Zac Cross Band Release The Music Lives On, A Tribute To Loved Ones And A Life Well-lived

The Music was lucky enough to catch Zac Cross on the release day of Zac Cross Band’s The Music Lives On single release, from their upcoming debut album of the same name. The milestone is marked with excitement and nerves for Cross, who has been sitting on the album for close to a year, strategically holding back the release so that he could get hitched and enjoy some wedded bliss before the album chaos and ensuing tour.

“Getting married is pretty full on too. So I'm freaking glad that we actually spaced that out, but to be honest, I just don't really know what to expect. Never put an album out. Put enough songs out now to know what to expect, and it's a roller coaster.”

The Zac Cross Band are no stranger to touring, with the group opening for acts like The Wolfe Brothers and Jon Stevens, as well as doing the festival circuit rounds at Tamworth Country Music Festival, Country Fest QLD and Gympie Music Muster.

When we asked Zac which show he was most looking forward to touring in, he said it had to be Rockhampton, his hometown. The show will take place at Flamingos, which Cross says is a “proper OG” that has been shut down for several years, only to be opening up and the boys are slated to play there.

Cross said, “The fact that it’s opening back up [Flamingos], and we'll get to go and play an album launch there. That's so cool. I mean, it should just be so much fun. I just think if we can nail that one, it'll probably really give us a lot of confidence to do the next ones.”

Rocky is not only the hometown for the four bandmates, but it is a source of inspiration, with Cross commenting on the talent found in this central Queensland town. From Busby Marou, Brad Cox and Denvah. Even their very own bandmate, Jaymon Bob, has had national success, landing a Top 6 spot in this year's Australian Idol.

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“It’s crazy how much talent there actually is from here and a lot of them have obviously had freaking awesome success. So it’s hard not to be inspired by them or want to follow suit. There are a lot of people from my hometown who have shown that it can be done,” said Cross.

With the guys already making a splash with their last single, Take The Blame, which hit #33 on the Country Radio Charts and #23 on THE Tasmanian Oz CMR Charts, as well and landing on Apple Music’s Country Caffeine and Aussie Country playlists, The Music Lives On is sure to hit similar heights.

While some groups would hesitate at holding back new music for a year, Zac Cross Band have a unique flavour of country and rock that is indifferent to trends and anything out in the market. Their music is punchy, relatable and fun, whichever year it is enjoyed in, and that is largely due to the influences the four bandmates bring to the stage and studio.

“I think it definitely gives us a unique sound and maybe a bit of crossover, you know, in capturing different audiences. We got something for the country crowd, definitely something for the rock crowd. When it comes to the studio or actually writing a song, sometimes it can be hard trying to figure out which direction you want to go,” Cross said.

“Our sound is our sound, and I don't know if that necessarily would have changed. I can

tell you literally what every single line is about, where it happened and how and why. You know what I mean? None of it is sort of manufactured. It's all been lived or said or happened,” said Cross.

The album and title track are a tribute to Cross’s late grandfather, KC, a significant pillar in his family and a gifted musician. Cross said, “I’m from quite a musical family, and he [KC] very much was the leader of that. He just freaking played everything, [and w]as good at it, and an entertainer.”

Zac Cross Band are itching to get on tour and to take their music, new and old, on the road and to their audiences. He laments that it can be hard to sell tickets, especially in a cost-of-living crisis, but knows they perform well live and that you don’t need to know them to have a great time. Cross said that they are always thinking about the audience, and when they make music, they think about how it will be played live.

“The funny thing when we go to the studio is we always go into it like, how are we going to play it live, rather than let's just make it so it sounds like a good studio quality song. Then we can rip in when we come to playing live. I think we get a bit excited and just want to rip in from

the start.”

When we asked Cross what his fans could expect from the album release on May 30, Cross said, “Well, I guess you can expect a 12-song roller coaster of emotions. I think you can expect

real stories, real-life events. Hopefully, broad enough to connect with people in their own way. It’s literally putting my life on paper and then going to show it to the big, bad, scary world.”