Meet Zak Hartzell | Singer-Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zak Hartzell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zak, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Authenticity is how I try to gauge success these days. I’m of the mind that nothing matters more for longevity in terms of making art. If you can hang on long enough in this industry, things happen. But authenticity is critical. It’s not enough to be unique and talented if something fundamental rings false. So, authentic emotional expression is my primary practice and focus, both in music and in the day-to-day art of living. How accurately can I present my point of view into a microphone over three minutes and thirty seconds? How compassionately can I express a hard truth to a close friend? Because it’s not all about today’s product or piece of content — it’s about cultivating an approach to life that resonates and that will eventually reflect itself back in one’s art. This allows the creation process to take on more meaning. And when that internalized meaning becomes externally palpable, it draws an audience. You can see this with great musicians, and I think it’s the sacred task of a songwriter in particular — creating and holding space in a way that compels others to explore it with you.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
There are several avenues to work around the periphery in music, and I’ve dabbled in a lot of them — producing sound pack material, recording music for podcasts, teaching guitar, recording song commissions, playing cover gigs, busking, writing craft articles… at a certain point though, I realized that all of that stuff was becoming a false sense of security for me. That work can be great and it can teach you a lot about the craft and the business. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had. But I’ve always been infinitely more interested in original songwriting and improvised performances.

The music I make comes from a place of curiosity and the need for a depth of connection I generally struggle to find out in the world. I suspect many of us listen to music for the same reasons. In fact, one of the most powerful uses of art is as a sort of bat signal for your type of people. When I write a song, I’m basically throwing up a flare and saying, “Hey, am I alone here? Here’s what I believe and why. Anybody else seeing this? The people who answer or otherwise engage are pretty likely to be folks I can connect with on a non-superficial level.

In the pursuit of writing and making music I’ve been able to avoid full-time jobs and serious careers so far. I’m grateful for the time and mental space that has afforded me. My desire is to integrate my art and lifestyle as much as possible. I want my work to be a direct extension of the way I live. The more I practice this, the more rewarding it feels. To me, the practice of “art” is ubiquitous. It’s in the way I show up or fail to show up for a friend after their breakup, or how well I care for my automobile or how consciously I chew my food.

Life threw a few downright rude curveballs my way over the last couple of years that made producing trickier, but I’m looking forward to sharing my first album later this year. Writing and creating for a living is a trip, but life is increasingly absurd for us all in the modern landscape. That’s why I would encourage everyone (artists and art lovers both) to cherish human artistic expression, discard comparisons, and enjoy the world around us. Art is like a spiritual game, and all I know for sure is that taking it too seriously is the quickest way to lose. I don’t know much about business, but I know the IRS calls what I do a business. . As long as I can buy guitar strings, occasionally eat, and pay my bills, I feel pretty good about how business is going.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
At least a couple of days would start over at Pistacia Vera in German Village for the best coffee in the city and some macarons. We might wander over to the Book Loft (a 32-room maze of a bookstore) from there to scavenge for the strangest books we can find.

My good friends and I are all into the outdoors. The Scioto Audubon near me is a must-visit just before sunset. The views from the water tower are unmatched. Depending on the person, I might drive us down to Hocking Hills so we could hike around Ash and Old Man’s Cave etc. There’s a great disc golf spot to the east of the city called Walnut Hill we might check out too. It used to be a real golf course, so the holes are professionally designed.

For dinner in the evenings, there are so many great options for hibachi, pizza, and more downtown. Bendi Wok ‘N Bar is a spot we’d hit up for sure.

Finally, we’d want to catch some shows — at least a night or two. Natalie’s tends to get the best acts and sound guys in town. That said, I was also just over at Ginger Rabbit in the Short North for the first time the other night, and that may quickly become one of my favorite venues in the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One person — she knows who she is — has hopped on this ride with me over the last year and a half. She’s uniquely adventurous, supportive, and soulful — a well of artistic curiosity. Not to put too fine a point on it, but she’s a genuine muse to creators — I’ve seen a few others pick up on that fact, so I know it’s not just me. Artists are a dime a dozen, but creative muses don’t come along every day. I’m a lucky boy to know her and endlessly grateful for the impact she has on my life and my work.

Website: zakhartzell.com

Instagram: @zakhartzell

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ212McTVKu9q95bsJsIweQ

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/33RPKy2sfzCuVkoy57Qcvp?si=qCTeEF7MStCXWbzIL8h_mw

Other: Digital Business Card: https://poplme.co/hash/zTfJIwQo/1/s

Image Credits
Megan Cameron