Rising band Big West bridges coasts with upcoming EP

Big West, the musical project and persona of Dan Westerlund, embodies the expansive spirit of the American West, both in name and sound. Originating from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Dan’s journey out west in 2017 profoundly influenced his creative direction, partially inspiring the moniker “Big West.” This name reflects not just a geographical shift but a personal evolution that’s echoed in his music. With a sound rooted in indie/reggae yet unconfined by any single genre, Big West draws on an eclectic mix of influences ranging from classic rock to 2000s hip-hop—genres that shaped his upbringing.

Starting as a solo venture, Big West has grown into a collaborative effort, with Dan bringing together a diverse group of musicians whose talents help shape a sound that’s both unique and familiar. His bandmates, discovered through chance encounters and long-standing friendships, contribute to a musical style that defies strict categorization but remains deeply rooted in personal experience and emotion. Despite moving back to Pittsburgh—a city with a smaller, yet fiercely talented, reggae scene—Dan has found a renewed sense of purpose and community among like-minded musicians.

As Big West continues to evolve, Dan’s goal is to create music that resonates deeply with listeners, offering relatable lyrics, catchy melodies, and intricate arrangements.

With an upcoming EP, written during a period of personal reflection and growth, Big West is poised to make a significant impact on the music scene.

In the interview below, Dan shares the journey that led to the formation of Big West, the diverse influences that shape his sound, and his hopes for the future, giving us a glimpse into the heart and soul of a rising artist.

What/who is Big West? How did the band form?

• DW: Well, hi Jenna, so nice to meet you. My name is Dan Westerlund aka Big West (Author’s Note: Dan and I have known each other for years). “Big West” is a name that came from a couple different parts of my life. Mainly from my nick name “Westy”. Contrary to popular belief, though, I did not add the “Big” to my name because of my unrivaled ability to gain weight in an impressively short amount of time.
• When I left Pittsburgh to move out west in 2017, I absolutely fell in love with how wide open and massive the landscape is compared to southwestern Pennsylvania, where I grew up and the east coast in general. The long straight roads through the deserts and the breathtaking mountain views have always given me a feeling of “woah, we are really out here”. The name “Big West” will always remind me of those moments but I also wanted something that could be taken as a single person or as a band like Stick Figure or Hirie.

What genre best reflects your music? 

• This is a great question and one that is pretty complicated to answer. The simple “leave me alone I’m busy” way to answer it would be that we most likely can be categorized into the indie-reggae genre but I think the truth is is that I am just heavily influenced by reggae and indie rock. I will never limit myself to any specific genre when writing or producing music though.
• When I was growing up my family listened to all kinds of different music. My dad would play an eclectic mix of music from classic rock (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Paul Simon, and Pink Floyd), reggae (Bob Marley and Musical Youth) and even some genre bending alternative bands like Sublime and Incubus. Let’s not leave out the fact that my dad and I shared and continue to share an affinity for early 2000s hip hop. He would unknowingly provide my entire high school with the latest rap mixtapes when he would burn me CDs [laughs].
• I also thought any bands that my brother (Phantom Planet, Green Day, blink-182) and sister (O.A.R, The Strokes, No Doubt) would listen to were so cool. My mom used to listen to country, which I never liked, but she did give me James Taylor and John Mayer (thanks Mom). I think this wide range of music in my life has let me think outside of the box when it comes to creating music.

I know you’ve shuffled back and forth between Pennsylvania and California, how does the reggae scene differ?

• Wow, another great question! It’s almost like you’ve done this before… (Author’s Note: *eye roll*).
• When I moved from SoCal, a highly competitive hub for reggae and music in general, I expected to find fewer serious musicians and bands to collaborate with. I was quickly proven wrong. I initially worried that the local scene might lack the intensity needed for me to keep pushing boundaries. While music isn’t about competition, I believe it’s crucial to constantly challenge one another and elevate the standard of what we do in order to grow.
• The ‘burgh doesn’t have as many bands as southern California but the talent and professionalism here are undeniable. I make it a point to attend every reggae or reggae-adjacent show I can, and I was blown away by several bands during my first few months back. I’ve seen some incredible talent and bands that offer a unique sound that I’ve never experienced in SoCal. Two groups that really stood out to me were Fubar and Hollow North.

Can you elaborate on that?

