OneRepublic in Sydney: “Faith is the Rudder that Steers the Ship”

OneRepublic are one of the most successful pop bands of last twenty years, but after what’s been a slow and arduous climb to the top guitarist Zach Filkins reflects on their career with gratefulness for the fans and the faith that’s guided his pursuit.

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The band will perform in Sydney on Friday for their Sweet Escape Tour three years since their last Australian trip, introducing fans to a re-worked show and “a family party”.

“We try to keep everyone in it really from start to finish,” Zach told Hope 103.2.

“We’ve been touring a very similar show for a few years now, and so last year before our tour in Europe [we] pulled the rug out from our show and started over.

“[The Sweet Escape] tour is fresh, it’s different, it’s got more production, more lights [and] we’re going to play a song we’re yet to release called Need Your Love.”

Since debuting in 2007, OneRepublic have earned billions of career streams with songs like Apologize, Counting Stars and the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack feature I Ain’t Worried topping charts worldwide. Frontman Ryan Tedder writes and produces hits for a swath of global acts as well, from Beyonce to Adele and the Jonas Brothers.

Through it all the band seem distinctly grounded and professional, which Zach credits as a reflection of his Christian faith.

“It really dictates just about every decision and every move that I make on a personal level and a business level,” Zach said.

“All other things need to be below that in order for them to have their right place.”

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As artists – and in life – we need to ask ourselves, “what we’re chasing after” and “what is the most important thing”.

“If money is the most important thing, if success is the most important thing, then you end up directing your whole life in that direction and other things suffer,” Zach said.

“I think faith is the rudder that dictates the direction of the ship, at least for me personally.”

Getting to perform in front of a live crowd is something Zach still loves after all these years, especially when screens can absorb so much of our time and A.I. is seen as a threat to live events.

“I honestly feel like the live show is not going to die because there’s no preplacement for it,” Zach said.

“[You’re] truly in the moment and truly alive. You’re with thousands of other people experiencing the same thing with you.”

Over 20 years into their career, which at times has felt close to ending, Zach thinks now is OneRepublic’s sweet spot.

“We’ve done tours where halfway through it all of us have been at our wits end,” Zach said.

“You have to let that freak out happen, then sit back and say, ‘This isn’t sustainable – how do we change it?’

“But I feel like we’ve earned the right now to lean back and enjoy ourselves and not feel like we’re scrambling anymore.

“We’re just very grateful to be where we are and to have the fans that are so committed and so loyal.”

Tickets are on sale now for OneRepublic’s Sydney show at Qudos Bank Arena this Friday February 6 as part of the Sweet Escape Tour.

Listen to the full conversation with Zach Filkins in the player above.

Feature image: Supplied