St Louis punk scene veteran Wes Hoffman has just released his latest single “For What It’s Worth”. The track is being released under the banner of Wes Hoffman & Friends and features Émilie Plamondon on vocals.

We had a chance to catch up with Wes to chat about the new single as part of our Refrain Interview Series.

Refrain Music Blog: Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. You have a new single out now. Tell us about it? What’s it called? 

Wes Hoffman: Yes! We released a new single right before Thanksgiving called “For What It’s Worth”. The song features Emilie Plamondon (@punk_roquette on socials) on guest vocals. 

RMB: What’s the single about? 

Wes Hoffman: The song is about losing people in your life and finding strength to carry on regardless, but still mourning the loss. 

RMB: What’s the story on how it was recorded?

Wes Hoffman: The song was recorded at Encapsulated Studios by Gabe Usery in St. Louis, MO. Emilie self-recorded her vocals in Canada and we mixed them in. This was our second time recording with Gabe. Myself and our drummer, Hesretnu, spend a great deal of time rehearsing for the studio, so the process was pretty smooth and quick!

RMB: Is it part of a larger album?

Wes Hoffman: Yes! This is the 4th single off an upcoming EP that will out in late January 2022. We have 5 songs total and maybe another little surprise for that EP, but that’s yet to be determined! This is our first EP and it will be called “Rewrite The Story”.

RMB: Is this your first album?

Wes Hoffman: This is our first EP. We had 3 singles prior to 2021 that were recorded by myself and Hesretnu at his home studio. The earlier work is a little more skate-punkish, and we were still finding our voice. The songs on “Rewrite The Story” are more indicative of where we are now as a band. 

RMB: Tell us a little about the band.

Wes Hoffman: I’m Wes – I sing, write the lyrics and music, and play guitar. We have Hesretnu on drums, my best friend of 20 years, Jacob Boyd on bass, and Johnny Wehner on guitar. All members also sing backup vocals during our live shows and contribute additional ideas during rehearsal.

RMB: How long have you been together?

Wes Hoffman: We’ve been a band for 4 years now, since September 2017. We formed when Hestrenu asked me if I’d like to record a song with him. We recorded one song “Keep Your Focus” which is still up on streaming platforms. Initially, we were just going to put that song out and play one show, but we enjoyed doing it so much, we continued to play, write, and record. We added Johnny Wehner on guitar in early 2020 as our music started to evolve and we had the need for a second guitarist.

RMB: Tell us a little bit about yourself. When did you start pursuing music?

Wes Hoffman: I started playing music when I was very young. I started on piano and have been singing since I can remember. I picked up a guitar when I was 13 and started my first band when I was 17. I played music off and on, but took about a 7-8 year break. I started playing again in 2015 and don’t see myself stopping anytime soon.

RMB: Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Wes Hoffman: One of my biggest punk influences is MxPx. They were one of the first punk bands I ever heard. I’m also very inspired by Strung Out, Face to Face, Iron Chic, and The Menzingers. I’m a big fan over older music too like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and Bruce Springsteen. Some of my guitar heroes are David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix. 

RMB: What’s the one thing you are most proud of in your career so far?

Wes Hoffman: I’m very proud of the number of streams we had in 2021. We broke 30k which was way more than I expected. I’m very proud of the music we’ve been creating lately, and our last show that had amazing attendance and energy. We worked super hard on our live show and stage presence. It definitely paid off!

RMB: If you had to pitch your music to a potential fan in less than 10 seconds, what would you say?

Wes Hoffman: If you like high-energy, thought-provoking punk rock with catchy guitar and vocal hooks “Wes Hoffman and Friends” is the band for you!

RMB: What’s one piece of advice you’ve gotten that you think everyone needs to hear or that has meant the most to you?

Wes Hoffman: That our power is in the present moment. Most of the time, we’re mentally living in the past or the future, but our power is in the present moment.

RMB: If you could go back in time, what’s a piece of advice you would give to a younger you?

Wes Hoffman: Never give up what you’re passionate about. Follow your own path, if you feel it’s right for you (and not harmful to yourself and others). Only you know what’s best for you.

RMB: What’s coming up next for your musical project?

Wes Hoffman: We’re actually heading into the studio this weekend to start work on a full-length album!

RMB: Anything we haven’t thought of that you want to talk about? Now is the time!

Wes Hoffman: I just want to say thanks to everyone who’s listened to our music and if you haven’t please do! We’re looking forward to playing more shows, getting out there, and doing a little touring and playing fests this year! Thanks for the interview!

Connect With Wes Hoffman and Friends:

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