“I didn’t realize how many times I say Arizona [in my songs]. Honestly, I said it like three times in the songs,” Honer shared with a laugh. “Arizona is where I’ve spent my whole life, so…however I'm feeling…a lot of times the place is where I start.”

In the track, “You’d Never Know,” Honer mentions Mill Avenue, a popular street for students at Arizona State University to shop, dine and grab a drink. For Honer, it is a detail he did not notice until performing on stage.

During his performance, Honer introduced his band, highlighting that every member hails from different parts of Arizona. With a band that shares the same deep-rooted connection to the state, it is no surprise that Arizona continues to shape Honer’s music.

Not only does Honer honor his Arizona roots, but he also draws inspiration from artists like Tyler Childers. In 2022, Honer, with an assist from musician Julia DiGrazia, covered Childers’ “Jersey Giant.”  Their cover reached more than 100 million streams and received RIAA gold certification in early 2025.

Honer explained that he never expected the cover to be so successful.  

“Tyler Childers was the first artist that I really felt connected to with his lyrics…He basically got me into writing and playing music…I’m just honored to cover it. It’s a fun song to play…and I’m happy with the success.” He continued, “It just goes to show how great Tyler Childers is. I can release this song and it goes gold. It just goes to show how great of an artist he is.”

Honer also played his new single “Everything I Wanted” at Extra Innings, which features more alternative influences than some of his previous work. However, the process of producing each song off of his new album, “Fighting For,” was different for Honer, and he does not define his music by a singular genre.

“I really tried not to have genre in mind at all, because wherever the song feels like it should go, and whatever I think is coolest, I think that's where it should go production wise… So I think…just trying something new gets me excited.”

His openness to different music styles is part of the reason why he denied many offers from major record labels. Instead, Honer decided to release music through his own label, known as Cloverdale Records. He said releasing music through Cloverdale Records allows him to have more independence.

“I think the power to literally release whatever song I want to whenever I want to, is what attracted me to that.”

Extra Innings was extra special for Honer as his close friend, Wyatt Flores, performed at the festival. They also performed together during each other’s sets. Flores joined Honer during his set to perform their collaboration “Take Me As I Come.” Flores even helped Honer do a backflip on stage during Flores’ set, a trick they have done on stage during past performances. Their connection goes deeper than having fun on stage, as Flores supported Honer when Honer was first starting to gain more popularity as an artist.

“[He was the] first person I met and really the only person that became my really close friend in the music industry. And it's been awesome to be able to have someone that fully gets it.”

Honer began creating music during his college years at California Baptist University and released his debut album “West on I-10” as he graduated.  

Honer also reminisced on some fun college memories, including when he spent a St. Patrick's Day at the annual, unsanctioned “St. Fratty’s” at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.

“I woke up at like 3 a.m….Everybody starts drinking and meets out on the street. It was just...an experience I thought was interesting.”

Honer’s day took an unexpected turn, as he found himself sharing his music with some of the local fraternity members he met.

“I didn’t know any of the frat guys, but I played them all of my songs, and they were all crying,” he said with a laugh. “It was just a fun experience in college.”

Honer’s music has come a long way from playing to fraternity members from Cal Poly SLO and at 24 years old it is clear that his journey is just beginning.