Success stories often sound interesting in hindsight. Record deals, sold-out crowds, live stages and live in Nashville give the impression that artists arrive at their destination overnight.
For a country artist Vesco, the reality was much less interesting and much less encouraging.
Long before he was performing on stages across the country, Vesco was learning lessons in discipline, dedication and perseverance in rural eastern North Carolina. Raised in a farming community where hard work was not highly valued, he grew up surrounded by people who earned character rather than effort.
His father worked as a security guard and often kept unpredictable hours. His grandfather balanced factory work by running a side-by-side body shop and routinely putting in 60-hour work weeks. When Vesco wasn’t playing sports, he was often helping out at the store, washing cars, moving equipment or finding some other way to contribute.
These experiences would form the basis of his personality long before music entered the picture.
“I’ve never been a stranger to being pushed and doing hard work,” Vesco admits. “Honestly, it’s probably the most consistent thing I’ve ever had in my life.”
Today, the same blue-collar mentality affects every aspect of his life. Whether he’s writing songs, preparing for a show, hitting the gym, prioritizing recovery or pursuing ambitious career goals, the philosophy remains the same: show up, work hard, and keep moving forward.
It’s a mindset that’s helped transform a kid from a small town in North Carolina into one of country music’s fastest-rising artists.
Growing up in Eastern North Carolina is tough
Before he was a singer-songwriter, Vesco was an athlete.
Like many kids growing up in the South, sports were a big part of life. He played football, baseball and basketball, spending countless hours competing, practicing and learning the value of teamwork.
But football taught him perhaps the most memorable lesson.
“I played wherever they put me,” he says with a laugh. “I played full back for a short time and a little bit of center back until I got fit enough and decided that football wasn’t a sport I wanted to play anymore.”
While he jokes about his football career, the lessons of those years have stayed with him.
The discipline of showing up every day, pushing through discomfort, and competing with herself still influences the way she approaches fitness and life today. Most importantly, growing up around hard-working family members gave him a perspective that many don’t develop until later in life.
“I saw my father’s work. I saw my grandfather’s work. Hard work wasn’t really optional where I came from.”
That perspective would prove invaluable when he finally decided to pursue music professionally.
The emotional value of performance
For Vesco, performing is not just entertainment; This is vulnerability.
Each song represents a piece of his personal experience, relationships, struggles and emotions. Night after night, he stands in front of strangers and talks openly.
This level of emotional investment requires energy. A lot of it.
“There’s a piece of me in every song,” he says. “After one set, I feel like I’ve given it my all emotionally, mentally and physically.”
Many artists struggle with the difference between the intensity of a performance and the serenity that follows. One moment you are standing in front of thousands of cheering fans. Next, you are alone in a hotel room. This emotional shock can be difficult to navigate. Vesco learned to study both sides of the experience.
“You have to develop a switch that you can turn on and off,” he said.
While he loves to perform, he also enjoys being alone. In fact, some of his happiest moments happen completely away from the spotlight.
“As much fun as being on stage, I also enjoy everyday life,” he says. “I enjoy sitting in silence.”
This ability to appreciate simple moments has become one of her greatest tools for maintaining balance.
Staying on track
Touring can quickly destroy even the best fitness intentions. Long travel days, erratic schedules, late-night shows, and constant motion make it difficult to maintain any kind of routine. Vesco does not pretend otherwise.
“Travel days are hard,” he says. “If you’re driving for ten or eleven hours, you don’t really have time to exercise.”
Instead of trying to be perfect, he focuses on adapting. Whenever he gets a chance to practice, he uses it. One of his practical options was to join Planet Fitness, which gives him access to locations across the country.
“These things are like the Dollar General stores in the South,” he jokes. “They’re almost everywhere.”
This approach reflects his broader philosophy on health. Instead of apologizing when the situation isn’t ideal, she just adapts and does the best she can with the resources she has. It’s a mentality that has served him not only in fitness, but throughout his career.
Although he prefers traditional training, Vesco admits that some of his strongest training takes place under the stage lights.
Performing requires more than just singing into a microphone. There is constant movement, increased heart rate, increased adrenaline and a level of energy expenditure that most viewers never fully appreciate. At the end of a set, he often feels like he does after a demanding workout.
“Even if it’s just a 30-minute set, when you walk off the stage, you’re completely drained,” he says. “It’s exhausting in the best way.”
The physical demands are considerable. The emotional demands can be even greater.
Sleep: The most important recovery tool he has
In an era dominated by health gadgets, supplements and recovery trends, Wesko’s most effective recovery strategy remains surprisingly simple: Sleep.
“The most important thing you can do for your body is sleep,” she says.
Whether he is at home or traveling, he prefers seven to eight hours as much as possible. The benefits go beyond muscle recovery. Sleep directly affects his energy, concentration, mood and vocal performance.
“If I don’t get enough sleep, my voice doesn’t work as well.”
To improve sleep quality, he limits screen time before bed and replaces scrolling through social media with reading. His post-show routine is remarkably complex.
After meeting the fans and wrapping up the evening, he goes back to his hotel room, takes a shower, grabs his Kindle and reads until he falls asleep.
There are no perfect recovery rituals. No complicated protocols.
Just fit.
The restoration movement that became a legend
Of course, recovery isn’t just about sleep. Food also plays an important role.
Wesko aims to consume at least 150 grams of protein a day, and a special shake helps him achieve that.
The recipe is simple but essential: frozen bananas, blueberries, two servings of protein powder and a few tablespoons of peanut butter mixed into a low-calorie shake.
His girlfriend is not necessarily a fan. But Wesco loves it.
When asked what he called the creation, he answered immediately.
“Walnut Falcon”.
It’s an apt name for a drink that’s equal parts protein shake and meal replacement.
A relationship that keeps Him grounded
Every high performing individual needs a support system. For Wesco, that person is his girlfriend, Jess.
In an industry built around constant travel, uncertainty and pressure, she provides stability.
“He really keeps me grounded,” she says.
While the managers have schedules and business responsibilities, Jess helps keep her personal life organized and stable. Most importantly, it offers perspective.
“He never missed a show,” she says. “He’s a real calming presence in the business, the exact opposite of calm.”
When asked what makes a healthy relationship, Vesco’s answer is simple: communication.
“I think the most helpful thing you can do in a relationship is to talk to each other and be completely honest about everything.”
For someone whose career requires constant movement, maintaining that connection takes intentional effort. This is another example of the discipline that shows up in all areas of his life.
Still looking for something bigger
Despite the momentum his career has generated, Vesco isn’t doing as well as anyone who believes he has. If anything, success only broadened his ambitions.
Years ago, his only goal was to become the first artist from North Carolina to sign a record deal.
Check it out. He achieved this.
Today, the goals are bigger.
Play in prominent places. Reach a larger audience. Build a catalog that stands the test of time.
Each stage creates a new objective. Each achievement brings a higher level.
“I want to do it at a level that no one has done before,” he says.
This relentless pursuit can be traced back to the lessons he learned growing up.
Long working days. Sports exercises. Body shop. Belief that effort is important.
For Vesco, taking care of yourself in 2026 is not the pursuit of perfection. It’s about making sure he’s physically, mentally, and spiritually ready for whatever challenge lies ahead.
And if his story is any indication, he’s just getting started.
