We had the pleasure of interviewing Zach Hood, and here’s what he had to say:
Q: At what point did you decide that you want to be a musician? Why?
HOOD: I decided I wanted to be a musician around my junior year of high school. I mentally always wanted to be a musician since I was about 8 years old. I fell in love with music then. I wanted to be a musician because it was therapy for me. My dad left my family when I was 8 years old and I would always listen to music to calm me down and help me cope with how confusing everything was at the time. I genuinely have no idea what I would be doing right now if I weren’t a musician.
Q: What is your favorite memory from your musical journey so far?
HOOD: My favorite memory would have to be performing at Hangout Fest. I went to this festival as a fan right after I graduated high school in 2019. This was the first live performance I have seen. I got goosebumps all over my body when I saw the first performer come on (Bryce Vine). I was looking at the crowd more than I was at him. I was so intrigued by the thought of people singing the lyrics back to him. Fast forward to 2022. I performed at Hangout Fest and all of my friends and family came out to support me.
Q: How do you balance your music career with your social life/other obligations?
HOOD: It’s honestly the hardest thing for me as a 22-year-old that moved all the way across the country to follow a dream of mine. I try to talk to my family and friends as much as I can and visit Alabama (where I’m from) as much as possible without interfering with my career. I’m a HUGE family person so this really does take a toll on me. I feel like I’m getting better at balancing it all as I grow as an artist and as a human.
Q: Thank you so much for sharing this with us. We’re wishing you the best with this! When did you know “Neon Skies” was complete and ready for release?
HOOD: We had this song recorded for about 4 months before it was finally released. We went back and forth with the producer to make sure everything sounded perfect. It was a long time but worth it in my opinion. I don’t ever want to release something I regret. I’m very happy with where it is now.
Q: What effect would you like it to have on listeners?
HOOD: I would love to tap into that vulnerable side of a person. We as humans are very timid and scared to show our deep emotions. I want people to know that it is more than okay to let it go sometimes. At the end of the day, we are all human.
Q: What’s your favorite genre for creating songs? Which do you think allows you to express yourself in a way that most matches your personality?
HOOD: I really enjoy writing singer/songwriter. Me being from Alabama, I feel like I can really tap into a deeper place with a guitar or piano just playing. A little bit of my country-ness comes out when this happens. I love sharing that in my music and I think my fans enjoy it as well.
Interviewed by Zoey King
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