OUR QUAINT WORLD

WST CMPLX is a 9-piece genre-bending music collective based in Los Angeles, mainly drawing from jazz, R&B, funk, and hip-hop influences. The seamless blend of talented members include Rafael Ferguson (electric bass), Nathan Austin (drums, vocals + percussion), Alex Wong (keys, production + engineering), Madison Dorsett aka SQR GRDN (French Horn + vocals), Brian Mendez aka dehzi (saxophone), Tyler Carbin (guitar), Aminata Diop aka puma (vocals), Josh Patterson (guitar), and Jacob Hammersly (trumpet).

With their origins rooted in casual jams with no initial intent of creating a formal band, the cohesive energy within this group was undeniable. Connected through a series of mutual artist friends and a musical chemistry that can’t be ignored, WST CMPLX was born. 

Rafael: “I want people who are watching us to feel connected not only in the type of music and the taste that we all share but also the fact that most of this was slap shot together in the last two years and I’ve barely been playing bass the like four years but by just doing  I hope that people get the sense that these guys are professional but they’re also just out here for the love of the game…”

Ami: “I want people to leave [our shows] feeling like they can see themselves in our experiences,… there’s a range of emotions and I want people to feel like seen and to see that triumph is possible even through difficult times and that it’s cool to have fun and that everyone’s an artist.” 

Thus far WST CMPLX has released three singles together including “HOLD ON,” “MOVING FORWARD,” and their most recent release, “FLOWERS TO THE FALLEN.” As we wait to hear what’s next from the Thus far WST CMPLX has released three singles together including “HOLD ON,” “MOVING FORWARD,” and their most recent release, “FLOWERS TO THE FALLEN.” As we wait to hear what’s next from the collective, they are hard at work completing their debut album.

Madison: “Once you hear the album you’re really gonna see the gravity and the weight of each person’s talents in this band… WST CMPLX is different, the music is different, the music is real.”

Written by: Djamal Antoine (Dec. 2025)

Photographed by: Zohar Varadi