WAZ

Paste Magazine featured WAZ in April 2008 in their Paste Recommends section.

Also, he was featured in 60 indie record stores across the US as Paste Recommended artist. - Paste Magazine

WAZ, “I Will Follow” U2 Cover
California troubador gives a U2 staple the “Fox Searchlight love scene” treatment. Maybe the antithesis of that Marvin Gaye remix — but lovely nonetheless. - Rolling Stone

Some albums take little or no effort to like. The Sweet Bye and Bye is not only one of those releases, it’s the kind of album that may just have major label execs wondering where the hell he’s been all their lives. Then again, maybe not, because that would be giving the record industry as it currently exists too much credit. Instead, just enjoy WAZ and this gem of mainstream bliss, because music like this doesn’t come around too often.

Mike Farley of Bullzeye - Bullzeye

Fans of Sufjan Stevens, Bright Eyes, and Iron and Wine will love Waz. His debut album The Sweet Bye and Bye is filled with songs that make one recall the great indie sound before shows like the OC and Laguna Beach spoiled it for the genre’s fans. Unfortunately or fortunately (it has yet to be determined), Waz’s song Mine to Remember may seem familiar to some and that would be because it is featured in an episode of MTV’s “The Hills”.

Every song is reflective and a meditation on experience. It’s easy to dismiss this album as just another emo-sounding Plain White Tees mimicry, but Waz makes this popular sound more enjoying and different so that you won’t have to be embarrassed if you decide to sing along. Why Can’t We sounds a bit like Rooney with its up-tempo rhythm. A perfect song for the upcoming beach season, the playful guitar melody and hints of tambourine force you to at least tap your foot and even if you restrain yourself to just tapping the toe, you won’t deny the craving to break out into some kind of dance.

Songs like Holding On and Hardly Enough, which starts off the album on a high note, made me forget that this talented singer-songwriter grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, listening to The Pretenders and Neil Young, and headed out to LA right after graduation, where he met up with friend Pete Yorn. After touring together with their band, Waz was struck by the strong connection that music had with audiences and in his attempt to capture the human condition, Waz crafted songs and performed them, turning the heads of Rolling Stone magazine and gradually creating a following.

Carmen Blanco from Music-Reviewer.com - Music-Review.com

"WAZ’s knack for beautiful memorable melodies and hooks are the cornerstone of his talents. Add to this his ability to write emotionally mature heartfelt and honest lyrics, a clarity of musical vision that is equal to the best of them, (Gus Black, Philip Price, Michael Penn, Pete Yorn etc) and one of those perfect pop voices, then this magnificent album cannot fail to be a winner. This is one of those albums that touches the heart and the mind in equal measure, the type of album you can put of repeat play and never tire of. I cannot recommend this jewel of an album highly enough."
Mick Dillingham (Bucket Full of Brains UK)
- Bucket Full of Brains

WAZ is from Los Angeles, CA, but grew up in Cleveland, OH. While in college, he met Pete Yorn and after graduating, they formed a band. They went on the road for tours and WAZ realized the emotional impact music had on people. So, in between tours, he recorded his own music with R. Walt Vincent. After receiving some positive reactions to his own music, he decided to go solo. He started playing at The Hotel Cafe and was approached by Will Golden & Al Sgro who were opening a small studio. "While they were working with other clients, I would pick up odd jobs in order to pay for the sessions. We would work for 2-3 days at a time every couple of weeks... it was always borrowed time." The result was a four song EP released on iTunes in Europe and his debut full-length The Sweet Bye and Bye which is available now.


The songs on the album seem very personal and emotional. There were three tracks that stood out upon first listen. "Mine to Remember" is about wanting one last chance to say "I love you" to the woman he truly loves and hoping will stay. "Why Can't We" is from his father's perspective and is summed up in the chorus — "why can't we stay in love" — which is referring to his parents. And in "She's Gone" he's trying to cope with the woman's absence. The Sweet Bye and Bye is a solid, gripping debut from an up and coming singer-songwriter.
"WAZ provides songs of many shapes and of light and shade; ‘Holding On’ is of the darker end of the spectrum, guitars like huge axes chopping chunks of melody into kindling, rhythmic riff, then gentle touches of flame to burn down the remaining wood - you know the conclusion will be a forest fire of guitars. The quality keeps on coming with ‘Release,’ a gentle piano based song that broods and sprinkles melody like a storm cloud of music travelling over a musical landscape in need of rain. This is one of the finds of the year so far."

David Cowling (Americana UK) - Americana UK

"We feel Waz is a truly viable prospect for A&R consideration." - MUSIC CONNECTION MAGAZINE