This week, Andrew Weiss will release his single titled “We Can’t Smoke Around Brian,” a heartfelt homage to Brian Wilson.

In an interview with Sweet Sweet Music blog, Andrew Weiss shares the creative process behind the song’s inception.

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How did the song come about?

I started writing the song after reading that in the 90s when Brian was in the studio recording, none of the other musicians in the band were allowed to smoke cigarettes in front of him. It was a precaution set so that he wouldn’t be tempted to fall back into old habits. I thought it was a sweet gesture, and the song takes the perspective of the band and general public, how much we all love and appreciate Brian.

You mentioned the song being a love letter to Brian Wilson. What was his role in your musical upbringing and development?

I am very grateful that I was given Pet Sounds on CD when I was 7 years old. I remember my first listen very clearly. The music found me at exactly the right time, and from there, I was hooked. Of course the early Beach Boys stuff is great, but what especially grabs me is the ‘65-‘69 era. I would rank Friends and Wild Honey as some of my favorite albums of all time. I listened to so much of that music that it is inherently in my musical DNA. It takes up a huge part of the real estate in my soul.

Any other love letters you would like to write?

Oh there are plenty. This song happened to arrive without me forcing it. I happened to read the story about Brian in the 90s the same week I happened to get a new acoustic guitar, and the song just appeared. I don’t think it took longer than 25 minutes to finish…my favorite ones usually arrive that way. But if I were to write any other love letters to my musical Mt. Rushmore…McCartney, Dylan, Petty, Neil. The list goes on haha