We’re looking forward to introducing you to Beige Radio. Check out our conversation below.
Beige, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Recently, I’ve really been trying to hammer in the habit of getting up, working out and stretching right away. And I mean literally first thing out of my bed with the yoga mat, some weights, and some Therabands™️ (shoutout Therabands™️). I wish I could say I’m trying to instill this habit because I’m getting older and things are getting creakier, but I’ve dealt with chronic nerve and muscular pain since I was a teenager. Some of it is definitely hereditary. I pulled my back seriously for the first time when I was 18 or so bending over to pick up a guitar. I wasn’t even picking up anything heavy hahaha. Anyway, it’s just a good way for me to loosen and warm things up, which makes me a less irritable throughout the day. It’s like compound interest, but with pain; if I don’t sort it out early, it’ll affect me the rest of the day. Also, I alllllways put on new music to listen to when I do it, so it’s become my music discovery time. Full albums, no skips. If I love the music, great! If I don’t love the music I can focus more on the workout/stretching. The working out/stretching + new music listening also just forces me to slow down my breathing and calm my anxious brain which usually just wants to go off first thing in the morning. I go in and out of phases of being good and bad about this habit. We’re on a good streak. I’m sure I’ll get tired of it eventually hahaha
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name’s Wes Gonzalez or “Beige Radio” depending on who you talk to. I am the head, body, and un-soul of “Beige Radio Enterprises, music. photos. events.”
I recently heard someone describe themselves as a “community music organizer” and I think I may be that. I think that may be the thing that I am. lol. At least, right now and for the last few years.
I started off playing music, but then I started booking shows for friends with experience I had playing in indie/emo/punk bands over the years. Then I fell into photography and have been developing it as a skill, but also using it as another tool to lift up my COMMUNITY MUSIC ORGANIZING 😛 in my little corner of the arts community.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I had a dog named Baby Girl. She passed away during the holidays in 2024. I’d actually delivered her when she was born, so I literally carried her into this world and wrapped my arms around her as she left it. Like so many people, when I think about every monumental thing in my life that she was there for, for a LONG stretch of time – my early 20s and mid thirties – it’s kind of overwhelming. I live with some mental health issues and come from a family where we were very much provided for with the physical things we needed in life, but where the emotional connection, support, and frankly, maturity, from my parents was very lacking. That kind of situation puts you in a funny spot because it messes you up mentally, but there’s no way you can talk about it without sounding whiny lol. There was a bit of an age gap between myself and my older sisters so I felt a little less close to them and my brother, who was closest in age, teased me relentlessly. My brother and I get along now, but this whole scenario created an environment of always being surrounded, but feeling alone. I think that’s actually why I got into music, as a way to escape into another world. It always seemed more important to not rock the boat in my family and like the illusion of seeming okay to other people was more important than actually being okay. I think having a dog’s unconditional love – having that love from Baby Girl – just felt SO grounding as a young adult after growing up in an emotionally tumultuous household. I’m working on an album right now called “Families”. It’s by no means all about my family, but it’s definitely a collection of experiences and how growing up in my family has colored the lens through which I experienced those things, typically not for the better. The cover of the album is going to be a photo of Baby Girl.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I used to work full-time (and sometimes more) in politics. Around four years ago I really burnt out doing THAT much of that kind of work. It came after the end of a 7-year relationship and those two things had really become the central parts of my identity even though I was pretty drained and unhappy with both. It sort of fits that theme from my previous answer, having internalized the idea ‘seeming okay’ being more important than ‘being okay.’ When those two things left I had a lot of time to think about what was actually important to me and one big thing I landed on was that I had really let my creative self flounder. For years. And that I couldn’t do that anymore. I was lucky enough to be able to take some time off and have really spent the last few years re-establishing that creative self. I’ve leaned into the creativity a little hard lol and could probably find a little more balance with other areas of my life, but it does feel good to know it’s there. Also, I’ve found my way into some political work again, but at a much healthier part-time amount that works better for me.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
It’s pretty close, just filtered through cool colors and sounds lol. I feel like trying to be anything else would be too much work and that people appreciate authenticity. There are definitely aesthetics which can color the public version of myself, but I’ve been wildly into music and art ever since I can remember…I’m a student of aesthetics. It’s kind of hard for me to get away from it lol. Plus, I enjoy the growth and change in my aesthetics over time. I got styleeeeeeee bayyybeeeeeeee
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
When I have a comedy podcast on, my vape pen, and a triple western cheeseburger from Carl’s Jr.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beigeradio.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/beige_radio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeigeRadio
Image Credits
All photos by Wes Gonzalez / Beige Radio
