Dubbed a “country newcomer” who is “turning heads with his music” (Country Swag), Zach John King releases a new track, “Cold Shoulder” ahead of his performance at Country To Country Festival over the weekend of 14-16th March 2025.
Produced by Ryan Wilson, King wrote the track with Zarni Dewet and Tom Whall. The song tells the story of narrator reliving the painful memory of breaking up with an ex, remembering how it felt to walk away. The midtempo track features nearly acoustic production and King’s ability to convey the raw emotions of a breakup with his vocals.
“I wrote Cold Shoulder to paint a vivid picture of what it feels like to lose someone you love,” shares King. “I wanted it to be incredibly visual—so that when you listen, you feel like you’re right there in the moment. At its core, it’s a simple story about one of the hardest nights of my life. We recorded it in a single take, which is a really special detail. It’s the most stripped-down song I’ve ever released, and I’m excited for people to hear a different side of me.”
“Cold Shoulder” comes on the heels of King’s recent release, “Slow Down,” which led to feedback of how King is “a force to be reckoned with in country music,” (All Country News). He also released a music video for “Slow Down” which is now in rotation on CMT Music – watch HERE. Additionally, King is currently on the road with Vincent Mason as an opener for Mason’s “Hell Is A Dance Floor Tour.”
Pairing the reflective insight of a roots poet with the edgy intensity of raw alt-rock, Sony Music Nashville artist Zach John King is pushing country in a brand new (yet-strangely-familiar) direction – straight toward the truth, no matter where it leads. Raised in Fayetteville, Georgia and a lyricist first (with multiple generations of poets in the family), the rising star grew up old school but dreaming of escape. A fan of everything from George Jones and Otis Redding to The Police, Third Eye Blind, Switchfoot, and Biz Markie, King fronted an indie-rock band through college before making the move to Nashville in 2021, inspired to explore his country roots as the mainstream genre expands. Whether it was through power chords and pounding drums or bare-knuckle balladry, his minimalistic country-meets-rock sound resulted in his first solo track in 2023 – an audacious collision of styles titled “Just Missed You,” filled with vivid authenticity – and a series of independent singles followed before King’s 2024 breakout single, “Wannabe Cowboy.” Boasting a less-is-more indie-roots presentation, the conflicted confessional ballad stands in bold contrast to country’s chest thumping identity anthems and has so far garnered 3.4 million streams worldwide, with placement on high-profile playlists like Spotify’s New Boots, Fresh Country and Next From Nashville. Releasing the grungy, slow burning dive-bar anthem “Hole In the Wall” at the end of 2024, a new chapter now begins, and there’s much more on tap. Angling toward a wider 2025 debut, King will keep exploring the raw, rootsy borderlands where country and rock collide, wielding electric guitars, a smoky vocal edge and little else. For more information, visit zachjohnking.com.
About Author
