OneRepublic is an interesting band, said guitarist Zach Filkins. What makes it interesting is his bandmates' influences.
"We all get along really well, which is cool because we come from completely different points of view," Filkins said during a phone call from his home in Chicago.
"It's a motley crew and the weirdest collection of dudes."
Filkins explained that he, vocalist/guitarist/pianist Ryan Tedder, guitarist Drew Brown, bassist/cellist Brent Kutzle and drummer Eddie Fisher — all have different influences and idiosyncrasies.
"Ryan is constantly busy. I don't know if he sleeps more than five hours a night, Filkins said. "It makes me jealous because I need something like 10 hours.
"Brent is a musical genius who is classically trained, and Drew is influenced by a lot of bands we've never heard of. That gives us all a different perspective on music."
Fisher's influences range from rap, rock and country, Filkins said. "I'm right down in the middle," he said. "I don't have crazy weird influences. They are pretty mainstream, but we're all influenced by good pop songs."
U2, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Nirvana caught his ear. As did Tears for Fears, said Filkins. "I always admired guitarist that chose their notes well, instead of just going super fast."
Filkins didn't actually play electric guitar until OneRepublic.
"I was trained in classical guitar while living in Barcelona," he said. "I was 8½, and my parents got a teacher for me who had his major in classical guitar. I was all about acoustic, classical and a little flamenco all those years. So it took awhile for me to strap on an electric guitar."
Last fall, OneRepublic released its second album, "Waking Up." The band went into the studio knowing it had to create something special as a follow-up to 2007's "Dreaming Out Loud," which featured the blockbuster single "Apologize."
"The hardest thing for us was to not make it difficult," Filkins said about the "Waking Up" recording process.
"The first challenge was to kick all of those thoughts out of our brain that told us we had to write another 'Apologize.'
"We focused on who we are now, instead of comparing to what we were before," he said. "I think it was very honest and genuine."
"The challenge is to keep the momentum going. And, hopefully, people who were into us five years go will stay with us for the journey."
Speaking of a new journey, Filkins is celebrating the birth of his first child.
"It's been two weeks since he was born, and it feels like a year ago," he said with a laugh. "I can't wait until I can talk to him and play with him. Right now, he's just looking around and making noises."
Filkins said while it will be hard for the next few years to keep a balance in his life with career and home, he is taking it one step at a time.
He is especially looking forward to coming to play Deer Valley.
"I can't even remember what I did the last Fourth of July," he said with a laugh. "So this will be memorable. I love the Park City area."
What: OneRepublic
Where: Snow Park Amphitheater, Deer Valley Resort
When: July 4, 7 p.m.
How much: $35-$65
Phone: 435-655-3114
e-mail: scott@desnews.com