The path to becoming a Reyn Spooner collector varies wildly from person to person. For Wes Chiller, it began at birth. The Capistrano Beach musician, surfer, photographer, and firefighter paramedic has been surrounded by Spooners his whole life, and his family's connection to our brand runs deep.
With the release of his recent album, Shin High Noon, we were excited to chat with him about his collection, the inspiration behind his music, and the story behind how his uncle’s ukulele collection inspired an original Spooner print.
RS: How were you introduced to Reyn Spooner?
WC: Reyn Spooner has been a staple in my family’s closet for as long as I can remember. The Aloha spirit was always present in my family household, ranging from ukuleles, Spooner Aloha shirts, and precious collectibles from Hawaiian artists. As I grew older, I fit into more Aloha shirts from my dad’s collection, and I eventually swiped my favorites and put them in my closet.
RS: You have a unique history with the brand – your uncle’s ukulele collection was the basis for one of our designs in the 90s. Tell us more about that!
WC: I’d love to! “Don’s Collection” was in print starting in 1998. It was a collaboration between my late uncle, Don Stewart, and Reyn Spooner. Don got me started on the ukulele when I was five, and I revere him as one of my biggest influences in music. His world-renowned collection of ukuleles was used to create my favorite Spooner shirt to date. I believe they came in three colors, printed as shirts and dresses. In some old correspondence, the brand mentioned they couldn’t mention Don or his collection due to a change in formatting. I am proud to complete that circle now. Thank you for the opportunity.
RS: You’re carrying on your uncle’s tradition, and you’re a musician yourself. Tell us about your recently released album and the inspiration behind it.
WC: My new album is called Shin High Noon. It’s a collection of songs that I wrote across different beaches all over the world. Much of the inspiration is derived from staring at the ocean for hours and trying to capture the melodies that cross my mind during that mind adventure. This year, my band and I toured Costa Rica, took two surf excursions to Mexico, and even made it to the middle of the Indian Ocean, so you’ll hear many different influences united by a coastal mindset.
The single of the album, Beach Bum, is an ode to the wandering beach folk who we’ve encapsulated in a semi-fictitious character named Dale Dekker. Dale prefers the way of the road, and you can find him at any state beach parking lot, giving his unsolicited opinions on the surfing conditions while wondering if there’s an extra hot dog on the grill for him. This album is best enjoyed in a chilled state.
RS: Where can we listen to your new album?
WC: You can hear my music wherever you listen under the name Wes Chiller. Follow the link below for all my social media and music streaming profiles.
I will also be pressing a short run of vinyl that will be available for sale at my shows.
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