When singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Watt went solo, he culled from a sound from his extensive musical background: crunchy guitars, pounding drums, sick riffs and catchy choruses. The charismatic Watt played guitar in the supergroup California Breed alongside bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) and drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin), but he’d also produced and worked with artists from all genres: Justin Bieber and Skrillex, Kygo, DJ Snake, Cody Simpson and more SNBRN. After California Breed broke up last year, Watt began work on his solo project — which would eventually become his debut EP, Ghost In My Head. He played all the instruments on the record, except for the drums, which he had Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Joey Castillo (ex-Queens of the Stone Age, Danzig) fill in on. The plethora of superstars co-signing Watt’s work should say something about his charisma (designer John Varvatos personally signed Watt in early 2015 as one of his label’s flagship artists), but his music — which Watt describes as “Rock Roll for the new era; it’s all about the hooks!” — also speaks for itself. Smith says, "Born in the '90s and raised on the '70s, he's a modern man but knows where the shit comes from. He's a truly dedicated musician who's not only smart, funny, and handsome, but this motherfucker gets it done."

Hometown: New York City, NY

Homebase: Los Angeles, CA

Did you always have an inclination to go solo or did you decide to work on your own when California Breed broke up?

I knew I would go solo at some point, I just didn't know when … California Breed started and ended pretty quickly!!!

What is your song "Ghost In My Head" about?

"Ghost" was the first song I wrote for this record and I love that it wound up being the first single. Lyrically it delves into the all encompassing trip of a life on the road and the struggles that it brings when readjusting to any kind of a normal life. Anyone who has ever been on tour understands this. You lose touch with reality and time. I’d get home, and so much of my friends’ lives had changed, and mine was exactly the same. It made me ask, ‘Where did the time go? Where did my mind go? Who are these people in my life? What’s going on?’ It was influenced by this disconnect wondering what I’d become. It’s about being lost in the music and the life of a musician on the road. … The bubble can fuck your world up!

Talk about the first time you realized you wanted to be a performer. Did you always play many instruments?

I was 7 years old in summer camp when I realized I loved to perform. It got me attention from all the older girls!!! That's why any performer starts! I started on bass guitar when I was 10 and knew I wanted to be in a band for the rest of my life. None of the other kids took it as seriously as me so I learned all their instruments and got GarageBand. I spent lots of time playing by myself in my basement.

Do you remember the first song you ever wrote?

It was called 24 hours a day about a lovesick 11 year old trying to get to first base!

What's your songwriting process like?

It either starts with a riff that evokes a feeling or a feeling that evokes a riff.

Who are your musical heroes?

As a guitarist, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Mick Ronson. Melody came first. As a singer frontman my number one is Eddie Vedder — it’s a voice that defined a generation. Lyrics that meant something … and the ultimate vibe.

How did you end up in Los Angeles playing with all kinds of musicians from famous bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane's Addiction?

My work as a songwriter brought me here. I made a lot of friends in the rock world when California Breed hit. One thing kind of led to another. Literally not a day goes by that I am not pinching myself or laughing nervously out loud. I cannot comprehend how a bunch of my idols, who I learned how to play from listening to their records, are not only collaborating with me, but are now people in my life I call friends.

You opened for Jane's Addiction's Ritual De Lo Habitual show in San Francisco recently, too! What was that like?

Another one of those pinch me moments. Ritual De Lo Habitual was literally one of those records I listened to everyday as a kid. To get to open for that band at a venue as legendary as the Warfield in San Francisco, then watch them play one of my favorite albums of all time, AND THEN JAM WITH THEM ONSTAGE — my heart was about to explode!

What is the biggest thing you learned from making a solo EP that you didn't know before?

Every time I make a record I learn something different and soak up what's around me. Working with (producer) Alain Johannes to make this EP was nothing short of a dream. From him I learned the importance of complex tones across the board,especially when it comes to guitar. Multiple amps and signals running simultaneously and bleeding into each other to make a truly original and non-replicable sound.

Any big goals for 2016?

Tour, tour, tour!