Zach John King Proves He’s a Riser to Watch with Heartfelt New Single, ‘Cold Shoulder’
Don’t let the 3:50 runtime fool you—every second of Zach John King’s latest single, "Cold Shoulder", is packed with talent, depth, and emotion. King, a rising force in country music, delivers a stripped-down, cinematic masterpiece that doesn’t rely on bells and whistles to make its mark. Instead, it leans into raw honesty, proving that sometimes, the simplest stories cut the deepest.
Produced by Ryan Wilson and co-written with Zarni Dewet and Tom Whall, the track unfolds like an Oscar-worthy drama, immersing listeners in the gut-wrenching ache of heartbreak. King’s narrator relives the pain of walking away from an ex, the sting of goodbye still fresh in every lyric. It’s a scene that plays out in real-time, filled with grief, longing, and the kind of regret that lingers long after the door closes.
King’s voice has never sounded better. In this raw, unfiltered form, he showcases his full range—an instrument capable of both strength and vulnerability. The nearly acoustic production keeps the focus on his storytelling, allowing his voice to carry the weight of every word. The midtempo track doesn’t need to be overdone; the emotion bleeds through effortlessly.
“I wrote Cold Shoulder to paint a vivid picture of what it feels like to lose someone you love,” shares King. “I wanted it to be incredibly visual—so that when you listen, you feel like you're right there in the moment. At its core, it's a simple story about one of the hardest nights of my life. We recorded it in a single take, which is a really special detail. It’s the most stripped-down song I’ve ever released, and I’m excited for people to hear a different side of me."
With "Cold Shoulder", Zach John King reaffirms what fans and industry insiders have already started to recognize—he’s a name to remember. A storyteller at heart, King doesn’t just sing songs; he lives them, and in doing so, makes sure his listeners do too. If this single is any indication, country music has found its next great voice.