Summer is in full swing in Malibu, and Shwayze plans to keep that feeling alive forever.
And, on Friday, July 17, Shwayze’s bringing it all back to where he first began, performing and releasing his new album “King of the Summer” at Casa Escobar, formerly known as the Malibu Inn.
“The first place I ever played live was at the Malibu Inn,” Shwayze said in an interview with The Malibu Times. “I formed my first band called P.I.M.P. (Players in Malibu Park). That was me, my guitar player and all the homies. We used to play at the Malibu Inn and that’s how I really got started.”
At a young age, Shwayze (born Aaron Smith) could feel the music in his soul. He moved to Malibu at five years old, attending Juan Cabrillo Elementary and later Malibu High School, where he performed in talent shows and spent time creating music in local studios.
“I just want to have fun and I like to push myself to try different things,” he said. “I love rock music and I love feel good music. Back when I was kid, I didn’t think I could really sing, so that’s why I started rapping.”
His uncle worked in Motown and he was further influenced by melodic sounds from Smokey Robinson, James Brown and Stevi Wonder, to West Coast legends Tupac, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Pharrell Williams.
“One of my biggest influences since back in the day is Pharrell,” Shwayze said.
Producer, singer and songwriter Pharell Williams’ band N*E*R*D paved the way for establishing an entirely new sound that blended rock, funk and rap, and helped Shwayze realize his passion for creating his mark on the industry.
Live From Malibu event producer Matt Diamond is just as excited to have his friend performing at their old stomping grounds, for an event they believe is just the start of truly bringing music back to Malibu.
“Shwayze and I have virtually grown up together and we’ve been working together for years on many different levels,” Diamond said. “We just did the Malibu Guitar Festival, which was great, and now with Shwayze and Fishbone coming up — it feels good to basically produce live shows in our own backyard.”
With multiple albums and tours already under his belt since 2008’s massively successful summer hits “Buzzin” and “Corona and Lime” with music producer and friend Cisco Adler, Shwayze is focused on following his own independent lead with a sound that perfectly defines a lifestyle by the beach in Malibu — fun, funky, thriving and vibing.
“My mission and my goal in my personal album is to do two things: to make myself happy with the growth of the music but to also keep my old Shwayze fans,” he said. “This is the first time they’ll hear me without Cisco, and I’ve been doing this successfully. I went on tour for a couple of years off the album with no major label help … that was just all me.”
For years, he has worked with close confidants and friends to keep collaborating and building on the unique sounds established from his Malibu upbringing, and later formed independent label Feel Good Entertainment in 2010.
“I was trying to learn how to do all of this,” he said. “In the industry now, there’s no rule, there’s no right way to do things now because it’s all up in the air. We’re still independent and our focus is really at this time to put out music. It’s been a year or two of people killing me on social media, ‘where is my summer music?’ People have sensory overload and are so used to getting new, new, new all the time.”
Being an independent artist on an independent label carries benefits and burdens, but ultimately gave Shwayze the outlet he desired to create exactly what music he wanted, when he wanted and how he wanted it done.
With a massive support system at home in Malibu, Shwayze’s biggest and smallest concern with going on tour is missing his four-year-old son Hendrix (named after guitar legend Jimi Hendrix).
“His mother and I aren’t together, but we do that whole little shared “Modern Family”type of thing where he stays with me part of the week and then with her,” he said. “My grandparents live in the Point Dume Club and we all live close to each other, so it’s really easy and convenient. It takes a village and we have a village. That’s what we’re all about in Malibu. We all support and help each other.”
He’s always loved the hometown feel, and even after stints on the east coast and touring the world, believes there’s truly no place like Malibu in the world.
“It’s kinda cool to see Anthony Kiedis from Red Hot Chili Peppers all the time,” he said. “I can talk to anyone, but for some reason anytime I see Anthony, I just buck up and don’t say anything … and I walk away saying “Anthony Kiedis thinks you’re an idiot!”
Celebrity sightings aside, Shwayze feels like he’s the luckiest guy in the world, doing exactly what he wants to do.
“The crowds are always great at his shows and they’re mixed,” Diamond said. “Shwayze’s like an anomaly — he continues to tap into a young audience over and over again.”
“It is nonstop work, but I love to do this,” Shwayze said. “I’m laughing that I get to go to the studio and make music. I can call that my job, and now that I’m in control of it and what I put out and it’s my label … it gives me a lot of pride when I make this music.”
This year, his plans include completely flooding the market with new music, including another album in the fall of 2015, followed by an album next summer.
He is the King of the Summer, after all.
“What I wanted to with this album … I wanted to make a really fun summer album — just back to back to back, fun songs — be at the pool, at the beach, wherever. Put this on and it’s gonna vibe,” he said. “I think my old school Shwayze fans are gonna love it and my new Shwayze fans are gonna love it, and just say, ‘That’s Shwayze.’”
To purchase tickets to the show, or any upcoming Live From Malibu events at Casa Escobar, visit Live From Malibu.