Affectionately known as the Traffic Cone Sax Man to his millions of social media followers or as a founding member of the internationally acclaimed jazz-electronic fusion trio Moon Hooch, Wenzl McGowen is now shifting his focus to new solo projects. The dynamic multi‑instrumentalist, producer, DJ, author, and musical innovator has released the uplifting single “Higher” with Nigerian singer-songwriter Sunkanmi today, August 15. To celebrate its release, WENZL is returning to his gritty DIY roots by throwing a special one-night-only warehouse dance party in Brooklyn on Saturday, August 23.
Listen to WENZL’s “Higher” with Sunkanmi here
“Higher,” a propulsive, genre-blurring dance track that seamlessly blends infectious Afrobeat rhythms, bold saxophone lines and uplifting energy, includes a standout vocal performance from a Nigerian singer-songwriter Sunkanmi. Capturing WENZL’s signature approach–pushing boundaries between electronic music, live instrumentation, and global influences to create something uniquely positive, physical and alive–the track is a celebration of rhythm, connection and creative freedom designed to move bodies while elevating the mood.
“This song has a funny story,” WENZL shares. “Nigerian artist Sunkanmi posted a sound bite months ago, Snoop Dogg reposted it, and my manager asked me to try to turn the initial recording into an EDM/Afrobeat track with a sax hook. When I started working on the song, which we called ‘Higher,’ I felt chills run down my spine. The saxophone melody I came up with sounded like nothing I ever wrote before…it felt like I was tapping into the vibe of a group of people that I hadn’t even met.
“Six months later 3Beat, a record label from the UK, picked up the song and flew me across the world to Lagos, Nigeria to meet the singer and her crew. Sunkanmi picked me up at the airport with a bunch of dancers and we immediately started throwing impromptu dance parties across town. Some areas looked pretty questionable, but as soon as we played our song even seemingly intimidating people would start to smile and dance. It was like nothing I ever experienced or could have expected!”
Meanwhile, WENZL’s August 23 Brooklyn warehouse dance party guarantees good times for NYC’s underground landscape. Bringing his signature mix of hypnotic sax, electronic textures, and high-energy to a raw, immersive setting, the night will feature a lineup of dynamic DJs, building up to headlining DJ and live sax set from WENZL. Tickets are on sale now here.
Best known as a founding member of Moon Hooch, Spanish-born WENZL rose to prominence through the group’s electrifying New York City subway busking origins and explosive live performances, blending jazz, dance music, and experimental sounds. The band organized underground raves in Brooklyn before touring internationally, selling out venues across the U.S., performing on NPR’s Tiny Desk, at the official TED conference, alongside Tame Impala on Later...with Jools Holland and Jimmy Fallon’s That’s My Jam.
Along the way, WENZL also authored four books exploring philosophy and metaphysics, bridging mysticism, religion, science and direct experience. Wenzl’s inventive spirit traces back to his grandfather, a saxophonist and airplane mechanic whose curiosity and craftsmanship left a lasting impression.
That same creative impulse led WENZL to invent his now-iconic “traffic cone saxophone,” a playful yet practical innovation that deepened his sound and became a defining part of his musical identity. Originally used to lower the pitch of his horn, this invention enabled him to play bass-like notes on his saxophone, transforming his sound entirely. Then came 2022. What started as a joke–WENZL walking into a restaurant wearing a construction vest and playing his traffic cone sax–suddenly went viral. The video exploded online, earning over a billion views, cementing his reputation as a boundary-pushing, one-of-a-kind artist. He now has a growing following of over 2.2 million on TikTok and over 1.1 million on Instagram.
Moon Hooch recently announced that following a run of tour dates this Fall and Winter, the band will take a hiatus starting in 2026, further allowing WENZL to focus on other solo projects. Past solo collaborations with Mike Posner, ENISA, Damon Sharpe, Tia Tia, among others set the stage for what’s to come from the fearless musical explorer whose work challenges norms, invites wonder and channels creative presence into every sphere.
About WENZL:
Wenzl McGowen is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, author, and founding member of the acclaimed trio Moon Hooch, known for their explosive blend of jazz, dance music, and electronic sounds. Born in Spain and raised across Germany, Austria, and Portugal, Wenzl later moved to New York City to study at The New School, where Moon Hooch’s subway busking roots quickly evolved into a global phenomenon. The band’s reputation for wildly energetic live shows earned them appearances on NPR’s Tiny Desk, Billboard charts, and international festival stages.
Best known for his inventive “traffic cone saxophone”--a playful yet practical modification to achieve bass-heavy tones–Wenzl explores the intersection of sound, consciousness, and movement through solo music, ambient projects, and writing. A dedicated practitioner of meditation and sustainability, he’s authored four books on philosophy, mysticism, and science. In 2022, a viral video of him performing with his traffic cone sax dressed in a construction vest amassed over a billion views, underscoring his reputation as a fearless and joyful innovator.
Now splitting time between Brooklyn and Los Angeles, Wenzl continues to create music designed to move both body and mind, blending dancefloor energy with deeper themes of connection and transformation.
