Daily Inspiration: Meet Cullen Wade

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cullen Wade. 

Hi Cullen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in south Louisiana in the city of Zachary. I always had a love of music and I always loved the idea of having my own band. So, I started learning to play guitar when I was probably around 11 or 12 years of age and eventually was able to strum enough chords together well enough to start writing songs. I’ve always had a love of singer/songwriter type of music so a lot of my early influences would’ve been John Prine, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce stuff like that. 

Eventually, after a few years, I was able to start putting bands together in Baton Rouge and would tour regionally with a few different projects of mine. This is when I started getting the true taste of roughing it on the road haha. There’s not too many Walmart parking lots or rest stops in the southeast I haven’t spent the night in. Was performing Mostly with a Folk-Rock Duo I had called Nickels and Dimes. 

Once that all came to a conclusion, Me and my Buddy Stephen Boudreaux (New Orleans, LA, Bass player) decided to pack up and try to get a band together in Nashville, TN which we got here in January of 2013. 

Took several years and some growing pains but we finally met and started playing with Christian Hayden (Drums, San Jose, CA) and Matthew Clinkenbeard (Guitar, Kansas City, MO), and our band Cullen Wade and The Waters was born. 

We have been crafting our sound over the last two years with this formation and it has developed into an exciting new frontier for us. 

Currently, we are finishing up our first album (which is in mixing) and will be releasing in 2022! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not, haha, Hell know, I like to think of it as Music Chooses you. The truth is if you don’t truly just love the art of making music and performing for folks then eventually you won’t be able to hang anymore. All those tunes about its a long hard ride are correct haha. Same time, it can be so rewarding! 

It is tough. nine times out of ten what you want to happen doesn’t. You get told things that don’t come true, you get your hopes up because of unrealistic goals, and you are normally beyond broke since there is not a part of this that doesn’t cost. I still feel like I can only take one day at a time and just try and make the best decisions I can. It is just the reality of chasing the dream! 

I just try and make notes and learn as I go along. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a performing singer/songwriter and frontman for Cullen Wade and The Waters. 

I am proud of my band and the work we put into our Music. 

Contact Info:

• Email: watersbooking@gmail.com
• Website: www.cullenwade.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/cullenwadeandthewaters
• Facebook: facebook.com/cullenwademusic

Image Credits
Andrew Hutto
Mickey Guida