On September 21, 2022, Zach Bryan announced to his fans via Twitter that his next album would be dropping around February. However, in an updated statement, he shared that the new project won’t be meeting that deadline anymore.
“Decided not to release an album in February. I love you guys and I apologize I said something I didn’t stick to. Mercy here please. Going to let my life play out,” he wrote.
Luckily, Bryan’s comment section was filled with plenty of mercy as fans shared their understanding for his decision to hold off on the album’s release date.
“Gotta do what’s best for you! Worth waiting for I’m sure,” one user wrote.
Another said, “Make it exactly how you want it Zach. Take your time and give us something you think is perfect. You have no deadlines. Live free.”
In November, he unveiled a few more details surrounding his upcoming project including the title, Writers and Fighters.
“hey guys, done dropping for awhile, besides the live album, working on a new project!” Bryan wrote before adding, “album for 2023 is called ‘Writers and Fighters’ and I have never been more excited for anything in my life.”
Despite the delay, listeners still have a slew of music to enjoy from Bryan, who spent 2022 dropping his major label debut album, American Heartbreak, his 9-track EP, Summertime Blues, and his live album, All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster (Live from Red Rocks).
The Gold-certified triple album, American Heartbreak, has already surpassed 3.6 billion streams globally, and is quickly approaching Platinum status. The collection currently sits at No. 8 the Billboard Top 200 chart.
“I would say true love of anything is supposed to rip your heart out and put it back together all in the same go round. This album to me is all the trials we face day-in and day out and I wrote all the stories on it hoping someone, somewhere might relate or some kid might pick up an instrument and replicate it in an effort to be an artist,” Bryan previously shared of his critically acclaimed project.
“Some songs are sad, some are happy, some are hopeful, and some are hopeless, all of them mean something different to me and I pray they mean something to someone else,” he continued. “American Heartbreak is my effort at trying to explain what being a 26-year-old man in America is like. There’s love, loss, revelry, resentment, and forgiveness all wrapped into one piece of work. Thank you, guys, for listening, always.”
In the last year, the Oologah, Oklahoma native has also unveiled a handful of singles including “Burn, Burn, Burn,” “Starved,” his certified platinum “Something in the Orange,” and more.
Then, the singer/songwriter started the new year off strong with the release of his newest song, “Dawns,” which is a collaboration with songwriter, producer, and performer, Maggie Rogers. Bryan promised to drop this song if the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New York Giants in the highly-anticipated game on January 21. To his fan’s excitement, the Eagles took home the win, and Bryan kept his word.
This track explores the grief that Bryan experienced from losing his mother back in 2016. Realization hits that life is too short to waste any time as he longs for the chance to relive the memories of his mother’s “southern drawl,” or her “prayin’ through the walls in the evening.”
Together, they sing, “Give me my dawns back / Everything that dies makes it way back / I lost her last July in a heart attack / I need one small victory / Give me my dawns back / ‘Cause everything that dies makes its way on back / I lost her last July in a heart attack / I need one small victory.”
“Dawns” follows the announcement of Zach Bryan’s 2023 Burn, Burn, Burn Tour and his 2023 GRAMMY nomination for “Best Country Solo Performance.”
He shared the news of this milestone accomplishment on social media with the caption, “thank you for the Grammy nomination. I’m truly thankful and didn’t deserve a sold out tour or to be successful at all. I love you all so much, and thank you all for your continued hatred for ticketmaster. so good to be home.”
Zach Bryan’s upcoming tour will serve as his longest-running to date. He is slated to headline some of the country’s most popular arenas and amphitheaters from coast-to-coast, beginning May 10 in Charlottesville, VA.
He will also make an appearance at a number of festivals like Two Step Inn Festival, Railbird Festival, Summerfest, Windy City Smokeout, and more.
