If By Whiskey: A New California Rebellion Bottled in Fire and Tape

By Young N’ Loud Magazine

Where Obsession Took Root

Long before Los Angeles stages and analog tape sessions, a young guitarist in Sacramento found inspiration through a plastic controller and a video game console. Guitar Hero III did not simply entertain him. Instead, it sparked a fixation. When his family won a month of guitar lessons at a silent auction, that brief introduction turned into four years of disciplined practice and a lifelong commitment to rock music.

From that moment forward, guitar stopped being a hobby and became a compass. While many teenagers experiment with interests, he doubled down on music. Sacramento, with its suburban conservatism and structured expectations, quietly fueled his desire to push against the ordinary. That tension between environment and ambition shaped his artistic identity early on.

Soon after, a local program called Stairway to Stardom changed everything. Each summer, teenage musicians auditioned to join assigned bands, rehearsed under professional mentorship, and performed at the legendary Crest Theatre near the California State Capitol. Performing to sold out crowds of more than two thousand people at thirteen years old leaves a mark. Placing second among more than a dozen bands sealed the decision. Rock music was not a phase. It was the future.

California as Classroom

Geography often molds musicians as much as mentors do. Sacramento taught him what he did not want to become. San Francisco, where he pursued a production degree at SF State, introduced him to atmosphere, nuance, and the human pulse of music culture. The Bay Area refined his ears. It sharpened his sense of vibe and emotional authenticity.

However, Los Angeles ultimately provided the proving ground. After graduation in 2020, the world shifted dramatically. Like many artists in that year, he entered adulthood amid uncertainty. Confidence faded. Doubt grew louder. Yet within that instability, he discovered community. Surrounded by driven musicians and industry professionals in Los Angeles, he rebuilt not only his career but also his sense of purpose.

Today, he has lived in Los Angeles for more than five years, working both as a performing artist and in music production. The city demands seriousness. It rewards persistence. Because of that intensity, he feels at home.

The Name That Refuses to Compromise

If By Whiskey stands as more than a band name. It carries intellectual bite and cultural wit. The phrase originates from a famous post Prohibition speech often cited in academia as an example of logical fallacy, where a speaker argues both sides of an emotionally charged issue.

He encountered it in an undergraduate general education course and immediately wrote it down. A single line in the speech resonated deeply. This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise.

That defiance echoes through the band’s identity. Even for listeners unfamiliar with its academic roots, If By Whiskey sounds bold and memorable. Yet beneath the cleverness lies a declaration of independence. The name mirrors the band’s ethos. Stand firm. Play loud. Mean it.

Sound Without Apology

Describing If By Whiskey without leaning on genre labels requires intention. Certainly, the spirit of Guns N Roses, Van Halen, and AC DC pulses through their DNA. However, influence does not equal imitation. Instead, the band channels that era’s ferocity and freedom into a modern context.

Stylistically, their music feels rebellious yet melodic. Heavy guitar riffs collide with expressive solos that flirt with excess but never lose discipline. Groove anchors the chaos. Hooks demand repetition. Every solo serves the song rather than overpowering it.

As a guitarist, he deliberately plays on the edge of what each track requires. That balance between restraint and expression creates tension. Blues inflections blend with aggressive phrasing. The result feels alive rather than nostalgic.

Lyrically, the band aims for relatability without cliché. Themes of personal freedom, identity, and resistance against judgment thread through the songwriting. In a city like Los Angeles, where many arrive seeking reinvention, those ideas resonate deeply. If By Whiskey offers not just sound but solidarity.

From Product Design to Two Inch Tape

One of the most pivotal turning points occurred unexpectedly during college. Initially, he pursued a path in product design with hopes of entering the tech sector. After a single semester, he recognized the stress and rigidity did not align with his creative instincts.

Almost by accident, he met producer John Barsotti, who taught within the production program as head of audio. Seeking an affordable place to record, his band connected with Barsotti, who tracked them to two inch tape at no cost. The warmth of analog recording and the mentorship that followed altered his trajectory completely.

