The Wild Honey Pie's Eric Weiner on Keeping It Real

It's all about the music

Eric is the founder and CEO of the music blog-turned-creative agency The Wild Honey Pie, where he has combined his passions for food, music, design and culture.

We spent two minutes with Eric to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired. 

Eric, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I grew up in the lower Hudson Valley, N.Y., in a small town called Somers. Loved the area and access to the city. Now, my wife and I live even further north in Saugerties, next to Woodstock. Best nature, food, music scene and more outside of the city.

Your earliest musical memory.

Being in the backseat of my dad’s car on our way to the Big Apple Circus listening to “Yellow Submarine”—one of my introductions to the Beatles. My parents and grandpa were pivotal in introducing me to so many bands and Broadway musicals.

Your favorite bands/musicians today.

Phoebe Bridgers. Can’t wait for whatever she’s working on right now. More “of the moment” artists would be Quinnie, (check out Star Eyes immediately), Kristina Wilson’s Mother Wound, Gus Dapperton, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise. My favorite release of last year was from The Japanese House. Looking forward to the new Porches album Shirt.

One of your favorite projects you’ve ever worked on.

“Welcome Campers!” It’s my baby for sure, a summer camp weekend for bands and fans with three days of unique performances, arts & crafts, kickball, dodgeball, swimming, food fights, dances, fireworks and so much. I can’t wait to find the right brands to bring this back with stat.

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A recent project you’re proud of.

On the Mountain. It was the our biggest project of 2024. Similar to “Welcome Campers,” it’s a weekend experience but with après ski vibes. We took over Hunter Mountain and Glen Falls House in upstate New York and showcased performances by Local Natives, Gus Dapperton, Fat Tony and more with attendance limited to 300 people. Also, we had yoga, meditation, sound baths and food pop-ups from Moonburger, Austin’s Vegan Nom and chef Elizabeth Heitner.

One thing about how the music world is evolving that you’re excited about.

It’s a bummer how limited the streaming platforms are. Spotify and Apple Music are just scratching the surface, so I’m excited to see how they expand their businesses. They should integrate music news and videos and allow for fan engagement through commenting and fan clubs (similar to Patreon). What really gets me excited is seeing where The Wild Honey Pie fits into all this—what we can provide the music industry as the producer of brand-funded experiences and videos that build genuine communities around the artists we love.

Someone else’s work, in music or beyond, that you admired lately.

Food inspires me more than anything. I love to cook and eat out where chefs are pushing the boundaries. Dirt Candy in Manhattan and Chleo in Kingston, N.Y., are two of my favorite restaurants. They do things I’ve never imagined, like Chleo’s vegan orange sorbet with marshmallow fluff and pistachio brittle. Reminded me of the Flintstones push ups from my childhood.

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

I recently got into the Drowned in Sound podcast. There’s a ton of topics that are relevant to me and The Wild Honey Pie’s music blog roots. We’re watching House of the Dragon now and loved Shogun earlier this year.

An artist you admire outside the world of music.

Kaho Yoshida. I’m a massive fan of what she does—hoping to work with her someday soon. I also love Leah Putnam. She’s got such a vibe that worked really well for our Porches Pizza Party.

Your favorite fictional character.

Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—the original version, but the new Seth Rogan movie, too. Also, Spider-Man. He is always so fun and has the best rogues’ gallery. 

How musicians should approach working with brands.

Holding onto your authenticity is the most important thing, and only working with brands you actually like. Fans can see right through these partnerships. So unless it’s a product your fans will appreciate, it should probably be a pass. At The Wild Honey Pie, we only bring artist collab opportunities with the coolest brands like Vacation Sunscreen, Topo Chico, Voodoo Ranger, Olipop, Grillo’s Pickles and Halfday Iced Tea. There’s a buffer between the artist and the brand, allowing artists to keep the right amount of space between art and capitalism.

How brands should approach working with musicians.

Let your brand take a backseat to the music and try to connect with your desired communities in ways that prove you’re in this to support the artist. If you’re actively thinking about ways to support the musicians, you’re off to a good start.

A mentor that helped you navigate the industry.

My dad has been a constant calming presence for me throughout my career. He had his own business until a couple years ago, so everything I’m experiencing, he’s already been through. This translates into endless important lessons for me. He’s all about slowing things down and enjoying the journey. He also taught me to always treat people with compassion and love. I wish everyone in the industry could learn this lesson.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in the music business.

I’d have gone back to culinary school and opened a vegan restaurant for meat eaters. It would have a stage for music performances, a seasonal menu that changes weekly, great mocktails, beautiful art, and an open kitchen concept. I also—for some reason—wish I could have opened a vegan lobster shack in Portland, Maine. Using lobster mushrooms and chanterelles in place of seafood—I feel like it would crush.