changes the way you do everything, it changes you a lot more than your 21st birthday.
It changes your perspective about things, because I really believe that our purpose on earth is to serve others and having a child to depend on you, it give you this opportunity to really step up or — even to falter. But it opens your eyes to what you’re really supposed to be doing here.
With a show here and then a few in Georgia this week, will you get a chance to get home and see your family and folks back there?
Yeah, I’m actually at home in Savannah today. And personally, I don’t want to leave today. I’m a little under weather and the last thing I want to do get on the road and drive six hours to play a show, but I will be back one day next week and it’s all just part of the gig. But yeah, I’d rather be here for sure.
Your sound is very unique and mixes alot of different genres. Was that something that came naturally over time or did you kind of struggle to find the mix that was right for you?
I always played in bands that I wasn’t made out for. Like rock bands where I was the one one playing acoustic guitar.
My first band was just me and my brother — me on guitar and him on drums. But the second band I got into was a touring motown band and so I got to play alot of that Motown music and a lot of dance music that was fun.
From there I pretty bounced around and did my own thing and eventually got the point where I got sick of electric guitars altogether and I wanted to find really find my own style of guitar so that when you heard it played you knew you it and know its me. I got so fed up with certain tones, I just sold all my guitar stuff and bought a nylon string acoustic and I didn’t even play with a pick for I’d say my first 8 years.
Myrtle Beach Music: Zach DeputyHow did you decide to add the loop machine in as a part of what you were doing and what do you think using that tool has done to help your music?
It’s kinda molded my career really. But thing you gotta understand is that it wasn't a decision, I just had band memebrs that couldn’t make it alot and I wanted to still put on a show, so I had a delay pedal and just decided try to some sort of loops and see what I could do.
It was really just a case of I was just the most committed person in my band. But I did it and people really liked, but I thought it really sucked. I was kinda like “If they’re into this, I wonder what they’ll think when it actually sounds good?”
But that was so long ago, probably 8-9 years ago. I did it on the side and then it just became part of what I do. But I still love playing with a band. The machine has its benefits and its limitations.
It’s kinda hard to put a finger on exactly where you fit in musically. How do you generally describe your music to people who haven’t heard it?
I don’t like to get into the genres, because once something makes its mark it becomes its own genre. But what I do in a nutshell is soul music, its something music deeper than flesh and bones, its something feels good and rejuvenates you and is positive.
I think that’s what music is for. Celebration and reflection and seeing the good things in life. And these days I feel like I’m one of the last people to play music to lift people up, and makes it to try and improve life for others.
If I wasn’t doing that and trying make a difference, I’d probably just have to quit and stay home.
In visiting your website I noticed you use the tagline “Island infused Drum-n-Bass, Gospel Ninja Soul” Did you come up with that?
Yeah. That’s something we came up with that in a weird way describes what we do and its kind perfect for me. The “Island infused Drum-n-Bass” kind describes the sound, “Ninja” just means that it’s kinda funny and I definitely go there and get retarted on stage sometimes, and the “Gospel” is just that soul part of going deeper with the music.
Plus, it’s definitely eye-catching and makes people think.
What are you working on right now as far as a new album goes?
Right now we have two things in can and we’re just working on marketing and all that. One is a DVD that I think we’re going to call “Zach Deputy’s House Party” and the new album is finished and will be called “Another Year” and we hope to have that out early next year.
What can people who come see you tonight expect from a Zach Deputy live show?
Expect, uh ... I hate promoting for myself, I hate trying to building myself up. It’s just a positive vibe and something to get you moving. It’s food for the soul.
How did you get into to playing that type of music?
How would you compare Hilton Head and that area’s music scene to what you’ve seen in Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach Music: Zach Deputy
When you get out and tour other places what do you think people’s perception is of the music scene in our region?
I don’t know, but I do know that for me it seems like the further away from home I get the bigger I am.
I think that in South Carolina, you know, people are more likely to just listen to straight up country music and just music that they know. So if your a country act or even a metal act you might be able to make a following, but what I do is completely original.
When I first started going up north I noticed that people really grabbed on tow what I was doing and there I just didn’t have to work as hard for it – to feel the love – as I did down south.
