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Zachary Lucky: The Wind

Interview

We reach Zachary Lucky in Ontario, but he’s proud to say that he won’t get rid of that 306 phone number. For those in the know, that’s Saskatchewan!

He’s originally from Saskatoon, and says, “My family comes from Wroxton, close to Yorkton. We still have the farm where my great-grandparents emigrated to and homesteaded. My grandfather, Canadian country music pioneer Smilin’ Johnnie Lucky, lived out there with my grandmother.”

Known for his busy touring schedule, Lucky says he did 80 or 90 shows last year. However, he also says, “I’m not 25 anymore, so I’m trying to be smart about it, and break it up a bit.”

He’ll be in Alberta for six concert dates this month. Audiences can expect to hear tracks from his latest album, The Wind. It’s a gorgeous record, full of quiet country songs that pack an emotional punch.

The project developed while Lucky was on tour. He was in Eastern Canada, with his dobro player, Miles Zurawell, who’s from Ardrossan, Alberta. Lucky says, “His playing has become a big part of my sound. It helped shape the vibe we were going for with The Wind.”

Lucky says, “I had new songs in my pocket, and we were road testing them to see if they worked. I looked at Miles and said, ‘If we don’t make this record this week, we won’t make it.'”

So it all came together quite quickly, working with Benjamin Dakota Rogers, who played on the album and provided the studio in Scotland, Ontario.

The result is a clear sound that keeps the focus on Lucky’s vocals and guitar. Says Lucky, “I tracked voice and guitar, Miles tracked the dobro, and we built the record around that. Pieced it together.”

Now, as he prepares for more tour dates, Lucky says he’s happy with how the record turned out. And it’s not impossible for him to imagine himself returning to Saskatchewan. “I always thought I would live out there. Heck, I still might. Got a lot of road left.”

Zachary Lucky has shows in Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, and Canmore in January. Find details and tickets at zacharylucky.com

Zachary Lucky will also be Leo Cripps’ guest on Discoveries on Thursday, January 16. Tune in between 9am and 11am or catch it OnDemand.

Here’s “Good At Gettin’ Gone” from Zachary Lucky’s 2024 album The Wind.