Hiya BE|AH, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat.
It’s my pleasure thank you for having me.
What was life like for you before you got into music?
I only recently—the last few years—started picking up my acoustic guitar again, the one every good California boy should own. I plucked around on it, but nothing serious. Then we got my son an electric guitar for his 10th birthday (he’s turning 12 soon), and I haven’t put it down since! Ha! He still teases me about that. It also coincided with an early-onset Parkinson’s diagnosis, so it felt like a now-or-never moment in my life. Before that, I was just listening—singing and creating came later.
What’s the live music scene like in Hamburg right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
Of course. It’s great! I live near the Reeperbahn, a historic red-light district famously tied to the Beatles’ early days. It’s an exciting place, but beyond the sex shops it’s also home to some great small venues. Big acts that would usually play large stages sometimes pass through and end up performing in small bars and clubs—often just a short walk or train stop from my apartment. It’s a real part of what makes the scene here so special.
It seems like being a social media curator has become added to the many jobs of a musician. How do you feel about this?
I think it’s fine. I use it mainly to communicate with other artists. I don’t approach it as pure promotion—that can be exhausting. But as a community-building tool for like-minded people, it’s pretty special. I run a YouTube channel called RoomRock, a space for emerging artists, and Instagram has become the place for organizing and connecting. It’s the room everyone’s in. Plus, if you want to go full-on promotion mode, there’s automation to make it easy. Personally, I love branding.
How do you manage engagement on your socials?
Very intuitively. I try to be genuine. I share work I love, interact with other musicians, and use messaging to start conversations—
What’s your view on the music industry today?
There are 40 million musicians on SoundCloud. On Spotify, 8 million out of 10 million artists are in the “under 1,000 plays” club. That’s 80%! That kind of hopeful energy can be exploited. But at the same time, home recording and AI are leveling the field. It’s chaotic, but it’s an exciting time to be making art. The industry can be unscrupulous, but we’ve got more alternatives than ever—something I’m trying to build with friends through RoomRock. We’re a bit like the Bad News Bears—but we’re lovable.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
I sit squarely in “emerging artist forever.” I’ve pitched my tent there. We get to decide which voices and stories matter—we don’t need to wait around for permission.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned recently as your music has progressed?
Editing! Ha! Letting go of parts you’re attached to in order to make something work. And also knowing when to stop editing. That applies to my 3 Songs podcast, the BE|AH project, RoomRock, and even my film and writing work. And maybe most importantly: learning to be shameless in pursuing your voice.
That sounds cliché, but you put yourself out there with every new thing you create. There’s always a voice in your head going, “You’re an idiot BE|AH! No wonder Mom liked your older brother more.” But if you manage that shame, you come out more thoughtful—and maybe with a song like “Would You?”
What was your best experience on stage?
When I was 12, I played trumpet in the school band. I was picked to stand up and do the solo at the Christmas concert. I stood up proud and blasted away! I’m sure it sounded awful—Ha!—but it stays with you.
What was your worst experience on stage?
Okay, this isn’t music-related, but it leads into that direction. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I challenged myself to do stand-up comedy for a year. In Germany -where I live- of all places. I’m American, but I found an English-speaking comedy scene in Hamburg surprisingly! Most sets were rough, but one night I tried something what I thought was Andy Kaufman–style.
I started a bit of chaos offstage and planned to be the angry-funny guy on stage. But by the time I got to the mic, I saw eyes of distain, murmurs of disbelief- loved ones holding loved ones -some with tears- arm in arm. I think they thought a terrorist attack was happening.
I tried a couple jokes, said, “I think I should go,” put the mic down on the stage floor for some strange reason – like a knight might lay his sword down in recognition of defeat- and I walked through the silent audience and left. It was intense! They were pushed out of the venue and I was asked not to come back to the English comedy scene in Hamburg. So now I’m thinking about trying it in German! Ha!
Tell us something about you that people would be surprised to know.
Despite that story, I’m actually a pretty funny guy.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
Yes! It’s called “Would You?” It’s got a hint of a ‘70s outlaw-country feel. It’s a love song—but it’s about the sad devotion to wishful thinking. “Would you, when I know you won’t?” We’ve all been in that kind of one-sided relationship.
What was the recording process like?
I record in my home studio. Not to keep riding the Parkinson’s theme, but when I wake up I’m a mess the first 5 minutes until I get my medicine in me—shuffling, one eye closed, barely functioning. So I decided to record this character singing a love song in that first five-minute window after waking. It took a few mornings to get it right. I should’ve filmed the process!
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
That practice really does make you better. You build silently off each song. Even bad songs teach you something. I’ve spent a lifetime figuring out what I don’t want to do.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
No. I’m already onto the next one in my head.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the world?
Yes—a passion project of mine is the RoomRock 3 Songs podcast. I’m nearing episode 15, and they’re slice-of-life interviews where artists talk about three original songs and what they mean. It’s honest and messy and heartfelt. Check it out wherever you listen to podcasts!
Thanks for doing this with us today.
Thanks for having me!
FOLLOW HIM HERE // STREAM HERE
🇩🇪 FOR MORE NEW MUSIC NEWS FROM GERMANY CHECK RGM GERMANY 🇩🇪
