Interview With Ted Zakka of Americana/Country Rock Collective Ted Z and the Wranglers
We caught up with Ted Z to discuss the band's upcoming album 'Kerosene', the creative process behind their music, thoughts on AI in music, dream collaborations, and more.
Ted Z and the Wranglers are a Southern California-based Americana and roots rock collective, led by frontman Ted Zakka. Known for their distinct blend of lush storytelling and dynamic sound, the band has shared stages with legendary acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Steppenwolf.
Their upcoming album, Kerosene, set to release this fall, highlights their evolution toward a more rock-driven vibe while staying true to their roots.
In this interview, Ted Z shares insights into the band's creative process, the gear that shapes their sound, his thoughts on AI in music, aspiring collaborations, and more.
Chris Roditis, Musicngear: Your upcoming album 'Kerosene' has been described as your best work yet. What was the creative process like for this album, and how do you feel your sound has evolved since your earlier releases like 'Ghost Train' and 'Southland'?
The creative process for this one was more based on an electric guitar feel. For the last couple of years, I made a transition from spending most of my playing time on acoustic to electric guitar. That helped create a space for a more rock and roll vibe.
The players in the band are all top-notch at their instruments and bring some really different ideas and grooves to the songs. It's really a collective and collaborative writing process now.
Your sound is a unique blend of Americana, rockabilly, and roots rock. Can you walk us through your go-to gear for achieving that signature tone, both in the studio and during live performances?
Live it is really up to the soundman to make sure we get the right tones. I generally have a front-of-the-house soundman that we bring out for shows.
As far as tones I play guitar through Jaguar amps and have a fairly simple setup. A touch of distortion and reverb and I am good to go.
Make sure you surround yourself with good people. Find a group of players that are not only talented but kind and caring. That is not always an easy combo but it can really go a long way
Ted, your gravelly vocals are a key element of the band’s sound. What microphones and vocal processing techniques do you rely on to capture that authentic quality in your recordings?
That is a complicated question. As far as techniques and setup for vocal recordings I respect and trust my long-time engineer Scott Z.
He knows his stuff and is always experimenting with new ways to get the best take and punch or whatever the track is asking for.
You’ve shared stages with legends like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Steppenwolf. How have these experiences influenced your music and performances, and what advice would you give to other artists looking to make a mark in the industry?
Make sure you surround yourself with good people. Find a group of players that are not only talented but kind and caring. That is not always an easy combo but it can really go a long way.
As far as how to navigate this industry, I am still learning on a daily basis. Rehearse and find your sound and continue to enjoy the process. The ride and the experience are the most valuable part of making music.
Recording 'Kerosene' took a few years, allowing you to road-test the songs. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during this process, and what advice would you give to other artists dealing with similar obstacles?
The biggest challenge is always finding the songs that resonate live. Balancing new songs and older songs folks expect to hear is another obstacle.
Road-testing songs is a really great way to not only tighten up tunes prior to recording but allows you to play with ideas that may or may not be set.
The topic of AI-generated music is increasingly relevant. As a band that embodies raw, authentic sound, what are your thoughts on the rise of AI in music creation, and how do you see it affecting the future of the industry?
That’s a good question. To be honest, I am not sure where the AI rise in music will lead.
I can only hope that whatever it morphs into it does not take away from the passion and art that humans are capable of creating.
Looking ahead, are there any artists or bands, whether in the Americana genre or beyond, that you’d love to collaborate with?
I would love to work with Nathaniel Rateliff.
Connect with Ted Z and the Wranglers
Facebook / X / Instagram / Spotify / Website
With Kerosene set to light up the music scene this fall, Ted Z and the Wranglers are gearing up for an extensive US and European tour. Stay tuned for the album release and catch them live to experience their dynamic sound firsthand.
About Chris Roditis
Chris Roditis has been an active musician since 1995 in various bands and projects across a variety of genres ranging from acoustic, electronic to nu metal, british rock and trip hop. He has extensive experience as a mixing engineer and producer and has built recording studios for most of the projects he has been involved with. His passion for music steered his entrepreneurial skills into founding MusicNGear in 2012.
Contact Chris Roditis at chrisroditis@kinkl.com
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