The Story of Zachary Effman
A Retrospective on the SLU Java Graduate
Zachary Effman ’23 graduated with a Music degree from St. Lawrence University in May 2023. After winning the 2023 Battle of the Bands, they opened for Moxie and Neon Trees at that year’s Springfest. Later that year, they joined a Java-frequent band, Bella’s Bartok, known across campus for their elaborate stage shows and anthems of total “heavy-ocity.”
Effman grew up in Albany, New York, and took guitar lessons starting in the fifth grade. But music did not become a major part of their life until a few years later. As Effman describes, “I got a really bad concussion while skiing and was pulled out of school for a month… so I spent the entire month playing guitar.” Leading towards college, music dictated much of Effman’s career choices. They initially planned on studying law but opted to follow their passion for music during the Covid-19 quarantine. “I chose SLU because of the Java Barn and SLU Funk… I joined Improv Lab and started my first band at college in my second semester.” Effman they joined the Java Barn theme house and their captivating hold on all things SLU music was inevitable.
But of course, the four years had to end inevitably. “My last year was magic. I had surrounded myself with fantastic people and groups who inspired me to be better and learn more… I miss dancing like fools at the Java shows and the camaraderie that came with putting on each event. I miss living with my best friends and having a music venue to practice in and jam at whenever I pleased…I miss playing with and learning from [Improv Lab Director] Tim Savage. ”
A few months after graduation, Effman had the opportunity to join a Java staple, Bella’s Bartok. “I went to as many shows as I could… and built relationships with the people in the band. At one show, I was told that the bassist was leaving the band at the end of the year and Asher (the band’s founder)… asked me if I was interested. I had never really played bass before but I dedicated every free moment of my life for the next 3 months to the instrument. I connected with it in a very different way than guitar as it was all
about the pocket and creating a groove. It helped me to be a lot more free in both my playing and writing.”
Effman officially joined the group in January 2024 and soon began touring, even stopping by SLU in February for a wonderful night to remember. Effman says of the touring process, “Being on the road is my favorite thing. Sharing jokes across the country and trying every city’s signature sandwich is a blast. I never thought I’d know so much about so many gas stations. (Sheetz is awesome and Ricky Rockets in Chicago was super cool!)…Playing festivals is definitely a highlight as we get to see tons of great bands and play big stages in front of massive crowds.” The band’s next two shows will be in Virginia at the end of October.
As a special preview, Effman also hints at Bartok’s upcoming project. “We’re in the process of writing songs for the new album. The sound of the band has totally evolved because the songwriting is incredibly collaborative so we all inject each song with some of our individual style. It’s going to be an amazing project that I cannot wait to share with everyone that will listen.” Although no album release date has been set yet, Java fans will have to eagerly await their return to SLU.
Effman was a personal idol of mine as a first-year guitarist while they were a senior. The highlight of my year was seeing them perform in Group Shower alongside the greats of Java: Rosie Johns ’23, Max Sabo ’23, Erin Reynolds ’25, Taylor Beidler ’25, Cara Monteleone ’24 (and the Lighthouse’s Finn Paulsen
’25.) Through heartfelt performances of Fleetwood Mac’s “Silver Springs” and Brandi Carlile’s “The Story,” they planted a unique aperture in SLU’s music history. I remember being on barricade at that show shouting each word to their eclectic cover songs, embracing the operatic feeling of spiritual bliss and uncontrollable joy. Zach’s stage presence is pure rock, with their flowing black curls and decadent floral shirts to mounds of face glitter and ever-fashionable skirts.
In conclusion, I will leave you with an important trail of advice that Effman told me last February, “find what makes you passionate and excited. The thing that makes your heart beat faster when you talk about it. Then it all comes down to two things: hard work and opportunity. The hard work is all on you. Practice, study, seek knowledge, whatever you need to do and just put in the work. That way when the opportunity arises you are ready and can take full advantage of it. Also, join improv lab and lisen to everything Tim Savage has to say.”
*This posts original title was edited to correct a mispelling.