Reese Weil Interview: Dive Into the Making of His New EP ‘Beatwave’

San Francisco-based artist Reese Weil’s newest EP, Beatwave, is a testament to the transformative power of collaboration and the boundless creativity that emerges when diverse talents converge. Showcasing a dynamic fusion of hip-hop, rap, and rock and featuring collaborations with renowned artists Nef the Pharaoh and Scando the Darklord, the new EP creates a sonic journey through the heart of the Bay Area’s vibrant music scene.

All about small-town dreams with big-city passion, Weil embodies the DIY spirit of NorCal. His songs have been dubbed “the sound of the 530 area code.” Eclectic and gritty, yet soulful and uplifting simultaneously, Weil’s music speaks to people with lifestyle hobbies that are characteristic of the NorCal area, such as snowboarding, skating, surfing, x-games, and several others.

“Music has been the way that I have expressed myself my entire life,” says Weil. “It’s been the one constant and kept me sane when life felt too heavy. I will always pour all my soul into every song and performance I’m working on.”

Weil recently spoke with V13 to give us a deeper look into how music plays such an integral role in his life, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Beatwave, and much more.

How would you describe your own music?

Reese Weil: “My latest music is a reflection of my evolution as an artist, blending my lyricism and musicianship with Beatwave’s vibrant style to create the dynamic sound you hear on the record. Collaborating with artists like Nef the Pharaoh adds another layer of authenticity and energy to the tracks. This project captures the essence of my journey and showcases the versatility of my craft. I’m a guitar player at heart. I feel like that instrument adds a human touch to the modern instrumentation and sequencing that gives the songs their backbone.”

Tell us more about Beatwave. What was your experience of making it?

“Beatwave has been over a year in the making. I linked up with Nef The Pharaoh on my last album for a remix of ‘Don’t Fight The Waves,’ a track produced by Marty James (a Northern California producer known for his work with Justin Bieber and Enrique Iglesias). Nef killed the song, and we shot a video together that was a lot of fun so it just made sense to collaborate with him on this album. We also brought in Scando The Darklord and Don Caprice to round out the project and add their own touches. Production was handled by myself and my friend Dana Hocking, as well as Carter Boy, and Don Caprice.”

‘Beatwave’ by Reese Weil cover art

Do you take advantage of technology and email riffs and parts back and forth? Or do you get together in a room in a more traditional sense and write together?

“It’s a little bit of both. We’ll send out beats with hooks on them and get back verses because the technology nowadays allows for that kind of process. But it’s always nice being in the same place working on the tracks together. You can find the magic that way.

“For example, Nef came to Chico to record the vocals for ‘Summer Love.’ That was our first time actually in the studio together. He smashed out four different songs that day, including ‘Lost With You’ which made it onto his latest album, 4Eva The Pharaoh. I was just playing some guitar riff late at night after we were done with everything and we decided to lay it down. Nef had the whole song in a matter of minutes. It’s really pretty incredible how fast it can happen when the vibe is right.”

What is the story behind your stage name?

“My real name is Reese Weil (despite looking like ‘wheel,’ it’s pronounced ‘while’), and that’s what I go by on stage. It’s a nod to my family’s journey to success in America. A lot of artists change their name for various reasons, which is fine, but to me, it’s counterintuitive to the idea of making art in general if you can’t be yourself.”

What was the best show you’ve ever played?

“Opening up for Bob Marley’s old band, The Wailers, at The Brickworks in Chico, California. And then maybe a backyard wedding for a friend of ours that is no longer with us. I’ve played larger venues, but those seem to stand out the most.”

For years albums and, generally, all new music dropped on Tuesdays. Now, it’s typically Fridays. What are your thoughts on the change?

“I understand that because most platforms reset their charts on Friday, it’s advantageous for artists to release new music then. But I don’t particularly care about that. We released this on Valentine’s Day this year in the middle of the week. Art is for the sake of itself, and numbers aren’t really the point to me.”

What is your writing process like?

“The idea often starts as a voice memo on my iPhone in the moment with an acoustic guitar. I like to think of a general place or area where I can tie a physical situation to words, and bring it to life through sound. Then I can have the story tell itself from that point.”

Do you have anything you’d like to tell any fans reading right now?

“You can still pursue a passion and work a job. You can have a family and still be a beast at whatever you want creatively. Be yourself and create what you want to see in the world.”