Today we’d like to introduce you to Ezra Vancil.
Ezra, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started playing music as a teenager in Texas and was fortunate enough to get a shot at it pretty young. In the ’90s, I was in a Dallas band called Gypsy Tree. We were playing Deep Ellum and Greenville Avenue, and while recording at Planet Dallas, an L.A. management team came across us. We signed a development deal, but the band eventually fell apart before it could really go anywhere.
In the 2000s, I started a new project called Ezra/Thomas. We had some success, including a Japan deal, an SXSW showcase, and songs that found their way into television. But that chapter ended too.
What followed was a dark decade of alcohol abuse that nearly cost me everything. I lost music, nearly lost my life, and found myself rebuilding from the ground up. Thankfully, I got sober, and when I returned to music, it was with a completely different purpose. The goal was no longer fame—it was wholeness.
Today I perform under my own name, Ezra Vancil, and alongside my daughter. We first played together as Cozi and a Flounder, and now as Cozi & Ezra. Over the years I’ve released a number of albums, written poetry, and recently published a book. These days I’m less interested in career milestones and more interested in creating meaningful work, sharing it with people, and building a life centered around family, community, and creativity.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like a lot of musicians, I’ve experienced the highs and lows of the business. I’ve been signed, dropped, praised, ignored, and started over more times than I can count. Bands break up. Opportunities disappear. The music industry changes underneath your feet.
But the biggest struggle wasn’t professional—it was personal. I spent years battling alcohol addiction. There were some very dark seasons and a few close calls where I nearly lost my life. Looking back, those years taught me far more than the successful ones ever did.
Sobriety changed everything. It forced me to rethink what success actually meant. I stopped chasing recognition and started chasing a fuller, healthier life. Ironically, once I stopped trying to become somebody, I became much more comfortable being myself.
The struggles are still there. Creative work is uncertain by nature. But today I have perspective. I’ve learned that setbacks aren’t always the end of the story. Sometimes they’re what finally point you in the right direction.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At heart, I’m a songwriter. That’s the thread that runs through everything I do.
Over the years I’ve released music as part of several projects and now primarily perform as a solo artist and with my daughter. My songs tend to live somewhere between folk, Americana, and singer-songwriter music, often centered around family, faith, redemption, struggle, and the beauty hidden in ordinary life.
In recent years I’ve expanded into poetry and writing as well. My latest project includes a companion book of poetry and reflections that grew out of the same creative season as my music. I’ve always been interested in telling stories, whether that’s through a song, a poem, or a piece of prose.
What I’m most proud of isn’t an award or placement. It’s the fact that after everything, I’m still creating. I’m still writing songs. I’m still sharing them with people. And most importantly, I’m getting to do that with my daughter.
As for what sets me apart, I think it’s perspective. I’ve seen enough success to know it isn’t everything, and enough failure to know it isn’t the end of anything. My work today is less about building a career and more about building a meaningful life. The art is simply one expression of that.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Absolutely. The older I get, the more I realize that none of us really accomplish much alone.
First and foremost, my family deserves the credit. My daughter, Cozi, has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. Getting to create music together has been far more meaningful than any accolade I’ve received on my own.
My son has also been a tremendous source of support. We work together in another business, and I’m proud not only of the man he’s become, but of the friendship we’ve built over the years.
My big brother has always been there as well. He’s a lifelong lover of music and one of those rare people who shows up in both the good times and the hard times.
Musically, I’ve been fortunate to work with some incredible people. Aaron Thomas, who produced the Cozi and a Flounder records, is a remarkable talent and helped shape those albums into something much bigger than they would have been. Lori Martin, my longtime bass player, brings a style and musical intuition that is uniquely her own. She’s been an important part of my musical journey for many years.
Sam Romero is someone I’m particularly proud to have worked with. He’s one of those guitar players who doesn’t just play parts—he creates landscapes. He has a gift for finding sounds and textures that elevate a song without ever getting in the way of it.
Oh, and Paco Estrada from the band South FM, he has been there for years, encouraging me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ezravancil.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezravancil/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ezravancilmusic
- Twitter: https://x.com/ezravancil
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/ezravancil