• Fubar has been around for years, and I’ve seen their logo on flyers for Pittsburgh shows. When Big West opened for Mike Pinto at the Hard Rock Pittsburgh in June, they were the direct support, and they absolutely blew my mind. They played a cover of “Aerials” by System of a Down in a reggae/ska style. It was instantly recognizable yet entirely their own. I’m excited to play more shows with them.
• Hollow North isn’t strictly a reggae band, but they have a bright future. When I first saw them, they had only been together for about six months, but their performance was one of the best I’ve ever seen—major shows included. Their energy and unique approach to music are mesmerizing, and it’s shocking they aren’t already huge. We became instant friends, and I’m looking forward to producing some of their upcoming singles. I can’t wait to work with them.

What do you hope listeners take away from your music? 

• This music I write as Big West is 100% from the heart. I write based on personal experiences and emotions. For me it’s extremely important that I say exactly what I mean to say. Some of the music I write is an outlet for me to get something off my chest, like a therapy session. Some of it comes from a place of wanting to give something to the world. What that “something” is I think is to be determined by the listener. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a song that describes exactly how I feel and I find it means something completely different to someone else. I think that’s the beauty of art. I guess my answer is that I hope listeners to take away “something”.

What can you tell us about the upcoming EP?

• This EP was written primarily in a transitional period in my life, going from an extremely fast paced and exciting lifestyle– playing a ton of shows, meeting and playing music with my heroes to going back to my home town and slowing down– spending time with family, figuring out what I want and how to be the best version of myself for the ones I love. This EP is reflection of these things.
• The music side of things is a whole story in itself. I got to work with a collection of some of the most talented musicians that I have met through my years of playing music on a professional level. They also happen to be some of my best friends so I couldn’t ask for a better situation. It was a completely collaborative effort. Watching two drummers with totally different styles write parts together was the coolest thing in the world. This was the case with bass, lead guitar, rythym guitar, keyboards, and even vocals. I am so grateful to have had that experience.
• I’m not positive on the release date and it doesn’t have a name yet but I think I’m leaning towards naming it after the first single we are going to drop, “The Gataway”, which features the SoCal band Tunnel Vision. We did all of the recording at Hayden’s studio, Tube Town in San Clemente, so it seems fitting.

How did you meet the rest of the band?

• When I moved back, I started jamming with a few people here and there but it was a lot like dating [laughs]. I went months playing with all these different people but it was never the right fit. I pretty much gave up looking and was just writing alone for a while. Things changed when I started working at a car dealership and met Jake Puckett, who noticed me browsing the Sweetwater website for music gear. After learning he was a drummer in a punk band, we jammed, and everything clicked as if we’d been playing together for years. Jake’s input on songwriting, especially in creating bridges, melodies, and transitions, has been invaluable. For bass, I initially hoped my old friend Adam Abels, who had helped me get into reggae and music production, would join, but he couldn’t commit. Instead, he introduced me to Mike Gaston from Keystone Vibe, who turned out to be a perfect fit, bringing a rootsy old-school style that meshed seamlessly with our sound. I also want to give a shoutout to my friend Max Echard, who’s helped me write two tracks on the upcoming EP—he’s a songwriting legend. In the studio, it’s been a collaborative effort involving talented musicians like Noah Nicodemus (Triple Thread, 200 West), Wolfy Keeney (Triple Thread, Special Blend), Greg Galarze (200 West), Aaron Tufono (Shakamon), Hayden Hanson (Tunnel Vision), Jacob Fairclough, and Tanner Klem (Special Blend).

Wow! You really brought the east coast and west coast together for this one. I know you mostly play as a three piece but do you see Big West expanding in the future?

• I definitely see lead guitar and keys in the future but it has to be the right fit. We good a good thing going so far.

What is your goal as a musician and how do you think Big West will help you get there?

• My goal as a musician is to write music that resonates with people. I would love for it to reach as many people as possible. So for right now, radio play and a national tour is the goal but I wouldn’t have even been able to dream of it without all of the talented people who have helped me get here so thanks for being a part of my dream dudes!

Aww. That was sweet. If you could open for any band right now, who would you want it to be?

Do you have a funny story or anecdote to share from your time recording ?

• The funniest moment during recording happened while we were laying down the last solo on the final track of the EP. We were all filming each other on our phones, turning back and forth, and when the song ended, we just burst out laughing. Hayden, noticing us for the first time, started laughing too but he didn’t even know why we were laughing, which made us all stop. Then Jacob looked around and asked, “What the f*** was he laughing about?” It was one of those “you had to be there” moments.

Readers, if you’d like to “be there” for more of Big West’s “you had to be there” moments make sure you keep your eye out for upcoming articles and you can further support these rising artists by using this link to follow them on Instagram.