Zach Bryan says he feels more creatively alive since giving up alcohol.
The 30-year-old musician has opened up about his sobriety journey, sharing what pushed him to quit drinking.
On his YouTube channel, Zach explained: “I used to treat sobriety as a joke because it’s people who can’t control themselves celebrating not being able to control themselves. When I was drinking heavily, I wondered why I couldn’t rein it in. I never realized I had a problem.”
He recognized the seriousness of his drinking during a month-long motorcycle trek from New York to Los Angeles.
The artist, who had intended to document the journey with friends, wound up spending much of his time drinking solo in bars.
He recalled: “I kept stopping at all these bars and drinking myself to sleep. Every morning I woke up, climbed back on my motorcycle, and felt as if I were on some sort of soul journey.”
The pivotal moment arrived in Seattle, where he questioned whether the effort of the trip was even worthwhile.
He explained: “After all the beautiful scenery, all those nights, all the bars I’ve visited, all the things I’ve done, I was at a Pilot truck stop just outside Seattle. I’ll never forget this moment for as long as I live.”
“I walked into this Pilot, grabbed a forty-ounce Budweiser, and sat on the curb with my motorcycle out front. I drank it and thought, what was all that for? Why did I do any of that? I feel emptier now than when I started.”
After that, Zach quit drinking and believes the change has benefited his music career.
The country star said he has rediscovered his passion for writing songs.
He shared: “Quitting drinking has been really great. I’ve had a lot of fun.”
“I enjoy writing again; I haven’t felt this way since I was 17. I feel like a kid again. I wake up ready to go, eager to dive in, I want to jump in the pond, I want to play with the dog, I want to do everything.”
