“For both, even now, it’s very nerve wracking for me, because oftentimes I’ll stare off into one spot so I don’t have to look at people. It just scares me that there’s so many people around watching”
Buford High School junior Zane Gaskin is an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist with big musical dreams. Gaskin is currently the drummer for Pleasant Dale Baptist Church’s Chosen Youth program, and was formerly a keyboard player.
Gaskin enjoys playing on stage with his bandmates Trace Briggs, Noah Francesco, and Riley Stroud. He plans oncontinuing his passion of worshiping on stage after he graduates, as he has plans for starting a Christian metal band after high school with his friends. “I think it would be awesome and just really fun”
Gaskin has been influenced by music his entire life. From his early days until now, his music taste has been formed by figures in his life, such as his parents, extended family, friends and older siblings. However, his family and friends haven’t been his only influences.
Gaskin’s credits Jesus Christ as his inspiration for playing music. “He is the biggest reason to keep going, why I push on, and he’s the reason I have these talents.” His playing style, however, is inspired by a variety of genres and bands that he listens to. “Right now, my biggest influences, Fear Factory, Soulfly, Disturbed, and Linkin Park. I’m a big Linkin Park fan.”
These bands influence his playing now, but as a beginner Gaskin was influenced by older generations of music. “When I first started playing music, I was listening to older, bluesy stuff. My biggest influences were from the 60’s and 70’s, almost into the 20’s and 30’s”
Gaskin has learned numerous instruments over the years. In his five years of playing, he has learned harmonica, bass guitar, double bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, jaw-harp, auto-harp, accordion, drums, and keyboards. Growing up around people with extensive musical knowledge, whether that be knowledge of different genres, or technical knowledge of playing or making music, helped his understanding of music itself and the more he learned, the more natural it came to him.
When Gaskin plays on stage for his church, worship isn’t the only thing on his mind. Very soon he is moving away from drums to step up as his band’s lead guitarist. This change comes wi
th multiple of its own struggles, as he is helping to teach his replacement how to play all of the songs he will be playing. Not to mention he is also trying to learn the songs to play on lead guitar.
The circumstances that lead to Gaskin taking over lead guitar have been very sudden. His band’s current lead guitarist is leaving temporarily due to complications with his college schedule. This means Gaskin will have to play until the end of the school year, and then will move back to drums until the current lead guitarist leaves in August.
Gaskin is staying optimistic about his optimism though. “The Lord wants me to play guitar for a reason; He’s put it on my life for a reason. He’s put me on stage for a reason– to use the talent He gave me for Him–to share the gospel, my faith, with others.”