Today we’d like to introduce you to Pete Wiley.
Hi Pete, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
ColdStream came together in Frederick, Maryland, in 2021, but the story really starts long before that. Each of us brought a very different musical background into the band. Some of us came up through more traditional music programs, some through rock and roll, some through songwriting and acoustic music, and others through years of playing in different groups and settings. That mix of experiences ended up becoming one of the things that defines us.
When we first started playing together, the chemistry was obvious. Over time, we learned that what made the band work was not just the individual musicianship, but the way those different influences blended. Our sound naturally started pulling from blues, rock, funk, soul, and Americana, with groove and feel becoming the common thread.
From there, the band really started to develop its identity through live performance. We’ve played throughout the Mid-Atlantic at clubs, breweries, wineries, festivals, private events, and other venues. The stage became a kind of testing ground for us. It helped us understand what connects with an audience, what grooves, and how songs evolve once they leave the rehearsal room.
At the same time, we began putting more energy into original music. Collaboration is at the center of that process. Everyone brings ideas, influences, and instincts to the songs, and we try to leave enough room for the music to become something none of us would have created individually. That approach has led to songs like “Fight Song,” “Wilcoms Inn,” “Whole Lotta Nothing,” “Paradise,” “Champagne Eyes,” “Who Knows.” and “Living Out Our Dreams,” with more original music continuing to come out.
Where we are today feels like a natural progression of everything we’ve learned along the way. We’re continuing to play live, write and record new material, and build an audience for the original side of ColdStream. More than anything, we want to make music that feels authentic, connects with people, and gives them something to take away from the experience—whether that’s a lyric that resonates or simply a groove that makes them want to move.
Our motto sums it up pretty well: Find the groove. Live in the pocket. Make something that means something.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. We sometimes joke that being in a band is a little like being married to four other people. You spend a tremendous amount of time together—rehearsing, performing, recording, traveling, making creative decisions, and dealing with all of the work that happens behind the scenes. Musical ability matters, but you also have to genuinely like and trust the people you’re doing it with.
We had some personnel changes over the years, and those transitions weren’t always easy. What we learned is that finding the right musicians is only part of building a band. You also need compatible personalities and temperaments, similar expectations about professionalism and commitment, and a shared sense of where you want the band to go. Sometimes talented people simply aren’t the right fit for one another, and recognizing that can be difficult.
Those experiences ultimately helped us understand what we wanted ColdStream to be. We’ve become very much a “friends first” band. That doesn’t mean we always agree—we definitely don’t—but there’s a foundation of trust and respect that allows us to disagree, work through things, and still enjoy being together. That chemistry carries over into the music. Our songs are collaborative, and everyone needs to feel comfortable bringing an idea into the room, having it changed by somebody else, or occasionally letting it go altogether.
Looking back, the personnel changes were some of the harder parts of getting here, but they also taught us some of the most important lessons. A band isn’t just five musicians who sound good together. It’s five people who have to function well together. Getting that part right has made us a better band, better collaborators, and probably better friends as well.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
One thing we’re particularly proud of is the range of music ColdStream is able to make without feeling like we have to define ourselves too narrowly. We’re rooted in blues, rock, funk, soul, and Americana, but those influences show up differently from song to song. Some of our music is aggressive and driving, while other songs are more melodic, introspective, or story-oriented. We like having that freedom.
That range carries into our live shows. We play originals alongside reimagined covers from multiple decades and genres, and we try to build a set that has movement to it—different moods, dynamics, and energy rather than three or four hours of essentially the same thing. We want a ColdStream show to be fun above everything else. People should be able to dance, sing along, discover an original song they haven’t heard before, and leave feeling like they had a great night.
Right now, we’re especially excited about developing the original side of the band. Releasing our own music has allowed us to show people more of who we are beyond what they might experience from seeing us at a local show. We’ve been steadily recording and releasing songs, and one of the things we’re proudest of is that those recordings demonstrate our versatility rather than trying to establish one rigid formula for what a ColdStream song has to sound like.
What we hope sets us apart is that balance. We take the musicianship and the work seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. We want to keep growing creatively and producing music we’re proud of, but we also never want to lose sight of why most of us started playing music in the first place: because it’s fun. If we’re having a great time onstage and the people in front of us are having a great time too, that’s a pretty good measure of success.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What we like best about the Baltimore area is the variety and the strength of the music community. Baltimore City has a vibrant music scene, with great venues, talented artists, and audiences that genuinely appreciate live and original music. At the same time, the surrounding region offers an incredible range of opportunities for musicians. You don’t have to travel very far to find yourself in a completely different setting, playing for a completely different audience. One night we might be in the city playing an originals showcase where everyone is there specifically to discover new music, and the next we might head into the country to play an outdoor show at a winery. Breweries, clubs, festivals, waterfront venues, small towns, and city stages all coexist within a relatively compact area.
That diversity is great for a band because every setting asks something a little different of you. A song or set that works perfectly in one room may need a different approach somewhere else. It keeps performing interesting and gives us the opportunity to connect with all kinds of audiences.
If we had to pick something we like least, it would probably be the practical challenge that comes with such a geographically broad music community. There are so many venues and opportunities spread throughout Baltimore and the surrounding counties that you can find yourself covering a lot of miles. Between hauling equipment, traffic, setup, and getting five musicians to the same place at the same time, sometimes just arriving at the gig feels like an accomplishment.
But that’s pretty minor when compared with what the area gives us. We’re fortunate to have a vibrant city music scene at the center of a region with so many different places and ways to perform. For a band that enjoys playing everything from an originals showcase to a winery or festival, it’s a great place to call home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebeauferndaleproject.com/coldstream-band
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coldstream_music21/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColdStreamtheBand/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coldstreamtheband
