Mit „Almost Famous“ veröffentlicht Austin Meade ein Album, das so ehrlich, direkt und unverblümt klingt wie kaum ein anderes in seiner bisherigen Karriere. Der texanische Musiker, der sich mit harter Arbeit, unzähligen Shows und einer ordentlichen Portion DIY-Geist einen Namen gemacht hat, gewährt auf seiner neuen Platte tiefe Einblicke in sein Leben – irgendwo zwischen Selbstreflexion, Rock’n’Roll-Attitüde und einem Augenzwinkern. Im Gespräch mit uns dem Frontstage Magazine spricht Austin Meade über seine ungeschönte Herangehensweise beim Songwriting, den Einfluss seiner Wurzeln, die Tücken des Musikgeschäfts und warum er trotz wachsender Erfolge noch lange nicht am Ziel ist.
Frontstage Magazine: Your new album “Almost Famous” feels like a snapshot of your life – raw, honest, and a bit tongue-in-cheek. When did you realize this record had to become such an unfiltered reflection of yourself?
Austin Meade: I probably get the attitude from my Grandma. I’ve been digging further in this musical & lyrical direction for quite a while. Guess we finally hit the nail on the head. When writing, I try picking certain words and phrases that feel like home. I’m too far into this thing now to care about filtering my lyrics…that thought left the building after we released Cave In.
Frontstage Magazine: You’ve built your career through hard work, countless shows, and a lot of DIY spirit. How much does that grounded background still shape your music and your perspective on success today?
Austin Meade: The grind of highs and lows definitely influences some writing – everyone’s got their own struggles to overcome, so I think it helps to connect with folks. We’ve always put our nose to the ground and tried to constantly improve… no matter if it’s songwriting, touring, music videos, or even bus maintenance. Some days I feel like we are really crushing it and making huge moves, other days I can’t do shit right. Success can be hard to see in the moment, but looking back at the last few albums, I feel like we’re at least putting a dent in the big picture goals.
Frontstage Magazine: You’ve said you “don’t have time for anybody’s bullshit anymore.” How did that mindset influence the creation of the album – both musically and in how you navigate the industry?
Austin Meade: Time is our most valuable (nonrenewable) resource. It’s important to spend it working on things that you care about, with other people who believe in the big picture. I’d rather be direct with words/actions/music than beat around the bush and waste anyone’s time. Try writing a song like BAD DAYS and then showing your wife…thankfully mine’s a badass and loved it. Haha! The music biz is a slippery, slimy, dark creature…I want a team around me that has my back like family.
Frontstage Magazine: On “Almost Famous”, there are lyrical and thematic connections to your earlier work, almost like a personal songbook. Was it a conscious decision to tie your past records together into a bigger picture?
Austin Meade: Yeah, I usually leave little „Easter Eggs“ in new records that refer to past work or other songs within the record. It strengthens the story of the songs and the connection with people who dig into our record catalogue. There’s a lot to find in there!
Frontstage Magazine: You’ve gone from Texas dive bars to major festival stages around the world. Looking back on that journey – do you still feel “almost famous,” or do you think you’ve finally arrived?
Austin Meade: No way, there’s plenty more work to be done. I ain’t done til I croak.
Fotocredit: Matt Bender
