Zan Curleigh (Vocals, guitar), Robbie Cullerton (Bass), Aidan Babuka Black (Keys, vocals), West Hauser (Drums)
Photo credited to Eliza F.H.
Where’s West?, an indie-alternative, funk rock band, started in the basement of a college house. Zan and West met in college and jammed together casually when their sophomore year they decided to build a studio in a “dingy” laundry room of their house. They cleared the room out and decided to “take music more seriously” while trying to hone in on their craft. Junior year, they met Robbie, the bass player.
“Our prayers were answered.” - West Hauser
That year, the band started to play backyard shows and slowly but surely worked their way up to real venues. They played shows in Orange County and LA. The group attended a Chapman music festival, where they saw Aidan and his girlfriend playing a show. That’s when they decided they needed him in the band.
“We were blown away. We were like ‘This is our guy right here, we gotta jam together.’”
West said that as the band formed, the first show with the whole band being October 2024, they kept building chemistry and friendship outside of music. The Collective, a student-run music and arts organization, was a large part of bringing the band together. They helped the band play bigger shows and gave them a platform to ‘get inspired’.
The band credits The Collective for their name as well. It was their first show, and West showed up late to the band practice and as the band exclaimed “Where’s West?” - the name stuck.
“It’s crazy that we’ve never, ever had to say that again!”
The band says it holds a deeper meaning as well. They said that being inspired by the California coast is something they really pride themselves on. Being in tune with nature, music, sounds, and culture is a huge part of how they have developed as a band.
Photo credited to Kaylee Scott
Zan said that the music writing process is always written with the band in mind. He said he enjoys writing music, but loves to bring his ideas to the band, so that everything could be super collaborative. He tries to envision what it would sound like with all the instruments combined. Zan brings the ‘bones’ or the foundation of a song and the jam is where the magic happens.
“We all play our respective instruments and I want everyone to play what they feel comfortable playing.” - Zan Curleigh
West said that the latest album, Wave to Come, was written by all members of the band in many different ways.
“It was a collection of different eras of the band evolving and growing in the early stages.” - West Hauser
West said that they had the opportunity to record in Northern California. The band would start with the ‘nucleus’ and through the jam they would find a ‘pocket’ and start free-styling melodies and lyrics over top of it. The band said it’s not a Where’s West? song unless they’ve all contributed. It makes the songs feel more meaningful and important.
Photo credited to Eliza F.H.
When asked about musical influence, Aidan said that Earth, Wind, and Fire has been an inspiration for him. Spiritually, the band said that The Grateful Dead has been a key influence in how they perform. Like The Grateful Dead, they try to create a music community amongst their fans, leaning towards people who are able to create “something more than the music”. Overtime, the band hopes to find people who are drawn to ‘letting loose’ and ‘spreading joy, love, and friendship’. They said they value giving a full concert experience to their audience.
The band recently went on tour with the band West 22nd as an opener. As their first official tour, they said they were able to bring a real crew with them including a photographer and their manager. They said that the experience of touring has been unreal. When they meet a fan, they like to say that they made a friend. A highlight of their tour was their stop in Boise, Idaho, where the crowd ‘came out swinging immediately’.
“Everyone was just bouncing!”
The band has been grateful for being able to play in front of new audiences and meeting new people all across the country.
One of the band’s best memories together was when they played Electric Honey Experience, a festival held in the desert near Moab, Utah. In the middle of the desert, with no cell service, they said they felt as if the community and the production was unbeatable. West expressed that everyone was there to embrace each other with love and music.
Zan said one of his most memorable experiences was when the band met the guys from Winyah and they had already listened to their music. He felt shocked to see a band that he looked up to being a fan of their music.
Robbie said any memorable experience can simply come from playing new venues, but what becomes really memorable is playing spontaneous live shows. The band played a stage built in the desert near Joshua Tree, which felt like a really unique way to experience music, meet people, and dance.
Aidan said that when they spent two weeks together over the summer in the mountains of Northern California, he enjoyed how vulnerable of an experience writing music together could be. He said that seeing himself and his band mates in that early stage really opened his eyes to how making music could be so personal.
Photo credited to Kaylee Scott
In the next few months, the band looks forward to songwriting and recording more songs to put out. In February the band will go on tour, but are mainly looking to just move forward together, expanding on their music, their friendship, and their community.
“We are just trying to make music that gets you out of your head and into your body.”
You can support Where’s West? by following them on their instagram @Wheres__West and listening to their music on streaming! Where’s West? wants to thank their fans for their support and openness to listen and dance to their music.
