SOUND OF HIS GENERATION
Saxon Weiss
Written by Tanya Monaghan. Photographed by JP Cordero & Weiss Family.
At just 13 years old, Saxon Weiss speaks about music with the depth and wisdom of someone who spent decades mastering his craft. Raised in Palos Verdes, Saxon’s journey into music was anything but conventional.
Unlike most kids who dabble in instruments through structured lessons, he picked up the drums at age 2 and the ukulele at 4—simply because he was drawn to them.
With an old soul and an uncanny ability to channel the essence of the greats who came before him, Saxon is redefining what it means to be a young musician. He has already played with music legends and captivated audiences at festivals. It’s not just that he’s talented beyond his years. He also has a profound connection to music, a gift he believes is from God.
“When I was 3 or 4, we had this really crappy ukulele lying around the house,” Saxon recalls with a laugh. “I picked it up, asked my dad to show me a few chords, and when I wanted to learn more, he had to look it up.”
That same curiosity led him to the drums. At just 2 years old, he sat down at a Sam Ash Music Store and instinctively played a beat. “One of the workers asked my dad how long I’d been playing, and my dad was like, ‘Uh, he just sat down.’”
His natural inclination for music didn’t stop there. The ukulele soon gave way to the guitar, and by 7 he was performing at local venues and even a bar in Maui, where he played “Island Style” just when Hawaiian singer-songwriter legend John Cruz happened to walk in. “Everyone was like, ‘John Cruz is here!’ So, of course, I played the song again.”
“I just want to play music, share it with people and keep growing.”
Saxon’s early years were steeped in a blend of classic rock, jazz and Hawaiian slack-key guitar, thanks to his family’s deep love of music. “We watched a lot of concerts at home,” he says. “The Grateful Dead was a staple, but my favorite band at the time was actually Iron Maiden. People always go, ‘Really?’ But there’s something about their melodies that just stuck with me.”
His musical education has been mostly self-taught, though he’s taken classical guitar lessons since he was 8 with Alexander Milovanov—a strict but brilliant instructor who insisted Saxon learn to read music instead of relying solely on his remarkable ear. He also studies jazz and theory with Dan O’Sullivan, who helped him develop a newfound respect for jazz.
“At first, I kind of scoffed at jazz,” Saxon admits. “But once I listened, I realized how complex it is. It opened up my ears to so many things.”
Perhaps one of the most surreal moments of Saxon’s young career was meeting musician Jackson Browne. What began as an invitation to a concert ended with Jackson personally gifting him a 1967 Gibson ES-125 guitar. “He called me the next day and said, ‘I want to give you one of these two guitars. Come pick one out.’” The guitar Saxon chose, a vintage beauty with a rich tone, had been featured in one of Jackson’s old photo shoots.
Saxon has already built an impressive resume. He’s played at BeachLife Festival multiple times—first as an attendee in awe of artists like Willie Nelson and The Beach Boys, and now as a featured performer under his own name. He’s also shared the stage with the likes of Donavon Frankenreiter, sitting in on a set at BeachLife Nights with no prior rehearsal.
“We met the night before, and he said, ‘Come play with us tomorrow.’ I showed up, and at the end of the set, they told me to stay up there.” It was such a success that Saxon was invited back to play with Donavon at Saint Rocke to close out 2024.
Saxon’s network of legendary musicians continues to grow. Thanks to his regular appearances at Norman’s Rare Guitars—a famed shop in Tarzana—he’s jammed with and been mentored by heavyweights like Vince Gill, Tal Wilkenfeld and Eric Johnson. “Norm really put me on the map,” he says gratefully. “He introduced me to so many people, and he’s always plugging my name whenever he gets a chance.”
That name is gaining traction fast. Saxon was recently honored with Lowden Guitars’ emerging artist award, a recognition that further cements his place as a rising star. Around the same time, a mysterious benefactor named Kenny from Hawaii reached out to Norman’s Rare Guitars with a request: He wanted Saxon to pick out an instrument for him, with a budget of $8,000. After selecting a Les Paul Custom Shop Murphy Lab, Saxon was stunned when Norm turned to him and said, “Kenny just bought this for you.”
He’s building a recording studio and preparing to release his debut album—a collection of original songs he’s written over the years. His songwriting process, much like his approach to instruments, is rooted in instinct.
“I always start with the music first,” he explains. “A lot of people write lyrics first, but for me the melody and chords come naturally. Sometimes I don’t even know what the lyrics mean until after I write them.”
