Artist Interview: Ohio Waves
Q. What's the origin story behind the name Ohio Waves? Is there a personal connection to the name or your home state?
A. I always felt a deep connection with the early Midwest emo sound, and that sound is such an inspiration to my guitar playing. And when I was writing my album 'Horizons,' it felt right to set the first part of the story in an anonymous Midwest town. So the name Ohio Waves reflects these two connections—one personal and one related to my songwriting.
Q. If you could describe your sound in just three words, what would they be?
A. Emotive, intricate, and deep.
Q. Who were your biggest musical influences growing up, and how have they shaped the artist you are today?
A. As a young teenager learning to play guitar, Smashing Pumpkins' 'Siamese Dream' and Soundgarden's 'Superunknown' were both amazing to me. The songwriting and guitar sounds were like nothing else for me at that time. Through those albums, I explored alternative rock, hardcore punk, and early emo, with bands like The Appleseed Cast and Texas is the Reason, whose music is still important to me today.
Q. Beyond music, what are some of your other creative outlets or hobbies?
A. I love film and photography, and I sometimes use these as inspiration for writing music.
Q. Your debut album is titled 'Horizons.' What inspired that name, and what inspired the story?
A. In my early 20s, I moved to Los Angeles, and that experience provided some of the initial inspiration for the album, but I didn't want to write in an autobiographical way.
So 'Horizons' is set in 1954 and tells the story of a young artist leaving his Midwest hometown to travel to Los Angeles and follow his dream of playing guitar. The name 'Horizons' is intended to reflect the different locations he experiences as the story unfolds.
Q. Could you walk us through your songwriting process? Does a song usually start with a melody, a guitar riff, or a lyric?
A. I tend to write guitar parts quite spontaneously. In the process of practicing, I often experiment with different tunings and techniques and find new ideas that way. Then, when I'm in a writing mood, I develop these initial ideas, thinking more about vocal melody and lyrical content. I think deeply about my songs, and I like to write over a period of months so that I can refine my guitar parts and lyrics until they feel complete.
Q. Was there a particular song on 'Horizons' that was the most challenging to write or record?
A. The guitar part on 'The Letter' went through so many different revisions. I tried playing the song in different tunings and wrote many alternative intro, verse, and bridge sections until I reached the version that made it to the record.
In the process of recording, I was really nervous about singing 'May Fifteen,' being able to reach the higher notes with the power and emotion that I wanted. I ended up trying a new vocal technique while I was practicing, and the vocal track on the record is actually my first take. It's not perfect, but I just felt like I captured the emotion straight away.
Q. Which track from the album are you most excited for people to hear and why?
A. This changes all the time—each track is really special to me for a different reason. Today, I'd say 'Northwest Pines.' It's a song about healing and recovery, and I'm so delighted with the guitar tone on that track.
Q. What's one thing you hope listeners take away from the 'Horizons' album?
A. I hope that people connect with the emotion in my performance.
Q. Now that 'Horizons' is out in the world, what's the greatest lesson you learned from the release?
A. I learned that releasing music as a solo artist can be a very vulnerable and humbling experience.
Q. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received about being a musician?
A. Playing guitar, singing, and writing songs is not a hobby or indulgence, but a part of who I am. So I need to prioritize this in my day-to-day life in order to stay happy and healthy.
Q. If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and what kind of song would you make?
A. In an alternative universe, I would love to work with Prince, writing something on guitars together.
Q. What's one misconception people might have about being a singer-songwriter?
A. Many people do not know that there's a cost to doing this: emotional burdens of wondering if you're 'good' enough, handling rejection, and making difficult decisions to prioritize your art over other things in life. All of this is oftentimes going on behind the curated clips of writing, recording, and performing that many of us share on social media.
Q. What does a "successful" career look like to you? Is it about streams, awards, or something else entirely?
A. Success for me is the idea of new listeners discovering and connecting with my work for decades to come.
Q. What can fans expect from you in the coming year? Are there any tours or new projects in the works?
A. I've not said this publicly before, but I had a difficult summer. I've been ill with a thyroid issue, and this has really set me back. So I hope for recovery in the coming year and health to play some energetic live shows and develop my next album.
Read our review of Horizons here!
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