It seems that there have been quite a few one-man bands getting started lately. Some are by musicians and singers who are already in bands, or have been in bands and were looking for something new. Others are by musicians who are just getting started and want to do music their own way until they can find others who share a common vision. One of these one-man bands is Black Out The Sun. Songwriter, singer, and guitarist Zachary Ryan Sullivan is the man behind this project, which I first got hooked on when I heard “Worlds Away” off the 2023 full-length album Cycle Of Pain. When I heard that song, I was immediately mesmerized by Zach’s tremendous vocals and the complex guitar riffs. Most recently, back in October, there was a new four-song Black Out The Sun EP released, called Wayward. It’s more awesome music that has been added to the Black Out The Sun catalog.
Originally from Mobile, Alabama, but now living in Lucedale, Mississippi, Zach named Black Out The Sun after a Sevendust record that he loved growing up and still does. That album was one of the first that made him want to start songwriting. He has also been influenced by Alter Bridge, Shinedown, and Three Days Grace. How would you describe Black Out The Sun musically? I came up with modern hard rock with some metalcore and Southern rock mixed in. Zach told me he liked that description. He said he actually has a hard time explaining his music himself. Zach shared, “I wear my influences on my sleeve. I grew up with classic rock, country, and metal. I don’t want to put out anything that isn’t authentic to myself, so that’s how you get songs like ‘Wildfire’, which is an anthem of love, and ‘Fallen Angel’, a southern rock banger.” Zach is glad he’s not restricted to one specific style of music. It keeps his options open and fresh.
Zach has been surrounded by music since he was a little kid. Both of his parents loved music. His mom was in school band and his dad played guitar a little. Zach started playing guitar at 12 years old, mostly because his brother played drums and was a huge inspiration to him. He took a beginner guitar class in middle school (shout out to Vicki Bosarge), and it stuck with him. Zach says his main instrument is guitar. He does play some bass, but only with a pick. He also knows a little about playing piano, and can play some beats on the drums because of watching his brother play all those years. He mostly sticks to singing and guitar, though.
Before starting Black Out The Sun, Zack played in a few different bands as a guitarist only. Eventually, he decided he wanted to try recording his own music. He said he learned a lot from services like Nailthemix, and also interned with famed producer Kile Odell for a year and really learned a lot from him. When it comes to singing, Zach had a feeling that he could sing, and really began working on his voice about five years ago. Once he started understanding his voice, he was able to start using the song lyrics he’d been writing since he was a teenager.
Black Out The Sun is truly a one-man show. Zach does all the writing, production, mixing, and mastering in-house. He said in many ways it’s a good thing because he gets the results he wants. However, he admitted it can be daunting doing everything on his own. He understands that he has to take the good with the bad. But Zach told me he loves music so much, he wouldn’t have changed a thing in his musical journey thus far.
Even though Zach does everything himself for Black Out The Sun, there are some other people involved in his music. He has a small group of friends he’ll send stuff to as he’s working on it to get advice, and they always give him the best feedback. Some of them are not musicians, which makes it nice to get an audience perspective. Zach said sometimes he’ll “nerd out” about a particular element of a song that he is not sure about, but nobody else even thinks anything is off. This advice keeps him grounded and humbled.
When I asked Zach what he writes about, he said his favorite kind of music involves storytelling. He likes the “ebb and flow” from beginning to end. Zach told me he writes a lot from personal experiences, involving himself either directly or indirectly. He said it’s so easy to write impactful music that’s relatable if you’re honest with yourself and the listeners.
As an example, Zach shared that he went through a bad breakup earlier this year, with someone he thought he had a future with. He was devastated about the relationship ending. From that situation came his song “Without You”. He wrote that very soon afterwards, and even though the feelings have dissipated a little since then, at the time it was the most honest he could be about what was happening.
Zach said he’s had many people tell him that a song has specifically struck a chord with them, because it felt like it was about their life story. He admitted that can be both a blessing and a curse. He’s glad people find comfort in what he writes, but he knows going through the rough times to begin with is so hard and he feels bad that other people have to deal with it too, because he knows how it feels.
I told Zach that his music is emotional, but clarified that I meant that in a good way. I enjoy music that gets rooted in your heart and your soul. It’s the kind of music that takes you away to a different place and time and makes you forget everyday life. Sometimes it leads to a good cry, which can be therapeutic and not necessarily bad. We all need to release our emotions once in a while, and what better way to do it than by listening to awesome music?
When asked about the future of Black Out The Sun, Zach said he would love to get a lineup together and play some shows and maybe tour. A lot of people ask him about when that might happen, but he can’t really answer that. He understands that a solo artist on stage in a metal and rock setting doesn’t usually work. Live instruments just hit differently. He is looking for people to join him so they can play his songs for live audiences.
Zach is always working on new music. He actually has a few more songs finished and ready to release when the time is right. He is looking at sometime in 2025 to put out more music. I can’t wait for what’s to come for Black Out The Sun in the future!
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