Today we’d like to introduce you to Wes Hoffman.
Hi Wes, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started playing music when I was around 13 years old. I’ve always enjoyed performing and playing in bands. The more I started getting into music, my interest in the music industry grew. I’ve always been a person who’s loved to have in-depth conversations, hear other people’s stories, as well as share my own.
Around 2014, a good friend of mine, Corey Smale, and I started a podcast called The StrangeHouse, where we did just that. We started talking with entrepreneurs, artists, and influencers. We love entrepreneurship and music, so we gravitated toward the music side a bit more. At the time, we were one of the only podcasts speaking with bands in the punk scene. This earned us a spot on the Vans Warped Tour in 2017, where we followed the tour for a few days and were the festival’s exclusive podcast partner.
Over the last few years, I’ve continued to podcast occasionally. For a couple of years, I had a podcast called “Wes Hoffman with Friends,” where I talked with guests about self-development, personal growth, and spirituality. More recently, I hosted a podcast called 314 Punk, where I spoke with local musicians in the punk scene. I’ve been hosting a podcast called “For What It’s Worth with Wes Hoffman.” This podcast dives back into the world of punk music on a broader scale. I’ve been able to reconnect and connect with some fantastic people. As a musician, I’m the primary songwriter for my band, Wes Hoffman and Friends. These days, you have to be more than just a singer or songwriter. You must also be a brand manager, business person, and content creator. It’s been so helpful to run a podcast and make connections through it. I love hearing stories about how someone gets started and the challenges they’ve had along the way.
Earlier this year, my band signed a record deal with Jump Start Records based in Philadelphia. Our album is going to be released this fall on vinyl. It has always been a dream of mine to work with a record label of this caliber. We put a lot of time and effort into creating this record, and I can’t wait to share it with the world. November 18th at Blueberry Hill Duck Room, we will be playing new songs off the record and have it available for sale on vinyl!
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life, in general, is always challenging. Anytime I’ve set out to achieve a goal, it’s always been tough. There are always challenges and naysayers along the way. Aside from my challenges in life, there are times when no one is listening or cares about any of my projects. These are the times when it’s most important to keep going. Sometimes, the project may feel stale or like it needs to move forward; that’s when I need to be more creative and move in a different direction. Going through struggles or overcoming challenges makes it that much more rewarding when you get to where you want to be.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
It feels like I’ve lived several different lives during my one lifetime! In the past, I owned a business called Treehouse Networkshop, where I helped people find jobs and helped companies find employees. I worked as an independent career coach and motivational speaker. To this day, I still run into people in St. Louis who I helped with their careers. Some of these people are still at their current jobs and have been there for 6 or 7 years. I’m more focused on my music and am recognized most as a musician. As our music reaches more people, I’ve received messages expressing how the music has moved people. These messages have come from all over the world – Austria, Brazil, Canada, etc. We received a photo from someone who had the lyrics to one of our songs tattooed on it, and that was a very humbling moment but also super awesome. What I’m most proud of is my impact on people’s lives. Helping them find a job or writing a song they connect with matters most to me.
Please talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy.
Honestly, what makes me most happy is creating and spending time with my partner and people I love. I’m the happiest when I’m around many people I’ve met over the years. However, happiness is fleeting. Lately, I’ve been looking around, taking inventory of my life, and being grateful for everything I have and get to do. When I think about that, I’m happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: weshoffman.bandcamp.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/wesleyhoffman
- Facebook: facebook.com/weshoffmanandfriends
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@weshoffman7277/featured
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0miL7GmMySX4jXKhwmbnFC?si=9y62VfPyRcmfclokumVMCA
Image Credits
Holly Kite, Chicks Rock Media, Morgan Eliza
