ZACH JOHN KING ANNOUNCES SLOW DOWN EP OUT MAY 23RD & RELEASES ‘I DESERVE A HEARTBREAK’ OUT NOW

Making a name for himself as “a rising force in country music” (All Country News), Zach John King today announces that he will be dropping an upcoming EP, Slow Down, on May 23.

https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/3jH0QrB74hHsgJtNsoePOk?si=ChMymGomThONMmjsqAwRLA

Produced by Ryan Wilson, the six-song EP will introduce fans to King’s trailblazing sound, combining elements of country, indie rock, and striking, honest lyrics. Featuring King’s signature emotional vocals, the emerging artist’s passion will emanate throughout the EP as he also co-wrote all six tracks on the project. The EP will explore the many stages of heartbreak including denial, regret, acceptance, and everything in between. The announcement of the project follows the success of the title track, “Slow Down,” with the song earning 4.9 million global streams as well as placements on Spotify’s “Hot Country” playlist and Apple Music’s “Today’s Country” playlist, among others. 
 
“This EP is the first project this year where I finally feel like I’ve captured a full picture of who I am—both as a person and as an artist,” King shared. “Once you listen top to bottom, you’ll get the good and the bad sides of me—the heartbreaks, the love stories, my mistakes, the things I care about, and the person I’m still becoming. Every track holds a piece of my story, and my hope is that when people listen, they find a piece of their own story in it too. I’m so stoked to get it out to my fans and let them connect with it. Slow Down—the EP—is the most honest storytelling I’ve ever put to music, and whether people love it or hate it, I’m proud of what it represents. It’s vulnerable, real, and exactly where I’m at right now.” 
 
The full track list for Slow Down includes: 
1. Lose You – Zach John King / Alex Hope / Sasha Sloan 
2. She Didn’t Have To – Zach John King / Beau Bailey / Matt McVaney / Joybeth Taylor 
3. I Deserve A Heartbreak – Zach John King / Thomas Archer / Michael Lotten
4. Slow Down – Zach John King / Thomas Archer / Kyle Fishman / Michael Taylor 
5. Hole In The Wall – Zach John King / Abram Dean / Jimmy Robbins 
6. Cold Shoulder – Zach John King / Zarni Dewet / Tom Whall 
 
King also released a new track, “I Deserve A Heartbreak,” which is out today. Penned by King, Thomas Archer, and Michael Lotten

“”I wrote ‘I Deserve a Heartbreak’ about how breakups are rarely fair,” King shared. “One person always seems to carry more of the pain, and I’ve realized they don’t break evenly. We wanted to write a song that asks—if everything shook out fairly and I got back exactly what I gave—would I deserve the same heartbreak that I caused? It’s a classic country story told from a fresh perspective, and we’re really proud of the production. I pulled in a lot of my indie rock influences on this one, and there’s a huge breakdown in the middle that feels really unique. I don’t think you’ll hear this sound anywhere else.”
 
Additionally, King recently dropped song “Cold Shoulder,” with MusicRow Magazine commenting, “His plaintive singing is backed by simple, plucked guitar strings. As the heartbreaking regret grows, a steel sighs in the distance. Echoey and aching.” 
 
2025 has already proven to be a busy year for King. The singer-songwriter recently played a number of shows across the country as well as international dates, including the iconic C2C Festival, leading Entertainment Focus to recognize him as one of the “5 Must-See Artists At This Year’s C2C Festival In London.” King is also hitting the road as an opener for Nate Smith’s “Through The Smoke Tour” and will continue touring with Vincent Mason 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. With his upcoming EP set for release in May, a new chapter now begins, and there’s much more on tap. 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. 

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