Biography

Zack Schwartz started his music career like many other children—with a recorder in music class. He soon progressed to drums around age 10 and later taught himself guitar in order to impress all the ladies in college by being “that guy” at the party. Zack has never been particularly cautious or methodical person. Otherwise, he might have gone to college the first time around with an idea of what he wanted to be when he “grew up,” instead of wasting $30k on a P.R. degree and no interest in sales. He might also have listened to his parents when they told him to focus on school or sports or God rather than music. But rational minds don’t make great music. To be fair, maybe Zack doesn’t either.

Because he holds firm to the belief that tastes are relative, Zack wouldn’t describe his music as “great.” He might however describe his sound as folky, punkish, or some other genre that serves to present his music in a nice little wrapped up box. But music, like Zack, isn’t easily defined or typified. Perhaps that’s why he created his own independent record label, Brave New Records, as an outlet for him and his friends to create music without mainstream music industry constraints. Or perhaps it was because he’s busy and broke.

But it’s that beautiful lack of funds that led to the creation of his newest album, “Fibs and Philosophies,” created alongside his friend and roommate, Steve Lightle, in the basement of their house in St. Louis. Written, recorded, and mixed entirely in-house, the latest album from Brave New Records showcases the creative tenacity of two broke guys with a couple of guitars, drum set, and a recording studio made out of top-of-the line sound-insulating blankets.

In effect, the duo created a fast-paced folk-rock album infused with some softer ukulele/vocally based tunes. With the generous help of a few other, similarly funds-deficient friends’ viola, trumpet and vocal stylings, this latest DIY album from Brave New Records isn’t rational or generic, methodical or cautious. It also has a money-back guarantee that it doesn’t suck. So, give ‘er a listen.