One of his songs, written before the Maui wildfires, took on new meaning after the devastation. “It wasn’t originally about the fires, but it just fit,” he reflects. “It’s weird how that happens.”
Beyond music, Saxon remains deeply connected to his coastal roots. A passionate surfer, he spends his mornings catching waves before diving into guitar practice. “It’s all about balance,” he says. “That’s why I switched to online school—it gives me the flexibility to focus on both music and surfing.”
With an invitation to play at Gibson Garage Fest in Nashville, continued performances with Donavon Frankenreiter, and ongoing mentorship from Jackson Browne, Vince Gill and Eric Johnson, Saxon’s future is limitless. As he stands on the cusp of releasing his first album and stepping further into the spotlight, one thing is certain: This is just the beginning. “I just want to play music, share it with people and keep growing.”
FEARLESSNESS IS A PERSON
Teagan Meza
Written by Lily Messer. Photographed by Shane O’Donnell.
Born with a surfboard under her arm and a skateboard under her feet, Teagan Meza balances supernatural talent and hard work to make her a force to be reckoned with.
Teagan has a level of discipline seldom seen in adults, much less a 12-year-old. Her daily routine entails hours of training and recovery.
“It’s hard,” Teagan acknowledges when asked how she finds the motivation every day. “But I love it.”
Although her feats are impressive as individual accomplishments, her family is an important part of who she is both in and out of the water. Teagan has been surfing since age 2. Her mom, Andie, pushed her into waves in shallow water, and her family cheered like it was the Super Bowl with every wave she caught. Her dad, Carlos, taught her how to skate around the same age.
“We all push each other to be better,” Teagan says when asked about how her family supports her. With two older siblings and a younger brother, she has the unique opportunity to be a student and a teacher. She spends time helping her younger brother, Ocean, learn the skills she achieved at his age, often pushing him into the same jetty.
After watching her older siblings complete a vertical drop-in—the kind of skateboarding skill that makes a non-pro nervous—4-year-old Teagan insisted that she wanted to try. Though both parents and a skateboarding professional said “no,” she refused to budge.
“I’m grateful I get to do what I love, and I’m grateful that what I love is surfing.”
They compromised and decided to hold her hand on her first attempt. Her board tipped over the edge, and as if she had done it a million times before, she flawlessly executed a 12-foot drop-in.
While she’s surfed most of her life, her relationship with the sport changed drastically after she began competing. “The moment I won my first big competition is a memory I remind myself of when training is hard,” Teagan shares. “I think, ‘I want to feel that again.’”
Teagan’s competitive spirit gives her an intrinsic motivation that pushes her to be great. With two USA Surfing national championships, three National Scholastic Surfing Association national championships and six NSSA Western championships to her name, she proves herself to be a powerhouse of a competitor.
Despite her elevated caliber, she frequently reminds herself that “the best surfer out there is the one who’s having the most fun”—a saying imparted by her first surfing coach. While a sense of competition is necessary, Teagan doesn’t let it distract her from her innate love for the sport. “I’m grateful I get to do what I love, and I’m grateful that what I love is surfing.”
Both surfing and skating communities rely on multigenerational practices, passing down the skills and lessons from older to younger generations. Teagan understands the importance of both teaching and being taught within these communities.
She sets aside time to help out younger surfers, giving them advice when they need it and helping them in the water. She receives advice and mentorship from the older surfers she’s surrounded by. She’s also motivated by surfers like Carissa Moore, inspired by her mental and technical ability.
Athletes like Teagan are the future of sports. Pushing beyond what she’s told she can or cannot do, Teagan’s courageous and generous spirit will take her far.
ALL ON THE LINE
Keaton Hance
Written & photographed by Kat Monk
Before Keaton Hance could even crawl, his mom kept count of how many seconds he could do “tummy time,” a practice that helps infants strengthen their neck and arms and improve motor skills.
So when baby Keaton—or one of his three siblings—hit a personal best, it was usually met with excitement and praise from his athletic parents.
Keaton is the youngest child of Courtney and Ken Hance, both top-notch tennis pros and owners/operators of the South Bay Tennis Center. Keaton can’t recall a time when he was not playing tennis. Brother Connor, 26, and sister Kimmi, 22, both played for the University of California, Los Angeles, while sister Kenadi, 28, played for the University of Washington.
At age 17, Keaton is a highly coveted member of Team USA. This blue-chip recruit recently committed to play Division I tennis for the Texas Longhorns at the University of Texas at Austin. With two more years left to compete in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Tour Juniors, he’s already set his sights on one day winning the Grand Slam.
“As long as Keaton remains healthy, the sky is the limit,” shares local tennis coach Allen Yap.
