Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, WAZ was heavily influenced by his parent's record collection which included artists such as The Pretenders, ELO, & Neil Young. At the early age of 8, 10cc's song, "The Things We Do For Love" inspired WAZ to pick up his first guitar. After graduating college, WAZ packed up his car and drove west having no idea what the future held. Within a day of arriving in California he got a call from his college buddy Pete Yorn to start a band.

After three years of hard work and gigging in Los Angeles, Yorn signed a major deal with Columbia records. The boys picked up and went on road. It was the next three years where WAZ witnessed the emotional impact music had on people. "Playing shows night after night I was always amazed to see the raw and emotional connection people have with heartfelt music & lyrics." It was this connection that inspired WAZ to start writing his own songs.