Shwayze, the man behind the songs that you turn up on full blast such as Love is Overrated and Corona Lime is coming back to SLC on December 12th. Despite touring on the weekends and writing and producing during the week, he still keeps his son as his number one priority! Her Campus Utah got an exclusive interview with Shwayze.
HCU: Our readers love to know, what is your favorite thing about touring, but particularly Salt Lake City?
Shwayze: Oh well, first off I love Utah, I come out all the time! I go to Sundance a bunch of times, I’ve been to Salt Lake City a bunch of times, I go out all of the time, I just like going out there! I just like going out there and skiing! Literally, every time I go out there, I go skiing! I’m not a snowboarder, I’m kind of a skier so I love that and I love this really cool store, called Name Droppers that I LOVE. Salt Lake is one of my secret spots to get a lot of cool gear!
HCU: So many people move here to ski, so we get you!
Shwayze: You’re probably a much better skier than I am! I can get down the mountain but I have a lot of fun!
HCU: Where’s your favorite place to ski in Utah?
Shwayze: Deer Valley!
HCU: Deer Valley is a favorite! It’s so relaxing, skiing in general is a really relaxing sport. How do you have time to balance everything? From touring and writing and keep producing?
Shwayze: I have my own label, so I have my own label! On the weekends, I’ll do shows but I have a kid so I like to stay home but still do the touring life, back in the day on the tour I would be gone for two or three months at a time travelling the country, so now, I go out on weekends and I rock but I can come home and I can record, I can do whatever I want. I have the week open so that’s how I balance. Eventually, I will have to go back on a full-fledged tour, and I actually write more when I’m on the road just because I’m playing shows every night and my band is with me normally-or at least my guitarist, so in our hotel rooms, we write.
HCU: So touring helps you focus in more?
Shwayze: Exactly! I’m already in that music mindset, everyday I’m meeting my fans and they inspire me when I’m constantly playing music. When I’m home, there are more distractions, I have my kid and I have my girlfriend and my new movie just came out, but on the road, that’s all you’re doing. You’re in the middle of nowhere so you resort to making music.
HCU: How’s your little boy?
Shwayze: He’s amazing! He just turned 5, it’s fun being a dad, you get in this ‘daddy-mommy crew.’ Now that [I’m] a parent, there is an amazing parent community! My kid is super popular and everyone loves him, he has this crazy personality and is always happy. He’s a good kid, he’s very artistic and into music and into painting. He’s a well rounded little kid.
HCU: Do you think he’ll want to do anything in music especially having a father in music?
Shwayze: Maybe, it’s too soon to tell, but I’m just so stoked to see what he’s going to do! Everything is so cool about him. He could be an actor, to be honest, he’s so funny! He is already cracking jokes and I forget he’s 5, it’s wild.
HCU: Taking it back to you, what is your favorite song to sing to a crowd?
Shwayze: I like all of my biggest songs, like Buzzin’ and Corona Lime, those are always huge and fun because everyone knows them. But there is a song called How I Want It, that is on the album Shwayze Summer, which is really fun, some people know it but even if you don’t by the end of the song you do, I love that. I love to play Get U Home. The cool thing about my music is there is hard rock but there is mellow stuff, there’s a wide spectrum. Love is Overrated is really fun to play. I like playing them all!
HCU: How has your writing style and your musical artistry and influence changed and grown since your first releases?
Shwayze: I just like to have fun, because I own my own label so from my first album till now, I’m in every single piece and aspect from the studio to the video to putting the music out. Being on all aspects of the music is so fun for me! I’m working on this upcoming summers album!
HCU: That’s really exciting!
Shwayze: Yeah! I already want to put this stuff out! It’s hot! But planning it and making sure it is put out the right way, but I already want to put this shit out!
HCU: What pushed you to start and own your label?
Shwayze: I started my own label after the natural progression, we’ll see what the future holds, I think I’d like to partner up with a brand.
HCU: Anything to say to the readers?
Shwayze: I’m so excited to come to [Salt Lake City]. Follow me on snapchat and on instagram!
To buy tickets to Shwayze, visit: https://www.saltlakecityconcerts.net/eventx/shwayze/