Interview: Real Topeka People - singer/songwriter/producer extraordinaire from St. Louis

If you haven’t heard of Real Topeka People until right now, let this be your official introduction to an artist you’ll only be hearing more and more about. Real Topeka People, or RTP, is the brainchild of singer, songwriter, and music producer Zach Wexelman. Hailing from St. Louis, Wexelman proudly wears his Midwest roots on his sleeve not only within his lyrics and song titles (STL) but with the name Real Topeka People itself, which is a nod to a classic scene from Cameron Crowe’s iconic 2000 film Almost Famous. With RTP, Wexelman effortlessly blends pop, rock, and R&B, creating what seems like a never-ending slew of catchy tunes.

He started releasing music under the Real Topeka People moniker in 2020, and he’s accomplished quite a bit since then. His top charting single “Insecurities” has over 600,000 streams on Spotify, he’s collaborated with artists around the world such as Brazilian DJ Bolth, and he’s released over 30 songs. Most recent are his singles “Goddamn.” and “Bow Down,” and he’s got a lot more coming down the pipeline.

Zach was gracious enough to do an interview with me to chat about his most recent tracks, what it was like starting a new project as the pandemic started, and what’s on the horizon.

You started Real Topeka People in 2020, correct? What was it like starting this project during the pandemic and has anything changed now that life has gone back to, for lack of a better word, normal?

Z: Yes! I moved back home to St. Louis during the pandemic after having spent 10 years in Los Angeles, which is when I started RTP. It felt really good actually. I didn't realize how much I missed home until I got back and when I did it immediately put me in a much better head space. Not much has changed since the pandemic honestly in terms of my routine haha. I spend most of my time in my basement studio so I'm kind of removed from the world anyway.

You’re from and currently live in St. Louis, but you first started your music career in Los Angeles. What was that time period like and what did you learn from those years that you then brought to the table when creating RTP?

Z: I think I learned a lot during my time in Los Angeles. I focussed a lot on songwriting and live performance while I was there. It wasn't until the very end of that ten year period when I started to learn how to record and produce my own stuff. I really wish I had started that process sooner. It took me a long time to realize how important that skill set was especially for an independent artist. It was an extremely steep learning curve for me and to say I was frustrated with it for years is a massive understatement. It's like learning a new language. 

You’ve worked with other talented musicians from a handful of different countries at this point. What’s that process been like and has it taught you anything new about songwriting?

Z: I feel like I've learned more about collaboration than I have about songwriting through working with other artists. Everyone comes to the table with their own skill set and their own temperament. Sometimes it goes well and other times there's not much chemistry there. Artists are a strange bunch, myself included but it's been fun to step out of my comfort zone and work on genres of music that I never imagined I'd be a part of.

“Goddamn.” and “Bow Down” both came out recently and continue to push forward your infectious blend of pop, rock, R&B, you name it. What’s your personal process like in creating new tracks and what inspires you?

Z: Thanks man! I'm trying haha. I get inspired by listening to all kinds of different music: Anderson Paak, Calvin Haris' funk volumes, The Black Keys, Mk.gee, Sabrina Carpenter (I won't stop talking about her new song, Please Please Please. I think it could have easily been a Dolly Parton hit from decades ago), Jungle, Mark Ronson, The White Stripes ahhhh soooo much I could go on and on. I listen to an eclectic range of stuff.

I write a lot of songs that never see the light of day. I used to exclusively start writing on an acoustic guitar but now it just depends. Sometimes it'll start with drums or a bass line or anything. It's really hard for me to make something that I like so it's a lot of trial and error. Sometimes I watch interviews with other musicians who talk about some song of theirs coming together in like 30 minutes and I'm thinking, 'who are these fucking wizards!? That does NOT happen to me'. I really have to brute force my way through these things and fight through so many feelings of inadequacy to get to the finish line haha. 

Do you have any personal favorite songs that you’ve written up to this point?

Z: I always go back to my song “STL” - it's so buried in my discography and doesn't have very many plays but I think it's such a vibe and you should listen! 

What’s next for RTP?

Z: I have a funk song coming out called, Four Time on June 28th! I'm really excited to put that one out. Right now I'm working on a sort of cinematic pop song with this super talented artist called, TwoYearOldBear. We put out a song called, THE ONE that got licensed by the NFL a few weeks ago and this is our follow-up to that. I literally finished the pre-chorus today, which had been destroying my life for the past two weeks. I have these periods of time where I can't figure out the next section to a song and I think I'll never be able to write anything again. Eventually I get through it and try to remind myself that it's just part of the process.

Who are some of your favorite musicians/songwriters?

Z: I know I'm not alone in this but I think Mark Ronson is a genius. If you're not familiar with him he made Uptown Funk, Rehab, Valerie, Feel Right and of course I'm Just Ken from the Barbie soundtrack and so many more. He's a hit machine.

Do you plan on playing live shows in the future?

Z: I want to soooo bad but I'm waiting until I can draw some real crowds or open up for a bigger artist on tour. Playing open-mics for a decade will crush your soul when it comes to playing live. Also, I realized that people generally don't go to shows to discover new artists. I think most people go to shows to celebrate the music they already know and love so I don't see it getting me closer to my goals. All that being said, YES I do plan on it but I don't have any dates set yet.

Well, we’ll all eagerly anticipate the day those dates come to fruition. Check out Real Topeka People on Instagram @therealtopekapeople and on TikTok @realtopekapeople while listening to him wherever you stream music/download music!