We recently had the chance to connect with Willie Schandel and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Willie, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: When was the last time you felt true joy?
It was 2022 in downtown Denver. I was playing a gig. It was during Covid, but despite the stress and spite the crazy times that was happening I was on stage with some of the greatest bands of all time having to play with them before opening for him alongside them hanging out with them. All my family and friends are there and they were just so happy to see me play to a big audience. I never felt so alive in my entire life. It was like I was a God standing on top of a cloud looking down on the world. That was really the most wonderful moment in the moment where I felt pure love and joy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is William Schandel I’m 31 years old and I live in Littleton Colorado. I am a musician and I am an actor. I’ve been performing both music wise and acting wise for the past 18 years of my life , my style of music is heavy metal , alternative rock , country , blues pretty much any kind of music you can think of. As an artist, I’m devoted and dedicated to my craft and I expressed it out on stage and it’s where I could be free and show off my perseverance to the world. Whenever I’m not on stage whenever I’m not performing, I act and performing movies I’ve been in numerous feature films and independent films my biggest break was being an extra in the movie shooting guard with my friends and my biggest break was acting in a movie called untattered soon to be released and available next year. I am also a writer which I am working on a book series right now called the Scarlet Hexx series, which is a mythical and rock ‘n’ roll series of a rockstar and maintaining and securing her legacy to others willing to play her sound , Hopefully I’ll find someone to get it published. I’m a very optimistic, very creative and very outgoing soul that loves to live life to the fullest each and every day learning working hard and also connect with others. I have the most beautiful family, the most beautiful friends. And a very thankful to be a Colorado native here in the most beautiful and amazing nation of all time the USA. I also take a lot of pride in my hometown in my home country as well never strive for power or for glory but for optimism uniqueness and integrity.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and I couldn’t display any communication whatsoever. However, my dad actually played songs on the radio and for the first time ever I learned how to speak so it was my first take on my observation of the world as I continue growing up as a kid I was always been a very curious and I’ve always been Very interested in everything artistic wise just fell in love with movies, music and art most of all. It was like a huge window that I can look out at and just have a vision and have an image in my head that I can create an express to the world one day.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I was 30 years old and I hit rock bottom in my life. I was battling anxiety, depression, and addiction. It really destroyed a lot of opportunities and it really hurt the ones I love. I was at a point where I didn’t recognize myself and just felt broken alone. I just felt like life was pointless. At that point, I did wanted to end my life because if I felt like if I just died tomorrow, then I won’t be a problem to others. What gave me the strength and the courage to help me carry on was my best friend Cory. He told me that it’s not the end that there’s always hope and that he struggled and that he’s been down below where I was before. Also having facing struggles himself and also to get his band off, the ground was a big challenge but it really inspired me and encourage me that if he can get through the hard times then so could I. So I basically picked up my guitar and wrote more songs and that inspired me to get back to where I was.
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. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The industry of today for Artists it’s really just a way to make more money off of us. They’re trying to make our dream look like a pipe dream when it’s not when in reality they’re just trying to take advantage of us they’re trying to make more money off of us. They don’t wanna give us credit for anything. They’re afraid to losing power themselves to the point of desperation to keep that power. When it’s really us musicians and artist doing all the work. They don’t have the patience. They don’t have the optimism and they don’t even have the passion and drive as we do. Only using money and their title as an excuse to get away with what they want, I believe we need more people with optimism we need more people with passion and a better understanding of musicians, and I believe musicians should get their fair share. It’s really destroying the arts of today. We need to spread more awareness of the lies in the deceit in the politics of the business. We need to make the business work for musicians again. That’s what I hate about the industry overall is their lack of empathy and optimism.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
When I’m with my family and when I’m with my friends and when I’m in my warm bed in my beautiful apartment with a guitar in my hand, I feel the most at peace and the most present, but most of all whenever I’m on stage or I’m on a movie set, that’s where I feel very peaceful that I’m surrounded by the arts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wildwilliemusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wps2013?igsh=MWI2ZndldnNlZW0xYw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JpWYbHkaV/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@wps2013?si=_RGptNgTCiw6VDBS
Image Credits
I love to give big thanks to my wonderful and amazing friend Cory Pearman of float like a buffalo and my wonderful friend Tyler Schatch for being the best business partner, and best president and director and producer for our upcoming feature , also big shout out to my new friend, Hannah as our biggest star and our upcoming feature as well and Julie as our wonderful director. Big shout out to my wonderful and amazing father. Dan Schandel for being my number one role model, my life coach, and the best father that a son could have.
