(Audio Version) Episode 12 is not just another podcast episode.
This is the full story.
Demetri Pierce, known musically as Rods.Wave, was born in the Bronx, New York — where his early childhood began. The energy, the movement, the grit of New York shaped the foundation of his early years. He was raised there for about the first five years of his life before life began to shift.
His parents met in 2005. At the time, his mother already had her first child. Together, they later had children in 2008, 2009, and 2012 — building a household of four kids. Like many real families, the journey was not always smooth. There were ups and downs, growth and tension.
In 2016, his parents divorced.
That moment changed everything.
His mother made the decision to relocate from New York to Raleigh, North Carolina. His father remained in New York. On December 31, 2017, his mother returned to bring the youngest child to North Carolina, and eventually she gained primary custody of all four children.
The transition from the Bronx to the South was more than just geography — it was identity shifting.
On July 21, 2019, the family moved to Smithfield, North Carolina into their first actual house — not a townhouse, but a milestone. Then on May 21, 2021, they moved into a bigger and better home, the house they currently live in today. Stability. Growth. Progress.
His mother, known professionally as Dr. Natasha Guess, is the creator and founder of Guess Compliance Consulting LLC. She is also the voice behind the podcast “Guess What? Compliance Can Be Simple.” Entrepreneurship, leadership, and speaking into a microphone were part of the environment long before Rods.Wave ever recorded a song.
And then came the music.
In June 2024, Rods.Wave began releasing songs on BandLab, starting with “Just Doing Me.” Then came “Heart on a Pendant,” “Love Me Like U,” and more. July introduced a gospel record, “Help Me on My Journey,” reflecting faith and spiritual grounding. August brought confidence with “HATERS” and “Corvette.” The themes of love, emotion, and growth continued into the fall.
By November 2024, the music expanded to major streaming platforms, and the three-song EP Love Songswas released.
But here’s what many people don’t know:
The name Rods.Wave carries meaning.
The “S” stands for South — representing the shift from New York to North Carolina. It symbolizes growth, transition, and the environment that helped shape the next chapter. Rods.Wave isn’t just a name — it represents identity, movement, emotion, and geography. From North to South. From childhood to vision.
Now, a structured rollout is planned:
• Singles in March 2026
• An EP in April 2026
• A 15-song mixtape in May 2026
• Another EP in August 2026
• A second mixtape in September 2026
• An 18-song album on March 16, 2027 titled Wait. Is The Pain Over?
• A second album on September 15, 2027 titled Demetri
Episode 12 documents the roots before the wave rises.
From the Bronx to the South.
From divorce to stability.
From observation to expression.
From Demetri Pierce to Rods.Wave.
This is the biography before the breakthrough.