Today we’d like to introduce you to Wesley Phipps.
Hi Wesley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in McKinney, Texas, with consistent exposure to music as a kid. My parents always had music playing in the house and in the car, and never failed to support me in any musical interest I had. It was in elementary school that I began the School of Rock, which not only showed me the power of the music community, but sparked my love for playing and creating music. During my time at School of Rock, I picked up instruments like drums, bass, and guitar. I was fortunate enough to perform all around Dallas, in places like Deep Ellum, Denton, the Dallas International Guitar Festival, and the Texas Music Revolution. It wasn’t long before I started playing my guitar on the corners of the Downtown McKinney Square, where my parents took me almost every weekend as a kid. The ability to play my music for other people really inspired me and furthered my musical ability. I started to make music every day at home with the instruments I had learned over the years. This led to a creative drive I knew could only be expressed in a place like Nashville. I chose to go to Belmont University in Nashville my senior year of high school and fell in love with the energy the first week. The music, the musicians, the community, it was (and still is) invigorating. My new life in Tennessee pushed me to practice more, collaborate more, but most importantly create more. It was after a few months at Belmont that I realized I was truly passionate about anything at all that helped me create music. I now have produced several songs for fellow students, played in dive bars all around Nashville, and committed to giving music my all. Over the summer, I have started working on an EP of five songs that will be released at the end of the summer. They’re songs written by myself and produced by friends in Nashville. After this release, I plan to work with artists around Nashville to create and collaborate on music by playing shows, producing, and writing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. The reason I started School of Rock was actually to cope with depression, that I was diagnosed with in the fourth grade. I can say confidently that music helped me get over that, while it has been a large factor in my life since. Having a purpose, passion and drive in life has helped to keep me going in times when I’ve really struggled with mental health issues. Especially now that I’m in a place surrounded by so many incredible musicians, it is helpful to have a creative drive to fall back on.
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?
I’m a Nashville-based producer and songwriter. In terms of music, I’d say my most unique attribute is that I try my best to maintain the integrity in my tastes, whether that be in the production of a song, the writing of the song, or in a guitar solo. I have noticed that many artists in the music business try to manufacture a “hit”. There’s nothing wrong with this at all, but I live by the rule that if I stay true to my musical tastes when making music, it will be successful. Eric Clapton once said that Stevie Ray Vaughan (also a Dallas native) “seemed to be an open channel and music just flowed through him.” That’s how I try to be creatively, just a vessel, not influenced by trying to manufacture something.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the diversity of Dallas. You will find people from all walks of life here. It’s really a cultural melting pot. The diversity brings in great food, music, and culture. I also love the state fair, my parents took me almost ever year when I was a kid. I least like the sprawling suburbs, it seems to get repetitive. On the other hand, Dallas would be much less diverse without the suburbs, which would bring less depth and richness to our communities.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesleyphipps_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wesley.phipps.2025/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesley-phipps-799a94357/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wesyboy1892
Image Credits
Tyler Sword, Hanna Waits, Nora Connor, Ella Choi, Lawson Brandt
