My Top Five Albums - Zarko

For Zarko, music has always been a deeply personal journey, shaped as much by the albums that filled his childhood as by the moments that sparked his own creativity…

From stretching to reach the iconic cover of Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms on his father’s vinyl shelf, to discovering the delicate intimacy of John Mayer’s debut EP, these early encounters ignited a lifelong passion for guitar-driven storytelling. Albums like Sting’s Nothing Like the Sun, Steve Earle’s Guitar Town, and Vertical Horizon’s Everything You Want didn’t just inspire him as a listener — they became benchmarks for the craft he would one day pursue himself.

This week, with the release of his intimate new single Offering My Song, Zarko opens up about the records that shaped him, the moments that defined his musical path, and the stories behind the songs that now define his own voice. We spoke with him about everything from childhood vinyl treasures to the personal experiences that fuel his songwriting, offering a glimpse into the influences behind his heartfelt acoustic sound.

“Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits

One of the albums that had a profound impact on me was “Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits. It was the crown jewel of my dad’s vinyl collection, always sitting high up on the top shelf — just out of reach. As a kid, I’d stretch and climb just to get a look at the cover, mesmerized by the image of Mark Knopfler’s resonator guitar floating in the sky. My dad would play that record for me over and over, never once complaining. To this day, it’s still part of my collection. The sound of that album — the tone, the storytelling, the guitar — sparked something in me. That’s where it all began. My love for guitar music was born with that record.

“Inside wants out” by John Mayer

“Inside wants out”. I think I decided to become a songwriter the first time I heard John Mayer. His debut EP was so delicate, so simple — and yet it hit something deep. All the vinyl records I grew up with had already shaped my ear and taught me so much about music. But hearing Mayer made something click. It was the first time I thought: Yes. That’s it. I just need to pick up my guitar… and say something.

“Nothing Like the Sun” by Sting

One record that had a huge impact on me is “Nothing Like the Sun” by Sting. It has everything — a seamless blend of genres, a wide range of instruments and musicians, deeply personal storytelling, poetry, dance, and even Shakespeare. You learn a bit about world affairs from Sting, too. One of my favourite life moments is tied to this album: as soon as I turned 18, I travelled abroad with a group of friends to see Sting live in Budapest. I fell in love with the city while soaking in his music. That record still lives in my vinyl collection, with a handwritten note on the cover that says: “Money corrupts people, so better spend it on music.” I still believe that.

“Guitar Town” by Steve Earle

“Guitar Town” by Steve Earle was the album that set me on a path. After falling in love with it, I turned toward country and folk music and discovered a world of heartfelt storytelling and timeless songs. That record didn’t just change my listening habits — it sparked my curiosity about how music is made. Later, during my audio production studies, I found myself deep-diving into Nashville's recording scene and the producers behind it all. Guitar Town became more than just a favourite album — it became a benchmark, something I look up to and strive toward.

“Everything You Want” by Vertical Horizon

One of my top five favourite albums is “Everything You Want” by Vertical Horizon. Years ago, I was at LAX, waiting for a connecting flight after a recording session in Oklahoma City, with that very album playing through my headphones. I looked up — and there he was: Matt Scannell, the band’s frontman, tall and carrying a guitar gig bag, clearly in a rush to catch a flight while on tour. Still, he took a moment to chat. I was grinning like a starstruck teenager, music still blasting, completely forgetting to take a photo. He smiled and even shared a quick music tip — though in the excitement, I forgot what it was. Still, I was over the moon. It’s one of those surreal, joy-filled memories that stays with you. "And so you sailed away, into a grey sky morning..."