Check out the brilliant song-craft on display from Pittsburgh singer-songwriter Zack Keim in his latest single. “Battery Lane” builds beautifully, with delicate guitar repeating over warm bass and gently pulsing rhythms. When the percussion becomes more forceful, the song swells over sustained notes and tinkling keys. Throughout, there’s a gorgeous vulnerability to Keim’s tuneful voice and sensitive, reflective lyrics. His writing and performance are subtle, graceful and memorable.
The clever, artful video, directed by Anthony Peduzzi, is full of a sense of memory and reminiscence, reflecting a period in Keim’s life when things were changing. He explains: “It’s about going back to start all over again. In August 2019, at 22, something deep inside was calling for change. I needed to get away — to find independence. The people around me in my hometown had good intentions, but I could feel their expectations weighing on me, as if they saw a path for me I wasn’t sure I wanted. I moved to the Washington DC area, in part, to figure out who I wanted to be. Battery Lane had a mystic, almost timeless vibe. The building wasn’t fancy — built in the 1920s, with worn floors and old fixtures. But something about its age and character made it feel like a place where I could truly find myself. As I started settling into my new life, 2020 hit. That year forced many of us to look at our lives differently, and I was no exception. My relationship ended, my grandmother passed away, and I lost my record label. The weight of it all was overwhelming, but every loss and every mistake forced me to look deeper into myself. Within the walls of Battery Lane, I picked up my guitar again. Music had always been there, but now, it became the one thing that kept me grounded.”
This is the title track from Keim’s forthcoming album, which is due for release on 7th February 2025. Definitely one to watch out for in 2025.
