Today we’d like to introduce you to Dave Austin.
Hi Dave, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up outside of Houston, Texas. Around 12 years old, I started playing guitar on an old Blueridge acoustic my stepmom bought from a garage sale. What started out as a hobby, quickly turned into an obsession. Throughout high school I was practicing as much as I could and playing in local bands in the area. I knew fairly quickly that I wanted to make a career out of playing music but I was not sure how to make it happen. After high school I attended Berklee College of Music. During my time there I started to see how a career in music was possible. After graduating, I decided that Nashville was where I needed to be and started to make plans on how to get there. I landed in Nashville in the fall of 2015 with a friend of mine that I was playing music with in Boston. In the last 11 years I have toured consistently, released albums of my own, produced music for other artists and written songs that have been cut by a variety of different artists. Some of the artists I’ve worked with in the past include: Elvie Shane, Chapel Hart, JD Clayton, Ryan Wilcox, John Hollier & The Reverie. Currently I am on the road with Maggie Antone
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been anything but smooth. I think the most challenging part of pursing a career in music is the constant reminders of how vague the path forward can be and the constant opportunities to change lanes . The winter before I moved to Nashville my house caught fire and forced my to be essentially homeless for three months. While saving money to move across the country I was rotating between sleeping on friend’s couches and hotels. When I finally moved to Nashville I had about $50 to my name, the moving company we hired stole some our furniture and miscellaneous belongings. I was working in retail at the Green Hills mall, left that job to tour with an artist full time, only to be fired about six months into the gig. I broke my wrist while on the road in South Dakota, had to fly back to Nashville for emergency surgery, and couldn’t work for three months. There have been so many challenges along the way, these are just the few that come to mind. If it were not for the community in Nashville, and the encouragement of my peers, It is hard to say if I would have continued on the path I’ve been on. But I am so glad I did.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
These days I am primarily a side man musician on the road and in town as well as a producer and songwriter. I like to think I specialize in the Americana and Country genres, supporting artists and writers in getting that type of sound and feel. I am most proud of the relationships I’ve developed in my career. One of my favorite parts of living in Nashville is being a true fan of your friends and their talents. Your idols become your colleagues, and if you’re lucky your colleagues become your closest friends. There’s nothing like a 15 hour overnight van ride to get you close to the people around you. If I had to guess what sets me a part from some people in town is my work ethic. I am rarely the most talented person in the room but I can out work almost anyone. Show up on time, be kind, and work hard has been my philosophy for a long time
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Reach out! Come to shows, listen to the records, and support the music scene in anyway you can.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @dave_austinmusic