Keaton recently came home to compete in the Indian Wells Open tournament in Palm Desert after spending two months in South America playing for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) in Peru, Paraguay and Brazil. “Indian Wells is my favorite tournament of the year,” he explains. “I was born and raised in Southern California, and my family and friends can come and watch me play.”
“Keaton’s hard work is paying off; let’s keep it rolling.”
He models his game style after Rafael “Rafa” Nadal, the Spanish tennis pro he dreams of meeting one day. Keaton’s rankings recently climbed from #320 to #22 on the ITF juniors tour. “Keaton’s hard work is paying off; let’s keep it rolling,” says Jose Caballero, his USTA development coach, who believes Keaton’s commitment and athletic ability make him a unique player.
This young tennis player is surely the full package: talented, calm and confident. Anyone familiar with the recent tennis film Challengers starring Zendaya understands the discipline and dedication required to get to the top, especially at the juniors level. “We are trying to help him make good choices so he is not distracted or derailed,” says Courtney.
Sponsored by Adidas and Babolat, he would love to add Chipotle to his list of sponsors. “I can see a Chipotle patch on my sleeve,” Keaton says, sharing that his go-to Chipotle meal is a chicken bowl with white rice, black beans, corn, cheese and sour cream. “I order the same thing every time.” Clearly he needs plenty of fuel to perform at the level he’s training.
Next up on his calendar are the Bakersfield Open, Junior French Open and Junior Wimbledon. From here to Europe and beyond, his family will be there to cheer him on. But Keaton knows that the path to success is solely in his court.
Above: Esha Warrier and Mona Cho
•••
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Written by Lily Messer. Photographed by Shane O’Donnell.
Mona Cho
The internet can be a lawless and terrifying place, but Mona Cho is working to change that. As the founder of DOSE (Digital Online Safety & Empowerment) Initiative, she works with people of all ages to start conversations about the prevention of online harassment. She believes that as the world advances, everyone deserves a safe internet.
“Online abuse can be thorny and uncomfortable, especially for parents,” Mona says, “but as scary as it is, continuing to talk about it is the first step to a solution.”
Mona works as an intergenerational translator, catering to parents and children alike in sharing DOSE’s message. However, DOSE Initiative stems from the framework of empowering young people—especially young women—to talk about online harassment and abuse.
DOSE Initiative has a coalition of advocates from around the world—from Los Angeles to Malawi—who host their own seminars discussing issues of online harassment, as well as advocate for local and national policy change.
With the development of unchecked AI usage, DOSE has more work to do with the education of deep-fake abuse material. “Progress is coming,” Mona says when asked to share a message of hope, “but every person is in control of how you communicate with and protect the people you love.”
When asked about her future goals, the Mira Costa student describes wanting to “dismantle online predatory networks and create the security networks the internet needs.” She wants to expand DOSE’s message, educating more people and communities about the issues many young people will face on the internet.
As technology rapidly evolves, people like Mona shine as beacons of rationality and safety. She finds simplicity and humanity in complicated problems and, in turn, helps make the world a better place. The future may be uncertain, but Mona and DOSE Initiative offer a shift toward goodness.
Esha Warrier
With an observant nature and the ability to identify both problems and solutions, Esha Warrier welcomes a meaningful challenge. As the founder of stressSOS, Esha gives teens accessible mindfulness strategies to combat the modern teen stress epidemic.
“stressSOS was a creation inspired by the needs of my community and myself,” she shares. Observing the mental health struggles of her peers, Esha created a platform “by young people, for young people” so it would uniquely reflect her target audience. The goal: promoting self-awareness and preventive mental health care to build strong and resilient minds.
“There is a better way to manage stress through sustainable coping mechanisms,” she says. “Meditation has a stigma around it, but it’s not really that scary, and you can make it work for you.”
Esha drafted expert-level content in both her workshop and development materials, providing a free resource to teens coping with academic, social, overload and other stresses. The platform, thoroughly crafted by Esha, was meticulously designed to be self-sustaining for ongoing use. A masterful synthesis of research and practice, Esha’s work exceeds that of a high school senior and is comparable to a graduate student.
When she isn’t running workshops at allcove Beach Cities, she edits the Vistamar School yearbook—collecting photographs and insight from all areas of the school and encapsulating unique memories. She is also captain of the soccer team, dedicated to keeping her team motivated and happy.
After her education, Esha wants to continue being a social entrepreneur, helping solve pervasive societal and mental health issues. She hopes to make the lives of others just a little easier in any way she can.
