We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Shane Jones Walters and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew Shane, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It has never felt like a decision for me. It’s felt like a lifestyle. Something intrinsic, something that I was already doing anyway and something, I know, I’ll continue to do – whether it’s called a business or not.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Music, theatre, and teaching.

Music has been a major focus of my life. At a very young age I have had a strong affinity for music and performance. I feel the strength of my father and his father underneath me. Both of them played music throughout most of their lives and both of them played a heavy influence in my desire to continue creating and performing.

Growing up in Florida, I am fortunate to have an older brother who also plays. As teens we played in and out of different groups together. We wrote and performed songs together all the time. We were lucky to get the opportunity to record an album together in high school at a place called Avalon in Port Saint Lucie, Florida.

Years later, after we had graduated from high school, and we were in college, we booked a tour up to New York and back down to Florida. It was a little foolish cause we only had like five shows but we were excited just to go and experience playing our music in other states.

I’d say that my career as a musician has been both tough and blessed. After my brother and I parted ways from making music together I joined and created a few groups. The one that made a big change and impact on me was a punk hardcore band out of Gainesville, Florida called Battle!

When I joined Battle! they were touring frequently. So I got the opportunity to tour across the country and come to California for the first time. I also got to tour parts of Canada and even got the chance to do a European tour.

After leaving that band, I decided that I wanted to create a new group with my buddy Robbie. I met him on one of the Battle! tours and we hit it off right away. We both liked a lot of the same music and just laughed a lot together. We each recruited another band member and started a band called Kadets. We did several tours through the U.S. but personal issues started to cause some friction and we disbanded. After Kadets fell apart I decided I wanted to move to California to persue another passion of mine, acting.

I spent three years at Santa Monica College trying to raise my grades so I could transfer to a four year university. I was in numerous school theatre productions, some theatre productions outside of school, and I did several independent films during that time. I remember it being an incredibly busy time. I worked at a restaurant called Milo and Olive for most of that time. I worked the morning shift so I would have to be there at 5:30am and then I would go to school right after my shift. Then I would typically have rehearsals till about 10 or 11pm. It would usually take me about 30 minutes to get home too. So I didn’t sleep much during that time. Nevertheless I was very happy and felt fortunate to do everything I was doing. I think what shocked me the most during that period is that I still found time for music. I wrote songs and played the guitar every day.

When I got into UCSD in 2015, I moved down to San Diego and started to bring that same work ethic here. I started getting into teaching theatre in my last year at UCSD which helped build my confidence as a teacher. I never thought about teaching music until my old roommate, Kai. I was helping him work on his voice and I gave him tips about how I approach the guitar when he said, dude you’re a really good teacher, you should do that. At first, I kind of dismissed his comment seeing it as an overzealous compliment. But after some time, I started advertising myself as a private instructor.

In going to UCSD, working with private students, and performing in theatre shows around town I got to meet really amazing artist.

Like my current band mates Taylor and James. I make music solo but I also play in a group called Better Before that plays heavier punk rock music. Taylor and I met through UCSD, and James I met through Taylor. They are extremely talented and fun loving musician’s and I feel grateful to get to make music with them.

Catherine Hanna Schrock from Imagine. I met Catherine through UCSD as well and have worked with her for nearly eight years now. Through Imagine we have brought many different theatre programs to schools across San Diego. And currently I teach four fourth grade classes, three sixth grade classes, and two seventh grade classes a week. One of these programs is interdisciplinary, theatre and history, the other is social and emotional well being through the lens of theatre.

Another amazing artist is Nancy Ross, a spectacular singer, actor, and performer. We started a kids rock band called A Funny Name. This was a goofy and childish experience – in the best way. Through Ross I met Natasha Kozaily. Natasha runs and owns Kalabash a beautiful, magical school for the arts. I’ve been fortunate enough to work at Kalabash on the theatre summer camps and the theatre productions. Currently we are working on a youth version of The Odyssey which my step son is in. What a unique and beautiful experience this has been.

After being a private instructor for a little while, I had a music school in Rancho Bernardo reach out to me called Muse Academy of Music. I spent several years there and found it to be such a special environment. I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to talk and think about music and art all the time. I would have stayed at Muse but after meeting my wife and moving in with her in Carlsbad, I was hoping to keep work closer to home. I got that opportunity when I got a teaching position with Carlsbad Village Music, a gorgeous music shop right off Carlsbad Village Drive.

Currently, I teach at CVM, Monday through Fridayand typically see about 45 students a week.

That’s my long story but nowadays I’m working on being both a new father and a creative. I just released two new songs at the end of this last year under And Shane Walts, my solo project. And I’ve got a third song coming out with my band Better Before on Feb. 9th. Both can be found on the Apple Music and Spotify.

I think the last thing that I’ll say here is that I’m just kind of a workaholic when it comes to creative making. Sometimes it just sort of happens but finding that consistent rhythm to allow it to happen is important, I think. I’m always down to try something new and I love collaboration. So I’ll just keep doing what I love and do my best to relish in the moment.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I love coffee. I’m a little bratty about it, too. So I would first go to Coffee Cycle in PB because they’ve got some of the best coffee in town. Then we could head to Wayfarer in Bird Rock for some baked goods or lunch before heading to Windansea beach. Then we could head more downtown for some Crack Shack – the firebird is delicious!

Then I’d probably drive or walk around for a bit before bringing them up to my place in Carlsbad. I’m always down to just have a few drinks at home and chat, maybe play a board game.

Then the next day we could hit up some thrift stores and then show them where I work, Carlsbad Village Music. We could walk around the Village, maybe get a donut at the Goods. I’d probably get a coffee at Steady State or Revolution Roasters.

Later in the night we could either catch a show at the Belly Up or stay more north and go to the Pour House or some brewery. I’m pretty open, I like most beers so I’d probably let me guest choose. I did go to Black Plague recently and really enjoyed the vibe. My buddy Jared’s band played and they were super good. They are called Soulseller.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

Imagine – Catherine and Peter for being such an inspiration and devising some of the most powerful work I’ve ever gotten the chance to participate in.

Kalabash – Natasha for being such an artistic inspiration. The whole school is a magical realm filled with so many talented and deeply caring individuals.

Carlsbad Village Music – Janine, Blake, Jared, and all of the wonderful teachers. I feel very lucky to be a part of such a talented and caring cast.

UCSD – I feel like I learned so much from my short time at there. Also all of my fellow students and like minded artists.

Santa Monica College – all of my teachers and the fellow student creatives.

I’ve gotten the opportunity to build amazing relationships with so many amazing individuals. It’s too many to count. I feel I’ve been extremely fortunate in that way.

My immediate family. My gorgeous wife, Miranda, who is so unbelievably supportive and encouraging, and somehow just likes me for me. All my family in Florida who have always been so supportive of who I am and what I enjoy doing. My mom, my brother, my sister, and my father. My father holds a very sacred space in my creative heart. He was my first true inspiration. He has always been extremely supportive of my choices. When I decided to dropout of school to tour as a musician at the young age of 21, he was all for it. As long as it made me happy, he said that’s all that mattered to him. I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am if it wasn’t for him.

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