Meet Wesley Hanna | Country Singer/Songwriter & Petroleum Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Wesley Hanna and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wesley, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
My hope is that my kids are inspired when they see me chasing my dream of writing and performing music. Setting that example for them is important to me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started playing music in bars while I was a student at Texas A&M. I formed a band in 2005, and we made a record. Unfortunately, our time as a group came to an end when we graduated in the Spring of 2009. I have wanted to pick back up where I left off since then. However, it did not really come together until I moved here to Fort Worth. I felt like I was at a place with my career as an engineer and my kids were old enough that I could dedicate the time I needed to pursuing music. I am set to release my second album and first solo record independently this Fall.

My new record, “Brand New Love Potion,” is a collection of songs I wrote myself, without any cowriters. I’m not against co-writing songs, but I felt like this project should be a complete reflection of me. The songs were recorded in Dripping Springs, TX at the Zone Recording Studio. I employed some of the best studio musicians in Texas to back me up, many of them producers themselves. The result is even better than I could have imagined, and I am excited to share that with everyone this October.

I try to embody the independent Texas spirit with how I live my life and conduct my business. Working essentially two full time jobs to pursue my vision of the American dream has been a challenge, but I keep on grinding it out to achieve my goals. I try to remind myself that this is a marathon, not a sprint. There is no substitute for hard work and dedication. One of the biggest challenges I face as an independent artist is getting my music to listeners. I play as many shows as I can, and I do my best to advertise on social media. Still, it does not always translate to more streams or followers. Building your brand is a constant grind, as I am sure any small business owner would agree. You just have to keep after it, roll with the punches, and good things will come along in due time.

My music is molded from the type of music I grew up listening to. It’s born from characters that I’ve created from people I have met along the way, or even ones I have only gotten to know through story and song. I try to bring real places or experiences to the stories, and hopefully get the listener to feel like they’re there in that moment. All of that is up to the listener, but it’s my hope that I have done my job as a songwriter to bring them that type of experience. As far as my creative process goes, I don’t force these songs to happen. They tend to find their way to me, and I do my best to bring them to life. I’m not after something catchy or trendy that is going to take me to the big time. I really enjoy the storyteller part of writing and performing.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If the place has good food, cold beverages and live music, I’m all in. When I’m in charge of entertainment, that’s where I start.

I really like the Fort Worth Stockyards. I enjoy getting to perform there, and there has been so much development the past few years. It’s a great place to entertain your guests. There’s a little bit of something for everyone. You have the tourist attractions, like the cattle drive and shops. There are also several new venues that have opened and more on the way. Mule Alley is a great spot to entertain. Tim Love’s new restaurants are there for great eats. You have plenty of places to grab a drink, all within walking distance. To top it off, you can go hear live music almost any night. You can take your friends to a big ticket show at Billy Bob’s (or Tannahill’s in the near future) or stop by Second Rodeo and catch a set by a local singer/songwriter, like myself. You can also venture West of Main street for some more of the hole-in-the-wall type of places that you will see more local artists performing live.

There are several great spots just outside of the metroplex that I enjoy, as well. I have taken friends to the Granbury square before. It is an excellent spot, with tons of entertainment. You can usually book a VRBO on the square, which is really convenient. My favorite spot in Granbury is Bob’s Off the Square. They have an awesome live music venue, with a great menu. Glen Rose is really cool, as well. You have several venues there (Sexton Feed Mill, Blackie’s on the Square), along with Dinosaur Valley State Park to visit. A few other great spots are the Railhead Smokehouse and Parker Co. Icehouse over in Willow Park. Those spots are only 20 minutes West of Fort Worth, offer great food, beverages, and live music.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am eternally grateful for the encouragement from my wife and family. They are always in my corner and push me to be the best person I can. There are several independent musicians in the Texas music business (too many to name) that I can thank for inspiration, as well. They have blazed a path for myself and others. I cannot forget all of the friends that dedicate their time coming to shows and hard earned money on music, merch, etc. They are truly a blessing, and their support makes me feel like I am doing what I was put here to do.

Website: https://www.wesleyhannamusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wesleyhannamusic/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesley-hanna-p-e-b24b0937/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/weshannamusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wesleyhannamusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2hRE2ChN4UCiTdcFpBeAyQ

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Vz9RtOA8GBqWhuE4guR1R?si=G3nUJLkFRjOMRw4K3rB8Jg&nd=1 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wesley-hanna/1635158582 LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/wesleyhannamusic

Image Credits
Alexandra Pitzer – Funkytown Photo Co.