Orange County, CA-based band WHIT3 COLLR crafts a unique mix of retro influences with contemporary flair. The band’s pure, piercing rock sound is a nod to greats like Van Halen and Guns N’ Roses. With thrashing drums and gritty electric guitars combined with raw rock vocals, you can feel their blistering passion blare through. Hard-hitting rock is what gets their blood pumping, and their infectious hooks and melodies keep you coming back for more.

Friends since seventh grade, 17-year-old Will Sawyer (lead vocals/guitar/bass) and 16-year-old Donovan Hess (drums/backing vocals) have been playing together since 2017. The band gigs regularly throughout Southern California, playing some of its most iconic venues such as the Whisky A Go Go and the Coach House. Their strong bond and fierce brotherhood have remained constant, allowing them to thrive musically. When the two play live you can definitely feel that deep connection as Sawyer explains, “There is a pure chemistry between Donovan and me. Whether it is just hanging out or playing music, we are always so tight and in lock with one another.” Hess reveals, “ We are actually big influences on each other. We motivate and push one another. When Will learns a lick, I learn a lick. We are always encouraging each other to try new things.” With Sawyer singing lead and Hess’s strong backing vocals, they have mastered the art of tight harmonies, concocting a solid sound that seamlessly melds. 

Sawyer and Hess were influenced musically at a young age. By five, Sawyer had started piano lessons, then shortly after learned the guitar. Accomplished in both instruments, when he was 13, Sawyer was featured in guitarworld.com for nailing “Eruption” in a video that went viral. Hess was playing drums as young as 18 months old. From banging on pots and pans to playing on the drum set his grandfather gave him, music has always been a big part of his life. Watching Kiss DVDs as a child, Hess found inspiration in Peter Criss. 

WHIT3 COLLR just wrapped up their debut album, and their first single dropped April 9, 2021. With this new release, the band looks to make an impact on the music scene. Their producer, Jon Joseph, helped cement the band’s cutting edge sound that sets the tone for the album. Sawyer shares, “We are making music and playing live because we love it, and we just want to project that energy onto our fans. We are in it to create and put something out that we are truly proud of and love.”