Zach Top Isn’t Here For the Hype: The Story Behind "Ain’t In It For My Health"
- All Country News
- 22 hours ago
- 5 min read
"It wasn’t a one-hit wonder thing… I’m here to stay. I ain’t in it for my health."
Those words, delivered with a mix of grit and humor, aren’t just lyrics, they’re a mission statement. Zach Top, the bluegrass-bred, country-infused songwriter, stopped by Spotify’s Countdown To Vodcast with Dierks Bentley to discuss his sophomore album, Ain’t In It For My Health, and life in the music industry. What followed was an intimate, honest, and often hilarious conversation about the craft of songwriting, the realities of touring, and the role of family in shaping his musical identity.
Roots Run Deep: From Barns to Big Stages
Top’s love of music was born in the small towns, steeped in bluegrass and family jam sessions. His earliest memories are of sitting around a worn wooden table with his siblings, plucking, strumming, and harmonizing late into the night. “Bluegrass teaches you patience, teamwork, and the joy of sharing the spotlight,” Top explains. “It’s not just about playing the notes, it’s about making the music live and breathe for everyone listening.”
The influence of legends like Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and Ricky Skaggs is undeniable, but Top never wanted to simply imitate. He absorbed the textures of traditional string music and blended them with his own storytelling instincts, laying the foundation for a sound that respects roots but doesn’t feel dated. His early performances at local fairs, church halls, and small bars gave him more than stage experience, they instilled the value of connecting directly with an audience.
"Every time you play for someone, you learn something new about yourself and the craft," Top says. “You learn to listen, to read the room, to tell a story that resonates.”
By the time he started touring nationally, Top’s stage presence was a refined mix of technical skill and relatable charm. Audiences aren’t just listening, they’re engaged. And that connection, Top insists, is the core of everything he does.
Crafting a Sophomore Statement
Top’s first album earned critical acclaim, but it was more a statement of potential than a declaration of intent. With Ain’t In It For My Health, he had the chance to define himself, not just as a songwriter but as an artist with a distinct voice and vision.
"This album has been years in the making," he says. “Some songs were demoed long before they made it to the studio. We wanted every track to feel intentional, like part of a bigger story.”
The album’s title, suggested by producer Carson Chamberlain, is deceptively simple but profoundly resonant. Ain’t In It For My Health is a nod to authenticity and perseverance. It signals Top’s refusal to chase trends or succumb to the fleeting whims of the industry.
Each track on the album reflects a different aspect of Top’s musical identity. Tightrope balances humor with heart, showcasing Top’s clever lyricism and narrative instincts. Songs like Guitar are pure homage to the craft itself, marrying technical prowess with melodic accessibility.
"I wanted listeners to feel like they were in the room with me," Top says. “Every note, every lyric—it’s meant to tell a story, and I wanted the album to feel cohesive, like a conversation rather than just a collection of songs.”
Chamberlain, known for his work with Alan Jackson and George Strait, pushed Top to explore emotional depth without sacrificing musicality. The result is an album that’s both reflective and engaging, a modern country statement rooted in tradition.
Life on the Road: Chaos, Camaraderie, and Poolside Stories
Touring is where Top’s personality really shines. The Countdown To conversation with Dierks Bentley wasn’t just about studio work—it was filled with hilarious road stories, moments of unexpected camaraderie, and glimpses behind the curtain of a musician’s life.
"Every car, every plane, every Jeep—I’ve got lumbar support from Amazon," Top jokes. “You don’t realize how much that matters until you’re sitting in a van for 14 hours.”
Beyond the humor, touring has allowed Top to refine his craft in real time. Live audiences demand spontaneity and adaptability, skills that can’t be learned in a studio. Every show is a lab experiment: which lyrics resonate, which riffs hit the heart, and which moments bring people to their feet.
He also cherishes the bonds formed on the road. Fellow musicians become family, sharing late-night meals, on-the-spot jam sessions, and inside jokes that never make it past the bus walls. These experiences are both grounding and inspiring, reminding Top why he chose this path in the first place.
"You see the seed of an idea, you demo it, you record it, and then people sing it back to you—that’s the finished product," Top reflects. “Touring is where the music comes alive. That’s where the songs truly find their home.”
Family, Legacy, and the Heart of the Music
Family is central to Top’s story. Before the bright lights and big stages, he and his siblings were performing together in local bluegrass bands, learning to harmonize not just musically but emotionally. These early experiences shaped his work ethic, his collaborative instincts, and his dedication to storytelling.
"Family taught me more about music than any studio ever could," he says. “It’s where you learn to listen, to support, to complement, and that carries over into everything else.”
Top also sees himself as part of a larger musical legacy. He draws inspiration from contemporary bluegrass innovators like Billy Strings, artists who honor tradition while pushing the genre forward. Top believes the next generation of musicians has the responsibility to blend the old with the new, preserving authenticity while expanding the language of country music.
"It’s about taking something old and giving it new life," Top says. “That’s what keeps country and bluegrass relevant, exciting, and human.”
A Mission Beyond the Music
Ain’t In It For My Health isn’t just an album, it’s a declaration. Zach Top is staking his claim in modern country with an approach that respects roots, embraces humor, and tells stories that stick.
"I’m here to make music that lasts," he says. And with this album, he’s proving it. Each track is a piece of a larger narrative, combining personal history, technical skill, and a clear-eyed vision of the road ahead.
Whether you’re drawn to the twang of a well-placed guitar, the clever lyric, or the story behind the song, Top delivers on every front. He’s not in it for the spotlight. He’s not in it for the clout. He’s in it for the music, the craft, and the connection.
You can tune into the can't miss convo below!
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