His youngest son Owen acted as assistant engineer (and primary engineer on vocal tracks), and his wife Carolyn took all the album art photos. Even his 13-year-old daughter Clementine contributed, adding some percussion. :-) How cool is that?
BIO:
If you ask singer-songwriter Martin Zellar what he’s most proud of over his long career, he answers, “I guess that I’ve managed to support my family by writing, recording, and performing music for over 35 years. It hasn’t always been easy or glamorous, but I’ve found a way. I still love what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else. And honestly, the fact that I’m not qualified to do anything else has been a motivator.”
Zellar first appeared on the fertile mid-80s Minneapolis music scene as the lead singer and songwriter of the alt-country pioneering Gear Daddies and has toured extensively with the band and as a solo artist. With 9 albums under his belt, Zellar’s latest effort, an 11-song album called Head West, builds on his long tradition of delivering what his fans have come to expect from him: quality songwriting and heartfelt performances. The LP, available on CDs and vinyl, was recorded primarily at Zellar’s Cruz de Piedra studio in Central Mexico, where he lives with his family.
Creating Head West was a true family affair. Zellar’s eldest son Wilson engineered, mixed, and mastered the album in addition to playing all the guitar tracks. His youngest son Owen acted as assistant engineer (and primary engineer on vocal tracks), and his wife Carolyn took all the album art photos. Even his 13-year-old daughter Clementine contributed, adding some percussion.
“Before the quarantine, I wasn’t sure I would ever record another album,” says Zellar, “but like many other people, the downtime provided a lot of time for my mind to roam. I think these songs reflect equal parts looking back and looking to the future. I am incredibly proud of this album, and the process of recording it was one of the most gratifying experiences of my life.” Zellar stresses that the family approach to recording the album was organic, not affected. “Everyone involved was incredibly qualified. I think that will be apparent when you listen.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve really leaned into promoting and touring behind an album,” says Zellar, “but I feel strongly that this album deserves to be heard, and I look forward to doing everything in my power to make sure it does.”
National Street Date: October 6th, 2023
“…writers, from Dylan to Springsteen, often tell us far more about the human condition by concentrating on life’s everyday moments. That’s the strength of Martin Zellar…” -Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times
1. Head West (2:53)*2. The Road Led Here (3:53)3. Better Off Apart (3:26)*4. We Ran Wild (Back in the Day) (4:26)5. Boats Slowly Sinking (4:14)6. Texas Just Won’t End (2:44)7. Goodbye Wild Bill (4:49)+8. Much More Than This (3:27)9. Anyone But Me (2:58)10. Big City Man (4:00)11. Forty Years Along (4:45)
* suggested tracks+ all tracks FCC clean except Goodbye Wild Bill
Website: martinzellar.com
GENERAL CONTACT: info@
Produced by Martin Zellar
All songs written by Martin Zellar (Wilson Dean Music/BMI)
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Wilson Zellar
Players:
Dominic Ciola: bass
Scott Wenum: drums, percussion, backing vocals
Martin Zellar: vocals, harmonica
Wilson Zellar: guitars
Clementine Zellar-Beaudot: percussion on The Road Led Here
Brian Beken: mandolin & banjo on The Road Led Here
Randy Broughten: pedal steel guitar on Anyone but Me and Boats Slowly Sinking
Ali Gray: backing vocals on We Ran Wild, 40 Years Along & Head West
Presley Haile: vocals on Better off Apart, backing vocals on Boats Slowly Sinking
Geoff Queen: mandolin, pedal steel & lap steel on Goodbye Wild Bill, pedal steel guitar on 40 Years Along, lap steel guitar on Texas Just Won't End
Pat Manske: Percussion on Big City Man
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