SAMMIES • Zachary Van Dyck

All-time favorite song?

01.28.20

Genuinely cannot answer that. I have a new song every day, I just love music way too much to narrow it down to one song. I like all kinds of music, nearly every genre.

As a child growing up, music surrounds us. What type of music did you hear the most back then? How does it differ from what you listen to now?

01.28.20

When I was young, I grew up listening to pop-punk bands like Green Day, Blink-182 and Good Charlotte. Those were the bands I looked up to the most and are who got me wanting to perform my own songs and start my music career. Now I feel like hop-hop and the new sort of genre of “emo rap” is what is taking over in my opinion. It is all over the place and one of the biggest things right now.

Can you describe a moment in your musical career, where you felt like you truly reached somebody or made a difference?

01.28.20

Yes, it was about three years ago, I had a show at The Boardwalk in Orangevale and I had just finished my set and had walked over to my merch table and a young girl who appeared to have some sort of physical disability came up to me and gave me a hug and told me that I inspired her, as I myself have a disability and up on stage living my dream. That was a really important moment for me and it made me feel like I am right where I need to be.

Do you have regular gigs around town?

01.28.20

Yeah, I usually play one to two times every two to three months. The main venue I play at is Holy Diver in downtown Sacramento. I have played in nearly every venue in town and continue to do so.

Favorite colors?

01.28.20

My favorite color is Purple.

Favorite guitar player?

01.28.20

Prince and John Mayer.

How did it first start?

01.28.20

I actually had a much later start to doing music then most people. I did not start performing and pursuing a career until my freshmen year of college. I was 18. I had started taking music business classes and it got me prepared to be my own boss and begin my career. When I was young, I started taking singing lessons in middle school. I had watched the Justin Bieber documentary: Never Say Never, then immediately went home to my parents and asked for lessons. It was what inspired me to be a singer.

How do you describe your music to people?

01.28.20

I like to describe my music as pop. I feel like I make a lot of different sounding songs, but when it comes down to it, they are strictly just pop songs that can get stuck in your head.

How do you feel about musical award competitions?

01.28.20

In general, I feel like it can be looked at as a huge honor to some people and other people I feel like might think they can be hokey. Me personally, I think it is nice to be noticed for your hard work and for giving your all into your craft.

Name a pet peeve.

01.28.20

A huge pet peeve of mine is messy people. I am so OCD clean, seeing any kind of mess and being around messy people just bugs me to my core. It stresses me out.

Tell us about your best gig in Sac.

01.28.20

My best gig in Sac was definitely the shows I have done with my friends in the band Metro Station, because of how close we are, every show I have done with them seems to go the best, so much love and positive energy between us. It makes it really comfortable to perform and the best of me and my live band seems to come out!

Tell us about your worst gig.

01.28.20

The worst gig is one I had last year, I am not going to name the venue or who it was with, but they cut my set off 20 minutes early. I got 10 minutes to perform instead of 30, because the sound guy previously ran the artists before me extremely longer than they were supposed to be on for. On top of my set being cut short, all of the technical stuff was giving me trouble. It was just a disaster and a show I hope to always forget it.

Tell us about yourself.

01.28.20

I am about to be 25 in March. I have always lived here in Sacramento. I am engaged to the most beautiful fiancée ever her name is Jade. We are getting married in September. I am also about to graduate college in the spring so everything is kind of happening all at once for me right now. It is awesome though. When I was born the umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck, which caused me to come out not breathing. Thankfully, I was revived. This issue as a newborn though, caused me to suffer from various health problems. I have grown up and have had close to 40 surgeries and procedures. I also suffered a spinal cord injury in 2009, which initially left me paralyzed from the waist down. After weeks of rehab I was thankfully able to regain full function of everything. As of right now, I have never been healthier. I am sorry for the darkness of this answer, but it is just the truth about me and I want to be as transparent as I can with everyone.

What are your musical goals?

01.28.20

To consistently put out content and consistently play shows. If I can continue to do that and continue to grow, I am happy.

What artist or band are you a little embarrassed to love, and why?

01.28.20

The High School Musical soundtrack is straight fire. Also '90s bubblegum pop is prime.

