We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wesley Hanna. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Wesley below.

Wesley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

The short answer is no. I believe, to an extent, that things happen for a reason. On the other side of that, I know you have to pursue something and put forth the effort to accomplish your goals. I think I started my creative career at the right time, but I made the decision to put it aside for a few years. After I started college: I began writing songs, formed a band, performed some memorable shows, and we recorded an album. As college was wrapping up, it was apparent the band would not be staying together in it’s current form. It was also clear to me that my sound was changing and all momentum that had been built up was about to stall. It just did not make sense to take the next step at that time. After some years off, I felt the urge to bring my creative career back into the picture. There was a need inside of me to have a creative outlet. The timing of that resurgence has been great. I came out of the pandemic with a new outlook on my music and what I wanted my sound to be. I have started writing songs again, after years of little to no creative spark. I wasn’t sure that I would ever write again. I was able to put the album I had always wanted to record out last year, and now I am close to have my next project ready to record. It has all brought a new perspective, and I feel has made me better as a person. I’m not sure I could have planned it any better.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started playing guitar on my 17th birthday. I started writing and performing music at 19, while studying Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University. I graduated college at 23 and started a family in West Texas. We moved to Fort Worth a few years ago, and I restarted my music career. I have been a life long fan of country music. When I say that, I mean real country music, not the manufactured pop hits you hear these days from your local corporate mainstream radio stations. As a life long resident of the great state of Texas, I have created my sound and brand with the same independent spirit that makes this land famous to folks around the world. I have no desire to conform to what is popular or will land me a record deal. I want to create music/art that I love and represents me. Artists that “stick to their guns” have always earned my respect, and I aim to do the same (pun intentional).

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the best feelings as an artist/creative is witnessing an appreciation of your art. As a musician, that is the response you get from a crowd and building a harmony with your fellow players. One thing that has been really fun this past year is sharing the stage with my wife, who plays upright bass. Being able to collaborate with her musically makes the connection we already have even more special. It is also great to see my children see what we’re doing and take an interest in music. It brings you a special comfort knowing your music can inspire someone or lift them up when they’re down.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

1) Go see live music! Local/independents musicians are playing in your community. You can usually see them for free or a nominal cover charge. See them before they blow up! If you wait too long, you could find yourself fighting with thousands of others to see who gets to pay Ticketmaster fees on top of inflated resale ticket prices.

2) Buy merch. Tips are great, but buying merch helps multiple ways. The artist makes money from the sale, and you serve as a traveling billboard when you wear their shirt/hat/sticker.

3) Like/share/follow. If you are on social media, go find their page(s), like/follow them, share/comment/like their posts. This costs nothing other than some of your time that you would probably spend scrolling, otherwise.

4) Buy/stream/share their music. If you can, buy the album. Then stream it, and share it with your friends. Venues will look up artists on Spotify to see what their monthly listeners/stream counts are. The algorithms also pick up on those things. If an artist has a grassroots backing, then they are likely to get playlisted or played on another artist’s radio channel.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wesleyhannamusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesleyhannamusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wesleyhannamusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesley-hanna-p-e-b24b0937/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/weshannamusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2hRE2ChN4UCiTdcFpBeAyQ
• Other: Bandsintown: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/13777778-wesley-hanna?came_from=700&utm_medium=web&utm_source=artist_opt_in&utm_campaign=artist_name_header

Image Credits
All photos taken by Alex Pitzer at Funkytown Photo Co. Album artwork by Stacie Hanna.