Yorkton music fans will know the name Zachary Lucky from his shows at the old 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer.
And, of course the Saskatoon based folksinger has family ties to the area as the grandson of the well-known Smilin鈥� Johnnie of Wroxton.
Lucky has been in Toronto this weekend for the release of a new album, one which took some time to come about.
Entitled 鈥楳idwestern鈥� the latest album has taken almost exactly three years to come together after Lucky鈥檚 last recording.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been about three years now, almost to the day, (see story on that offering ),鈥� Lucky said in a telephone interview with Yorkton This Week Friday, just hours before his recording launch in Toronto. 鈥淭hree years seems to be me, no matter how hard I try to get one out in two years, it stretches out to a third.鈥�
And, Lucky said his time is at more of a premium these days, with a partner and two children, who have changed his life dramatically.
鈥淭hings have definitely changed the last five years, I met my partner and have mixed kids into it. There鈥檚 not as much time is the reality of it.鈥�
There was also a desire to get the latest effort just right.
鈥淚 really wanted to make sure it was a set of songs I was happy with and sometimes that takes a bit longer,鈥� said Lucky.
While admitting it might be a tad clich茅d in the sense everybody says their latest recording is their best, in his case he does believe 鈥渋t鈥檚 some of the best.鈥�
That might come from maturity as a songwriter, as age does change perspective, not that Lucky is not proud of earlier material.
鈥淚 see songs I wrote in my 20s, that are still saying something,鈥� he said.
That said Lucky said he does think being older has gave him perspective in terms 鈥渙f what words I鈥檓 putting in a song.鈥�
Family has of course impacted Lucky鈥檚 view of his world.
鈥淚 have a clearer vision of what I want in my life,鈥� he said, adding it鈥檚 about family now. 鈥淭hat is the biggest thing. It鈥檚 really not about me anymore.鈥�
Lucky said he is definitely aware that he has children who need him, that while the road calls to him to play music, there are two young people who need a father to help mold them. He said he wants them to be Zachary 2.0.
鈥淚 want them to be a better version of me,鈥� he said.
Lucky鈥檚 life may have changed, but he says it is definitely for the better. He still has his music that he loves, but the road trips are now shorter, with a family to go home too.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what I did to deserve a life like this,鈥� he said, adding it has all taken some adjusting too when he thinks about it.
鈥淚 literally never thought I鈥檇 own a house, or buy a car. Those things never entered the equation for me.鈥�
Of course the music remains near essential in the life of a musician who has spent years touring North America and Europe. Lucky knows he has never quite broken into the big time, but he鈥檚 not sure he鈥檇 want that.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a slow but steady thing,鈥� he said, adding he is appreciative of everyone who has supported his music through the years.
As for breaking big, Lucky said he knows musicians who have done that.
鈥淚 really don鈥檛 know if I鈥檇 want that. I鈥檓 just happy to get dinner and a floor to sleep on.鈥�
You can find Lucky on Facebook, including under his label Wroxton Recordings, or www.zacharylucky.com for physical copies of the latest recording, or digitally at places such as zacharylucky.bandcamp.com
