No Cover: Zachary Cale

Zebulon recently received a visit from young folk balladeer Zachary Cale. We've got the whole show as a free stream right here.

Before You Press Play

Hometown: Brooklyn

The Facts: Born in a tiny Louisiana town, Zachary Cale spent some formative years on the Olympia music scene before landing in New York. His music, rich with Americana influences, fits the profile of a country-crossing troubador. Cale's moody lyrics and accomplished guitar playing have drawn comparisons to Leonard Cohen and John Fahey, and his voice, in its lower register, is eerily reminiscent of early Bob Dylan.

The Sound: Spare, chilly, indie soundtrack-worthy folk that nods to its influences without attempting to revive them.

Latest Release: Walking Papers (2010) on All Hands Electric

He Said, She Said: "Playing solo and with full band accompaniment, this loner/Leonard Cohen acolyte plays an accomplished guitar and writes serious lyrics with poetic depth. He’s able to pull it off extraordinarily well, too, at times recalling the Mark Fry LP none of us had heard until recently." - Doug Mosurock, Dusted Magazine

"Zachary Cale is a songwriter's songwriter, as prolific as he is original. His voice can be delicate for love or wry for satire. The ability to hear what is in a song has guided him well in the making of his own. While the influence of traditional American music is always present in his compositions, he is able to infuse something fresh and new to the form." - John Allen, WFMU