Buddy's House Show Crash Course: Zak G

By Buddy Murphy / Photos from Maddi Brown

Welcome to my House Show Crash Course.

Welcome to Buddy’s House Show Crash Course, a quick guide to what to expect at this season’s house shows. We’ll go over who’s playing, who they are, and what makes them worth your five dollars. For the first part of the Crash Course, we’re going to spotlight a neighborhood vet, a house show hero, a local phenom, Zak G.

A quick bio on Zak G would tell you that he’s been around the block more than once. His discography includes two albums, Lucid Dreamz and The Awakening Theory, the latter of which dropped earlier this summer. Zak G is from just outside Syracuse, he went to school in central New York, and spent some time in New Jersey and New York City to record during the pandemic. Since returning to central New York after the pandemic, Zak G has played a multitude of shows in the University neighborhood. Early in the 2021-2022 season, Zak G performed songs off of his debut album, Lucid Dreamz, and really started to stamp his impression on the scene. Songs like “Why?”, “El Dorado”, and “Glisten” quickly became fan favorites within the community. Personally, “Why?” and “Glisten” are my two favorites to hear. 

Zak G performing at the Blue Room last fall.

Another thing about Zak G that is critically important to know before stepping into the basement is that you will be involved. For those of you that don’t know or have never experienced a house show before, it is exactly what it sounds like. You’re in someone’s house, usually their basement, crammed up with some sweaty strangers pounding whatever light beer or seltzer you brought in with you. Zak G takes full advantage of this. Everytime. Guaranteed. He will bring you in front of everyone to showcase your moves, to jump around with him, to do whatever. Just know that you WILL NOT be standing still at a Zak G show. 

The second album in Zak G’s discography, The Awakening Theory, is in a different realm than Lucid Dreamz. As a listener, The Awakening Theory is a culmination of influences, revisited and reinvigorated songs, and experiments. As a fan, I can hear that Zak G is inspired by Igor by Tyler the Creator, Kanye West, and Kid Cudi. I had the chance to sit down with Zak after he dropped the album earlier this summer and talk about the process of the makings of the album. Some of the highlights that Zak brought up was that this album wasn't really supposed to be an album. A lot of the songs were started and finished at a much later date. 

“It sort of just worked out that all of it came together the way it did.”

Zak G’s latest album, The Awakening Theory.

Zak also talked about how the pandemic threw a curveball in his recording. Right before the pandemic, Zak moved down to Jersey City, New Jersey, to record and work. When the pandemic hit, Zak moved back to central New York and went under the knife for a hip surgery (hip was most likely injured from going crazy at house shows).

After completing the greatest comeback rehab story since Derrick Rose and his knee injury, Zak G was right back to it. The latter portion of the 2021-2022 saw Zak G sport a suit and tie at the majority of his house shows, and it was more than a few. At these later shows, basement dweller fans were treated to songs from The Awakening Theory before it was released. For the 2022-2023 season, expect to see just as much, if not more, of Zak G in the University Neighborhood. Hot off of a single release with Syracuse local artist LeVII, Zak G will be kicking off his season on September 2nd with LeVII and Studio 89.

Follow Zak G on socials here: https://www.iamzakg.com/socials

Stream Zak G music on all streaming platforms here: https://www.iamzakg.com/stream