We recently connected with Wynton Huddle and have shared our conversation below.

Wynton, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My mother gave me a Fender Squire for my 14th birthday, and thus began my music career! After patiently listening to all the most likely horrible noises I made out of my newfound instrument, she shortly after decided to get me some guitar lessons, hah!

My father also was a jazz drummer throughout his life and was also extremely supportive. He even ended up being the drummer for my high school band, Social Oddities. Despite being my father and giving me rides to every show, he put up with all my crazy stage antics, and they were still crazy back then! I recall doing an on stage strip-tease once and he didn’t say a thing, haha, what a champ! When he retired he gifted me his jazz drum set and moved to West Virginia, I couldn’t believe it! That was the same drum set I used on the album ‘Wicked Fabrications’.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Wynton Huddle, front-man of the Psychedelic Garage Rock band, Wynton Existing. I have been gigging since I was 16 years old and have been unintentionally managing the bands I was in since I was 21. That means helping to release the music, working on tour, merch, publicity, pretty much overseeing the entire operation. At this point, it’s become second nature.

I think it’s important to be as consistent as you can and make sure the people you work with feel heard and validated. Even now, it’s Wynton Existing but it’s not just my talent I want to showcase on stage, a lot of my favorite music tends to be collaborative and dang, it’s nice to have a second opinion!

In February I released Wynton Existing’s 3rd full length album, ‘Sexual Death’, it is easily my most proud piece of work thus far. Before moving to the Nashville area, I was in another band for about 10 years, and I worked hard to get that band as big and established as I could. During Covid things got tense between myself and the group, I knew things needed to change, so I walked away and handed them the entire operation. Around that time I met my current drummer, Gavin Gates and we began collaborating on what would become Sexual Death.

Fast forward to now, Sexual Death is out, has been getting great local traction and response, we’re touring often and have played some pretty big shows with some pretty big names! So, I am so incredibly proud to have taken my previous band as far as I could, to completely start over from SCRATCH and do it all over again bigger and better. The human spirit of perseverance is so freakin’ cool and it just goes to show you can do anything you put your mind to. All is never lost, the future is yours to pave.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

When it comes to the arts, I’ve always been very adamant on sharing and showing people ‘Hey! You can do it too!’ I’ve always had democracy when it comes to band decision making, and I fought tooth and nail to make sure everyone I worked with in the past was on equal grounds to myself.

The concept seemed great on paper…until I realized those I was putting on equal grounds didn’t put me on theirs, on top of how long and uncompromising some band decisions in the past took to make. Opportunities came and went before we could all finally agree on something.

I find now it’s best to have someone in the group who has the final say, no surprise in Wynton Existing, that’s Wynton. I learned there’s nothing wrong with having a leader, otherwise progress can get curb stomped. BUT, on that note, it’s so important to hear everyone out should they feel passionately about something, and consider it legitimately.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Feeling heard, feeling connected, feeling alive, feeling like you’re a part of something bigger. Getting on stage to let go, of everything, just for a moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: linktree.com/wyntonexisting
• Instagram: instagram.com/wyntonexisting
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/wyntonexisting
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/thewyndian

Image Credits
Additional Photos: 1. Christopher Layton 2. Pictorious Imagery 3. 4. 5. Star Bunner Photography 6. Sophie in the Studio 7. Pictorious Imagery