We had the good fortune of connecting with Wayne Whittaker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wayne, what’s your definition for success?
From what I’ve been able to gather so far, defining success may actually be more difficult than attaining success. It’s a moving target, and something that changes shape pretty consistently. When I was 14 and just starting to make music of my own, the idea of playing in a band or recording our songs was my idea of success. Then you do those things, and something else immediately appears in their place. Even looking back as recently as five years ago, a lot of the things I’ve been able to do would have seemingly checked some of those boxes. But I’m not satisfied.

Which isn’t to say I’m not grateful, or not happy with what I’ve done. I’m acutely aware of how lucky I am to pursue this type of career, but the concept of success is complex and multi-faceted. There’s artistic success, which I feel is to create art that authentically represents who you are in a way that hopefully connects with other people, or in the best-case scenario inspires them. Then there are the societal definitions of success that get placed on us, and that’s where it can really get murky.

I suppose all of that is to say that it’s still a work in progress, which makes sense because so am I. I’ll get back to you when I figure it all out…

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Most of my musical time is spent as a sideman, which is something I find immensely enjoyable. I’ve always loved supporting other artists cultivate their vision, either in the studio or on the road, and 2022 has offered more of those opportunities than the last couple of years.

With my project, Pigeon Club, I’ve been embracing my own voice more than I have in the past. I’ve written or co-written songs with other artists for years, but this record was really my first time taking a certain ownership of my writing. It’s been really rewarding, and I’m growing more comfortable with the process. There are new songs in the works, and it’s nice to have a project like this to return to when I’m not working on other people’s music.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
ETA in Highland Park is a really special place, often showcasing the insane depth of musical talent LA offers. And while we’re in Highland Park, JOY is a fantastic Taiwanese spot and one of my favorite restaurants in town. Staying on the east side, Casita Del Campo in Silver Lake is THE spot for margaritas. And for fellow hi-fi folks, Jacknife Records & Tapes in Atwater Village is a must-visit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I know it can sound cliche, but I feel incredibly lucky to have parents who have supported me my entire life, predating my decision to pursue music. Like, they didn’t bat an eye when I was 11 years old and told them I wanted to be a professional wrestler. My mom just saw that as an opportunity to say, “wow, that’s great! Sounds like you’ll need to save money for wrestling school. Let’s open you a savings account. Here’s how that works…”

I guess compared to professional wrestling, a career in music sounded like a reasonable pursuit, and they’ve been my biggest supporters along the way.

Beyond that, I have a laundry list of wonderful people in my life. But for the sake of brevity, and out of fear of excluding anyone, I’ll keep this particular list to a minimum. My partners have been hugely supportive of me, and incredibly patient with me. Many of my closest friends are often times my closest collaborators, and with Pigeon Club that list would start with John Would, who’s probably most responsible for getting me out of my shell as a songwriter and who is most definitely responsible for helping me make a record I’m really proud of.

Website: waynewhittaker.com

Instagram: instagram.com/waynewhittakermusic

Twitter: twitter.com/pigeonclubmusic

Other: https://pigeonclubmusic.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits
Jeni Magana, Ashley Proal, Douglas Hochberg

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