What did you want to be when you were 7?

01.28.20

I wanted to work at McDonald's ...

What do you sing in the shower? (Be honest.)

01.28.20

Sometimes. I am actually a bath person though. I rarely take showers.

What drives you to keep interviewing even though the music industry can be so harsh?

01.28.20

It can be harsh, but I love it so much. I am a music industry nerd, it is what I consume the most out of anything honestly.

What drives you to keep playing even though the music industry can be so harsh?

01.28.20

I LOVE MUSIC.

What message do you hope to give with your music?

01.28.20

To follow your dreams no matter what kind of hand you have been dealt. If I am up on stage giving it my all and giving high energy and performing with the amount of struggle I have gone through, you can do it too. No excuses.

What was the first song you learned to play?

01.28.20

First song I learned how to sing was "Shadow of The Day" by Linkin Park. That was the first song I practiced when I started taking singing lessons. Obviously, I have sang to myself my whole life, but that "Shadow of The Day" was the first time I was really trying.

What's next for you?

01.28.20

Tons of shows, music and a few music videos. I am also trying to get out of Sacramento and play some shows. Right now, I have a show in Los Angeles booked in May.

What's something most of your friends don't know about you?

01.28.20

I have a ton of OCD type of habits.

What's the best part of this experience?

01.28.20

The best part of this experience is being given another platform to spread my audience to new amazing people. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.

What's your favorite jam from the '90s?

01.28.20

"Iris" by The Goo Goo Dolls.

What's your favorite local artist/group?

01.28.20

Some of my local favorites are: sadghost, Centersight, The Color Wild, Enso Anima, Harlequin Rose and NERV.

What’s your favorite song to perform live right now?

01.28.20

My favorite song to perform right now is actually a cover of the late Juice WRLD. It is his hit record Lucid Dreams. The crowd just goes bonkers whenever I perform it. It is so much fun to feed off that incredible energy. Everyone is screaming the words to me, it is so much fun. As far as original tracks, I would have to say my favorite right now is my song “Strangers” it is the song I open my show with.

When did you play your first gig in Sac?

01.28.20

I played my first gig in 2013 at The Boardwalk in Orangevale with my first band Commercialized we were a really crappy high school punk rock band. Those times though were some of the best of my life. Life-long memories.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

01.28.20

I hope to be to where I am able to provide for my family with my music. I want to be able to tour and make appearances. But most importantly, I just want to still be recording and performing music regardless. It is what I love and therapeutic for me.

Who are your biggest influences?

01.28.20

I have numerous influences, but some of them are artists like: Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake and MGK. And bands like Paramore and Simple Plan. Also, in some of my recent work, Juice WRLD has been a massive influence. RIP.

Who first inspired you to play music?

01.28.20

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and Justin Bieber.

Who is your secret star crush?

01.28.20

My star crush would be Halsey and Hilary Duff.

Words to live by?

01.28.20

I live by Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” My faith is something that is pretty important to me.

Zachary Van Dyck

Q & A

All-time favorite song?

As a child growing up, music surrounds us. What type of music did you hear the most back then? How does it differ from what you listen to now?

Can you describe a moment in your musical career, where you felt like you truly reached somebody or made a difference?

Do you have regular gigs around town?

Favorite colors?

Favorite guitar player?

How did it first start?

How do you describe your music to people?

How do you feel about musical award competitions?

Name a pet peeve.

Tell us about your best gig in Sac.

Tell us about your worst gig.

Tell us about yourself.

What are your musical goals?

What artist or band are you a little embarrassed to love, and why?

What did you want to be when you were 7?

What do you sing in the shower? (Be honest.)

What drives you to keep interviewing even though the music industry can be so harsh?

What drives you to keep playing even though the music industry can be so harsh?

What message do you hope to give with your music?

What was the first song you learned to play?

What's next for you?

What's something most of your friends don't know about you?

What's the best part of this experience?

What's your favorite jam from the '90s?

What's your favorite local artist/group?

What’s your favorite song to perform live right now?

When did you play your first gig in Sac?

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Who are your biggest influences?

Who first inspired you to play music?

Who is your secret star crush?

Words to live by?

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