Daily Inspiration: Meet Austin Marsh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Marsh. 

Austin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
As a 6-year-old kid, I was gifted my very first guitar. Looking back on those days it’s easy to see how music was woven into my life, even in those early days. But receiving this gift put my life of music into motion, albeit slowly. I started really taking the guitar seriously at age 11 and spent the next 3 years listening to records and cassette tapes and teaching myself the instrument by playing along to my early musical heroes. Around age 15, I joined my first band. Although we were an absolutely dreadful cover band that rehearsed in a Northeast Indiana barn, it narrowed my focus and helped me determine my musical paths moving forward. Although my roles came and went in various bands as I grew toward adulthood, the name of the game remained steady. And that was to be constantly improving my abilities and serving the music in the best ways possible. 

At 18, I was off to college in Fort Wayne, IN. I attended the University of Saint Francis and pursued a degree in Music Technology/Production. It was there my abilities were really beginning to get refined and raised to higher levels. Throughout my tenure at USF, I was able to make countless connections, gain quality musical partnerships, and forge my own path as a young songwriter. In college, it became apparent to me that the act of songwriting came easier as I lived my life. Looking back on my failed attempts to write music as a teenager, it’s only become clearer that I just hadn’t experienced much of life’s offerings yet. I can safely say, now at age 27, I have lived life a bit. I’ve gone through hardships and successes, guttural lows and euphoric highs. And as much as life has changed for me, the more it has stayed the same. Music was my first love, and one of the things that always kept me tethered to the ground. 

After graduation, my focus began to narrow to further honing my craft as a songwriter. I’ve always found myself enthralled with storytellers and how to control the English language. I am constantly fascinated with the human conditions that plague us all. Whether it’d be the seduction of heartbreak, the intriguing concepts of darkness and light, or being mesmerized by observing the ordinary, all of these concepts have crept into my mind and been written on a blank page as a songwriter. 

In 2020, just as the world was morphing and changing, I founded Austin & the Avenue. “The Avenue” started as a way for me to get my songs put out into the world, but it’s gained a lot more meaning along the way. It’s a means of reaching others, telling stories, and creating music with some of the best musicians I know. Taking influence from Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Jason Isbell, and The Byrds, we’ve forged our own rootsy and jangly sound. Austin & the Avenue is a folk/rock 4-piece based in Fort Wayne, IN, and we’ve got 2 albums to our credit. They explore some of the themes I’d listed earlier: heartbreak, loneliness, dark/light, as well as many others. Both albums, “Bohemians” and “Waiting on the Flood”, can be found on all streaming sites. And although we’ve managed to create something unique to us, plans for “The Avenue” don’t stop in the present. We’re beginning to build momentum that will be put towards a third album in 2023. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In large part, the road has been smooth for me. Of course, there are always personal struggles along the way. But as an artist, my career has been successful at this level. A lot of my success can be attributed to my patience, and letting the creative process unfold at the pace it is meant to happen at. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a songwriter, producer, guitarist, and singer in the band Austin & the Avenue. At this point in my musical career, I’m most proud of being unsigned. I’ve known many artists whose goal was to be signed by a major/minor record label. But not me. I’ve always been a staunch advocate for forging my own path. Even if I don’t have the absolute best resources or opportunities, I’d rather not sacrifice the art. For the sake of artistic integrity, I’d rather have the creation be uniquely my own than have outside influences obstruct the creative paths I’m lucky enough to have. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’d rather not speak too much on my artistic creation, but would rather have my work speak for itself. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.austinmarshaudio.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/austinmarshaudio
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/austinmarshaudio

Image Credits
McKayla Nevers