Rising Stars: Meet Rhys Weyrauch of South Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rhys Weyrauch.

Hi Rhys, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was in fifth grade I started doing theatre. I had small roles in ensembles and then later on, in high school, I got some bigger parts. Almost immediately I fell in love with being on stage and performing for people. I could take or leave the dancing and the acting, but the music and performance captured me. It was during my early years of theatre that I met Winona Crooks. We became great friends and she pushed me to make something new. While my brother was studying abroad, I started teaching myself how to play the guitar he left. Being a loud and obnoxious middle schooler, the sound of the guitar just took me. I would come home and go to my stereo and blast blink-182, Third Eye Blind, and Led Zeppelin albums and play along to them. Flash forward to senior year of high school, Winona had been studying at Belmont and encouraged me to move to Nashville. So I applied to Belmont and Lipscomb, got into both, then went with Lipscomb. I studied commercial music and buckled down on my creativity. I had written a few songs in high school, but not very many I wanted to play more than just once. That all changed when I came to Nashville. I was just writing song after song after song. I played a show at Lipscomb. Being the only punk artist at Lippy, reactions were mixed at best. However; the people who loved us, *loved* us. I was introduced to Jack French, and connected with him instantly. I asked him to play bass, and asked my long time friend, Owen Gutzmer, to join on keyboard, acoustic guitar, and saxophone. We created a band called Feziwig. I was always hesitant to release music because I am way too ambitious for my own good. Sitting on this collection of songs, I decided that I didn’t want to do what it seems like musicians do these days. Which is releasing singles then releasing an album of songs that aren’t connected at all. I wanted make something that flows and is musically cohesive. We recorded our first album at Sound Emporium Studios over four days, and the first single “Metal Song (DRUNK!!!)” released May 3rd. Our debut record, Can’t Find My Way Back Home, is slated to release June 21st 2025.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I defiantly faced challenges while being a musician. Moving to Nashville to go to Lipscomb was a big challenge. I was outcasted by a majority of the people there because I was very different. People put me in a box that they didn’t want to associate with because I was very open about the things I struggle with. I dealt with, and deal with addiction, depression, and self doubt. People didn’t like the way I presented it. Outside of the country/folk and indie scene in Nashville, I’ve found a lot of hardcore and emo bands that I like. Not a lot of punk that I try to sound like and make. Except for Stuck Lucky: awesome guys, killer music, and awesome shows. I luckily did find a good group of people who did gravitate to my music despite of everything. Which I am so grateful for because I love music and I love playing it for people who love it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When I am not writing new songs, I am sending emails. Thats the part of music no one tells you about. Loads and load of emails. I mainly send them to other bands and venues to perform at. I love performing. I do everything I do to put on the beat show I can. Our Feziwig shows have been described as “Electric” by me, and also by people who have attended. We are know most for our antics and wild behavior on stage. We like to make jokes about each other and our music as we play. We truly are friends just trying to make you laugh and cry with us. We are also more of a collective, but I define it as anyone who plays on stage with us is in the band.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There are defiantly more people who deserve credit. My band mates and people I have worked with to create the sound of Feziwig: Jack French, Owen Gutzmer, Issac Harrison, Logan Weatherly, Justin McCall, Emmalyn Williams. All the people who worked on the record outside of those folks: Grant Wilson, Jordan Vivero, Jamin Stolze, Wesley Butler, Finn Kise, and Tanner Lockhart. And of course, My family, my gracious parents: Joy and Dan Weyrauch, and My brothers: Nicolaus Weyauch, and Brigham Weyrauch.

Also mentors lol:
Don Chaffer, Adam Walsh, Rob Byus, Marsha Matthai, Giuseppe DiGiuseppe, Brown Bannister, Donna King, and Jeff McPherson

Pricing:

• Pay me what ever you want

Contact Info:

• Website: https://feziwignation.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feziwig_/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Feziwig
• Other: https://rhysweyrauch.bandcamp.com/