Introducing The Innovative Alternative Artist… Sam Austins

Backed by a genre bending sound Sam Austins is an artist that needs to be on your radar. The Detroit-born and LA based singer was first exposed to music by his father – who was a replacement singer and grand piano player. With his curious mind, Austins made headlines at two-years-old when he played the piano for the local news station. Over the years, he continued to hone his craft while navigating a chaotic home life. Finding solace in artists like Outkast, Radiohead and Kanye West, the young talent love for music grew.

After leaving his mother’s house at the end of high school, Austins found himself couch surfing before landing with his aunt in Detroit. Once he was settled he went to work on his first EP GOAT. The Soundcloud project received critical acclaim with tastemakers and he soon found himself opening up for the likes of Vince Staples, Juicy J, and Playboi Carti. His star continued to rise when fashion designer Phillip Lim invited him to his 2017 New York Fashion Week show. Fast forward to 2021 and the rising star is continuing his music take over with his coming of age project HOMELESS STAR. Throughout the record, Austins gives fans an inside a look into how he came into his artistry and ushers in the “beginning of a long arc”. We were able to chat with him about all things HOMELESS STAR, working with Sir Chloe and so much more. Check out the full interview below.

Hey Sam Austins! Thanks for chatting with us! How’s everything going?

Hello! Everything’s well and I’m blessed.

Congratulations on your recent release HOMELESS STAR! I bet you’re buzzing that it’s finally out?

Yeah, I’m feeling a lot of love. Letting out such a big emotional release was heavy for me but beautiful.

Well, the project is absolutely amazing! ‘SUMMER HEAT’, and ‘HOMELESS’ have been on repeat. Can you take us through your mind during the creation of the album? What’s story did you want to convey with the record?

Thank you so much! I love when the deep-cuts are the ones that people connect to the most. I just wanted to make a soundtrack that gets people through to the next day, like my idols did for me when I was a kid. I made HOMELESS STAR for anyone going through struggle and adversity whether it’s childhood or adulthood. I wrote this record when I had no money, living in my auntie’s attic, after moving from couch to couch in Detroit.

In terms of production, it feels like you dipped your feet into an array of genres like hip-hop, dream-pop and alternative rock. What was the creative process sonically for the album?

HOMELESS STAR went through so many iterations and different rewrites. I obviously fucking love hip-hop. My first form of writing songs was rap when I was a kid. It just naturally seeps through my DNA when I’m singing these songs. I’m deeply inspired by heroes like Thom Yorke, Kanye West, Daft Punk, Bowie, the list goes on. We just want to always expand on where we can go sonically and tell stories that connect on all levels, as well. I wrote hundreds of songs to get to this project, then skimmed it to thirty, started the process all over again, wrote another forty, and finally got it to the ten that felt like best explained the project’s story up

You have one collaboration on the record with Sir Chloe. How did you two end up hooking up for JOY FOR YOUTH?

Dana’s just the absolute best. I’m such a fan of her music and just her as a person. We met during a photoshoot we had earlier in 2021 and had an amazing time together. I texted her the record, asked if she’d be open to collab on it, and she loved it so much that she sent back her part in only a few days. I was so excited as a fan to have her on the song with me.

How would describe your HOMELESS STAR era in five words or less?

Epic coming-of-age music.

With 2021 nearly over, what can fans expect from Sam Austins in 2022? Can you give us a sneak peek into what’s to come?

I’m writing the new album. HOMELESS STAR was the origin story and the next chapter is on the way

Make sure check out Sam Austin’s brand new album HOMELESS STAR here or below.