We’re looking forward to introducing you to Link West. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Link, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
That’s a fair question! Not to over-analyze things, but it really depends on your perspective. Am I one of those driven, goal-oriented guys? Nope! Never have been. I like to take a step back and look around. For someone with clear, quantifiable achievements and benchmarks in mind, I probably look like I’m just wandering about.
But I’m most certainly walking a path. I have dreams, and there are destinations…like getting this next batch of songs recorded and out to the world! Deadlines are great motivators, for sure, but the key to mental clarity and happiness is making steady progress, day-by-day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As I like to say, I’m a singer of songs, known and new. Craft breweries, wineries, farmers’ markets, state fairs…you’ll see me there! What makes me memorable is my approach to the job. There are plenty of great folks around here who stick to one genre or set list, or work off of an iPad loaded up with crowd-pleasers. While I respect what they do, I like to have everything memorized and put my own spin things. When Link West sings you a forgotten 80s tune like “Melt With You” back-to-back with some Johnny Cash, the crowd takes note!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Well, since we’re talking about music, I’ll share this story. I was, sadly, a total music snob in my youth. I was like Jack Black’s character, the record-store owner in the movie High Fidelity. I had opinions and saw clear lines between bad pop music and serious rock ‘n roll. But one night at a party someone put on “Waterfalls” by TLC. For some reason I could have cried when I heard it. It just sounded beautiful and pure. I realized that night that I needed to give a lot of other stuff a chance. I play stuff now to appreciative audiences that I would have skipped over as a snobby kid. And I love it. There’s a lot of great stuff in the world. Don’t cut yourself off. Give things a chance, even if it’s not “on brand.” Find the love in it, and channel that energy.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Keep one eye on your dreams all the time. Life will take many detours. There are times you need to work a boring job. Times you need to take on a side-hustle or two. There are times when friends and family will need your help for a season. It gets hard out there, and that’s ok. That’s life, and it’s an important education too! You need it. Those experiences are fuel for your creativity! But don’t forget where you want to be, where you need to be. Check in with yourself and make a little progress when you can, even if you can’t do a lot. It adds up, and you’ll be surprised at how far you’ve come when you look back.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Funny you should ask. Indeed, I wasn’t born “Link West,” as you might have guessed. However, it’s a nick-name from an old band, and not something out-of-the-blue. But let’s get philosophical here…is that guy really me? Well, the answer is most certainly, “Yes!”
Sure, there’s a freedom in running with a nick-name and stage persona. And there are times I’d rather read a book or take a nap than be 100% “on” for people. But I’ll never say anything I’d regret after introducing myself to a crowd. When I’m on stage, I’m very much me. But again, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other parts of me that you’ll only see off-stage. It takes a certain level of introversion and reflection to work on music, especially the song-writing part. If you aren’t careful with those aspects too, you’re not going to be giving everything you could, on stage or off.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
This is great question! And one that I don’t think I could have answered too long ago. As I’ve gotten older, my timeline has shrunk. I used to think in terms of weeks, possibly months. But doing music on this level has taught me that you’ve got to look a year out. Venues book up. Seasons fly by. I’m now booking shows for late in the next year.
On the rehearsal and writing side, I’ve also realized just how long it takes for new songs to evolve. Whether it’s a cover tune I’m trying to explore, or an original tune I want to polish and record, it takes a while to get everything just right.
I’m trying to create a “body of work,” that will last, that people will remember. The payoff for that isn’t next weekend at the next gig. It’s not next month at a bigger out-of-town show. That connection only comes when people have a history with you and your music, when you’ve spoken to them at times when they needed it. It’s a slow process, and I’m now very ok with the fact that it can take years, or even a lifetime of evolution to make that happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linkwest.rocks/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linkwestrocks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linkwestrocks
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@linkwest
