Emblem3 was one of the few bands that started out as a band on X Factor, one that wasn’t created by Simon Cowell. The band consisted of Wesley and Keaton Stromberg as well as Drew Chadwick. Chadwick left leaving the Stromberg brothers as a duo. The two decided to take a break from Emblem3 and pursue their own music careers. Wesley just released three songs this summer, “1000 Ways,” “One Shot” and his hit summer song “Remedy.” Wesley is preparing for his release of his debut album coming soon. Currently, Wesley is on The Way Up Tour and CelebMix had the chance to chat with him at his Boston, MA show.
What was it like releasing your first solo album?
It has been absolutely incredible! It has been a super big growing experience for me. Before I wrote everything with my band members. Since we took a hiatus, towards the end of 2016, I just took that whole time writing. Now, I have a full album’s worth of new music I’ve been working on that I can’t wait to share, as well as some collaborations with DJ, Numatik.
What were the challenges of making your first solo album?
I didn’t have a full team with me this time, but my A&R Evan Griffith has been putting me in sessions with all different producers. It’s challenging going from a band that’s super popular and then being by yourself, it’s not the same thing. It has been challenging to see who is still stoked and who wants to write and work, so far that’s been great, I’ve had a lot of people that are still supportive, it’s been sick.
What’s your favorite song to perform live?
Dude, it surprised me, but the two songs I have about my family members. I wrote one for my dad called “Wishes” and I wrote one for my sister called “Don’t Have to Say Your Sorry”. I thought it would be one of the upbeat dance ones and they are fun, but the other ones are just so emotional and so touching.
What’s it like to finally be able to put out your own music?
It’s super super fun to get in the booth. My recording style has changed through. Now, my style isn’t still “ok guys, we’re going to do one line at a time,” now I just get in the booth, hit play on the track and just sing to it until I have shaped the song, it’s mostly freestyle form of writing and then we’ll finish shaping to make it a hit.
How would you say your music has changed since Emblem3?
It’s more personal, it has gotten way more personal. Emblem3, some of our stuff was pretty deep, we have some great songs but now I’m going way deeper than the surface level. It’s really just my own life experiences. Do I have a love interest? Have we broken up? Have I traveled? Have I partied? It’s like I’m pulling from all these things and life experiences I’ve had over the last six years — been crazy. I didn’t have that before when we were writing, we had kid, boppy stuff, and now I have all these life experiences to write about. It’s deeper, more personal.
What is it like touring as a solo artist?
I’m not totally alone, thank god because I do not like being alone. I like having my friends and people to share it with, that’s why I started Emblem3 in the first place and brought in my brother to join and recruited all my friends from school, including Drew. I don’t really like being alone, luckily I have my DJ now and I think he’s in for the long hall.
Do you have a crazy fan experience?
The craziest experience that tops everything else was a Brazilian fan sending me a puppy from Brazil to my house. I’m chilling, playing Call of Duty while Keaton is making a beat and I heard this knock and then a puppy squeal. We had a letter that said “If you can learn to take care of something else, then you will be able to surpass anything else.” It’s so true, when I had to take care of something else, I realize how much responsibility that was and how much more I could work on my album, myself even, to make it easier to take care of that person.
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
Favorite band of all time is Sublime and the lead singer, Bradley Nowell was my favorite singer ever, I pull most of my style from him. His CD was the second CD I ever had, first CD was Backstreet Boys, which was given to me. Then, as a kid who had his own mind I liked Sublime more, Blink-182, Sum 41, Red Hot Chili Peppers and now Drake. Drake is my favorite artist EVER right now, if I had heard Drake first before anyone else there would be no one else that comes close to me, Drake is amazing.
What can we expect from your upcoming album?
It’s going to have a lot of different flavors and colors. It’s going to have a bunch of emotional stuff, it’s going to have fun upbeat, poppy stuff. It’s going to be a huge spectrum, wide as it goes, dance, hip-hop, acoustic, ballads. All sorts. I love EDM, I love rock and I love hip-hop, so I’m blending them all.
What’s the one thing you want to do before summer officially ends?
I’d love so much for fans to give “One Shot” and “1000 Ways” as much love as possible and add them to all their playlists! While that’s happening, I’m putting finishing touches on my next single dropping in September!
Listen to “Remedy” by WESLEY now!!
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