But that’s really a recurring theme throughout time. For so many Southern artists that’s just how it is. Jimi Hendrix got no love down here until he started touring overseas, James Brown didn’t really get it here until he started going up north and Ray Charles is from here but he didn’t really make it in the south until he started, you know, playing in N.Y.
You have a young daughter at home. Has having a child changed the way your write songs or even the way you approach the music business in general?
Yeah it changes you, and all the parents know that it changes the way you do everything, it changes you a lot more than your 21st birthday.
It changes your perspective about things, because I really believe that our purpose on earth is to serve others and having a child to depend on you, it give you this opportunity to really step up or — even to falter. But it opens your eyes to what you’re really supposed to be doing here.
With a show here and then a few in Georgia this week, will you get a chance to get home and see your family and folks back there?
Yeah, I’m actually at home in Savannah today. And personally, I don’t want to leave today. I’m a little under weather and the last thing I want to do get on the road and drive six hours to play a show, but I will be back one day next week and it’s all just part of the gig. But yeah, I’d rather be here for sure.
Your sound is very unique and mixes alot of different genres. Was that something that came naturally over time or did you kind of struggle to find the mix that was right for you?
I always played in bands that I wasn’t made out for. Like rock bands where I was the one one playing acoustic guitar.
My first band was just me and my brother — me on guitar and him on drums. But the second band I got into was a touring motown band and so I got to play alot of that Motown music and a lot of dance music that was fun.
From there I pretty bounced around and did my own thing and eventually got the point where I got sick of electric guitars altogether and I wanted to find really find my own style of guitar so that when you heard it played you knew you it and know its me. I got so fed up with certain tones, I just sold all my guitar stuff and bought a nylon string acoustic and I didn’t even play with a pick for I’d say my first 8 years.
Myrtle Beach Music: Zach DeputyHow did you decide to add the loop machine in as a part of what you were doing and what do you think using that tool has done to help your music?It’s kinda molded my career really. But thing you gotta understand is that it wasn't a decision, I just had band memebrs that couldn’t make it alot and I wanted to still put on a show, so I had a delay pedal and just decided try to some sort of loops and see what I could do.
It was really just a case of I was just the most committed person in my band. But I did it and people really liked, but I thought it really sucked. I was kinda like “If they’re into this, I wonder what they’ll think when it actually sounds good?”
But that was so long ago, probably 8-9 years ago. I did it on the side and then it just became part of what I do. But I still love playing with a band. The machine has its benefits and its limitations.
It’s kinda hard to put a finger on exactly where you fit in musically. How do you generally describe your music to people who haven’t heard it?
I don’t like to get into the genres, because once something makes its mark it becomes its own genre. But what I do in a nutshell is soul music, its something music deeper than flesh and bones, its something feels good and rejuvenates you and is positive.
I think that’s what music is for. Celebration and reflection and seeing the good things in life. And these days I feel like I’m one of the last people to play music to lift people up, and makes it to try and improve life for others.
If I wasn’t doing that and trying make a difference, I’d probably just have to quit and stay home.
In visiting your website I noticed you use the tagline “Island infused Drum-n-Bass, Gospel Ninja Soul” Did you come up with that?
Yeah. That’s something we came up with that in a weird way describes what we do and its kind perfect for me. The “Island infused Drum-n-Bass” kind describes the sound, “Ninja” just means that it’s kinda funny and I definitely go there and get retarted on stage sometimes, and the “Gospel” is just that soul part of going deeper with the music.
Plus, it’s definitely eye-catching and makes people think.
What are you working on right now as far as a new album goes?
Right now we have two things in can and we’re just working on marketing and all that. One is a DVD that I think we’re going to call “Zach Deputy’s House Party” and the new album is finished and will be called “Another Year” and we hope to have that out early next year.
What can people who come see you tonight expect from a Zach Deputy live show?
Expect, uh ... I hate promoting for myself, I hate trying to building myself up. It’s just a positive vibe and something to get you moving. It’s food for the soul.
More on Zach Deputy and his music at Zachdeputy.com.