Within a week of visiting office hours, he changed his major. Since then, he has worked full time in music, balancing production with performance. Mentors such as Kevin Phillips and guitar legend Paul Gilbert further refined his technical and artistic foundation.

Experience layered upon experience. Skill replaced insecurity. Craft matured.

When Doubt Became Fuel

Graduating in 2020 disrupted momentum. Plans stalled. Relocation to Los Angeles felt overwhelming. Confidence dissolved into uncertainty. That period, however, birthed some of the most emotionally charged material on the forthcoming record.

A song titled The Punishment captures that era’s internal struggle. Rather than hide vulnerability, he transformed it into narrative power. Community played a crucial role in recovery. Fellow musicians in Los Angeles provided camaraderie, accountability, and shared ambition. Through collaboration and friendship, he regained clarity.

Consequently, adversity strengthened the music rather than silencing it.

The Troubadour Moment

Every artist carries a performance that validates years of effort. For If By Whiskey, their debut at The Troubadour stands as that milestone. After holding onto songs written as early as 2019, he finally delivered them on one of Los Angeles’ most iconic stages.

Five years of patience culminated in a single night. Hard work met opportunity. The songs breathed in a legendary room. That moment confirmed readiness for a broader audience.

Importantly, the band rejects the notion of being a nostalgia act. Although classic rock energy informs their sound, they refuse to exist as a museum piece. Rock music, at its core, thrives on self expression, youth culture, inclusion, and joy. If By Whiskey carries those principles forward rather than backward.

Brotherhood and Blueprint

Within the band dynamic, cohesion dominates. Members share a unified vision and a collective hunger. Because everyone aligns around the same ambition, creative friction rarely derails progress. Instead, it sharpens focus.

Offstage life rarely disconnects from music. Social circles, professional endeavors, and daily routines orbit the same central goal. However, the grind keeps the ego in check. Pushing road cases at two in the morning, adjusting drum tones for hours, and sleeping in unpredictable accommodations remind artists of the reality behind glamour. That humility sustains perspective.

Before each performance, he runs through a mental checklist while tuning his guitar. Presentation matters. Gear must function flawlessly. Details shape outcomes. Even a small show deserves full intensity because any night could open the next door.

If the band’s music had a color, it would be dark red. Smooth at first contact, yet carrying a slow burn beneath the surface.

Message Beyond Amplifiers

Beyond riffs and solos, If By Whiskey promotes empowerment. The central message remains clear. You can become the person you envision. Social norms and external judgments do not define identity. Moreover, there exists a global culture of rebels grounded in peace, self expression, and self respect.

Overcoming uncertainty surfaces repeatedly in their songwriting. Defeating negativity and standing firm against imposed limitations shape lyrical arcs. These themes speak particularly to a generation that often feels boxed in by economic and societal pressures.

Art and social voice intertwine naturally. Personal expression inevitably reflects cultural context. Therefore, the band embraces both columns equally.

Analog Future

Currently, the debut album sits nearly complete in pre-production. Plans to track to tape this year reinforce their commitment to analog authenticity. Additionally, live performances across the West Coast loom on the horizon.

Success, for him, remains simple. Continue loving the work. The moment music transforms into obligation rather than calling, it loses purpose. While growth, larger stages, and financial reward certainly attract ambition, passion must remain primary.

If asked to define the band in a single sentence, he offers clarity. Loud, fearless, hard hitting rock and roll you will never forget.

As for sending one song into space as Earth’s message, he chooses Better Stranger. Its theme centers on people we wish we had known less intimately, a concept both personal and universal.

The Fire That Stays Young

What keeps the project Young N Loud? Passion for the craft of rock and roll and a relentless drive to create space for others who feel the same pulse. It is more than music. It is culture. It is a lifestyle. It is commitment.

In a music industry often dominated by algorithms and fleeting trends, If By Whiskey anchors itself in conviction, community, and craftsmanship. California shaped the journey. Analog tape captured the sound. However, the heart of the project lies in refusal to retreat.

This is their stand. They will not compromise.