HALEY HOLCOMB

IN Magazine

 

Each song in Zane Williams’ newest album comes with a little memory in it for him. “Snapshots” is a compilation of songs from his five previous albums.

Like the meaning behind the album’s name, the cover art features an array of actual snapshots, including all five of his album releases and black and white photos documenting moments in his life, such as the birth of his children and musical performances.

“The album reflects snapshots of my life,” Williams said. “I wrote all the songs, so each song reflects what I was doing and thinking at that time of my life. Each song has a little memory in it for me.”

 

INFLUENCES

 Williams was born in Abilene and spent time in Kentucky, West Virginia, California and Tennessee before moving back to Texas.

“Growing up, I really didn’t listen too much in the way of country music,” Williams told Billboard Magazine. “I really didn’t go to a lot of live shows. I guess my biggest influence was singing in church. I grew up in the Church of Christ, where there are no instruments (used in musical worship). It was congregational singing, so I learned how to read music and sing all the different parts. I love harmony, and have an ear for that.”

Williams told Billboard that his first exposure to country music came later.”I didn’t start listening to country much at all until high school. I discovered the Top 40 countdown after church and that was the first time I ever heard country music. I realized I liked it. My first introduction to it was ’90s country, like Garth (Brooks), George Strait, Randy Travis and Alan Jackson. It’s only been later in life I discovered (Merle) Haggard and (George) Jones and Texas artists like Robert Earl Keen.”

He moved to Nashville after graduating from Abilene Christian University and spent nine years as a solo singer-songwriter. After giving up music for a little while, Williams opted to give it one last try. He moved back to Texas with his wife, Jodi, to be closer to family.

While in Texas, he formed a band and started recording. He has been a familiar presence in Texas music ever since.

Williams describes his music as authentic country.

“I call it authentic country music. Genuine, authentic country music. It is a big variety of a lot of stuff but in the end I think it is more the traditional side of country music with maybe a bit of rock in there too.”

Williams writes all of his songs.

“I write pretty much all my stuff. So far, I haven’t recorded a song that I haven’t written. It comes from a really honest place but I like to entertain too. Sometimes the real personal stuff can get real thoughtful and at the end of the day I like to put on a big show and have fun.”

He also has written songs that have been recorded be Pat Green, Jason Michael Carol and Cody Johnson.

“What happened with Pat and Jason Michael Carol and Cody Johnson, in all three of those cases (is) they or their producers or somebody heard my record or heard a song that they like and asked if they could re-record it or do their own version of it,” he said. “It’s always cool when that happens because I figure there’s just more people that will hear the song that way.”

Williams said he can get inspiration from anywhere.

“The most common place is from my own life and situations. About half of them come from that and the other comes from somebody’s situation that I know about or something that I hear that sounds like a good country song or something that pops into your head. Sometimes it just comes from nowhere.”  

 

FAMILY MAN

 

Williams is proudest of his family. He has been married to his wife, Jodi, for 15 years. They have a 6-year-old boy and a 3-year-old daughter.

“Everybody’s got what makes them happy in life and for me it is family that gives me the greatest source of real happiness and joy.”

Williams puts his family first and makes it a point to not let his career and touring get in the way of family time and being an everyday dad.

“I want to be as successful as I can be without messing up my family life,” Williams said. “I go out on the road and have fun and out on these shows and everything but then when I come home I dive straight into taking out the trash and changing diapers and wrestling with my kids and doing all those things.”