Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Austin Meade is a singer and songwriter that mixes his early love of hard rock and heavy metal with a more modern approach to country music and Americana. Born the son of a church pastor, Austin Meade was introduced to classic and hard rock when his father took him to concerts by artists such as Judas Priest and Whitesnake. As he grew older, he was influenced by the emo rock scene led by Fall Out Boy and Paramore. However, he also loved singer-songwriters and authentic country and western from his home state. He intended to follow his father’s spiritual path and planned to be a worship leader, but chose the rock ‘n’ roll path instead. Initially, he learned to play the drums and performed with local acts while also teaching drum lessons. He found his own voice, musically, and stepped out in front, strapped on a guitar, and began to perform his own material. Building up a local following, Austin Meade released his debut EP, Long Ways to Go, in 2014. He followed that with his first album, Chief Of The Sinners, later that year. After the release of the Heartbreak Coming EP in 2016, it took another three years before he issued his sophomore album, Waves (2019). Several singles followed in 2020 before the release of his next album, Black Sheep, in 2021. His next album, the ambitious Abstract Art of an Unstable Mind (2022), included the singles “Red Roof Estates,” “Darker Shade of Blue,” “Rosé Romance,” and “Varsity Type.” In May 2023, Austin Meade returned with the new single “Blackout.”