Rising Texan star Austin Meade has announced his new album Abstract Art of an Unstable Mind. The 19-track album will be released on October 14 via Snakefarm. Pre-order it here.
Today, he has shared the new single, “Rosé Romance,” with an accompanying music video. Watch it here.
“Rosé Romance” is the third in a trilogy of videos that tells some of the album’s story. The story starts with the characters just getting out of high school. Then it’s a fraught and often funny/sad journey through the formative years ‘til the diverse personalities from different walks of life reconvene —for better and often worse— as adults.
“‘Rosé Romance’ is the third piece of the video trilogy that shows the growth of the characters from ‘Varsity Type’ to ‘Red Roof Estates,’ finally arriving at ‘Rosé Romance.’ At this point, we have seen the characters go from late teens into early adulthood, illustrating character growth as life becomes more complicated. My musical development has continued to expand with the storylines. This is the accumulation of a year-and-a-half of writing about re-occurring characters as they age. I wanted to describe their mood, the space they occupy, and even the thoughts inside their heads. I felt like the director of a movie in audio format and wanted to push the limits of their deep personal thoughts. This is the Abstract Art of my Unstable Mind.”
Watch the official clips for previous singles “Varsity Type” and “Red Roof Estates” for a fuller picture.
Abstract Art of an Unstable Mind follows previous studio album Black Sheep [2022] which has amassed over 66 million streams thus far and features hit track, “Happier Alone.”
ABSTRACT ART OF AN UNSTABLE MIND TRACK LISTING:
“LMAM Morning Drive”
“Violation Delight”
“Red Roof Estates”
“Sinner of the City”
“Late Night Letdown”
“LMAM Midday Drop”
“Queen of the Letdown”
“Rosé Romance”
“LMAM Exclusive Interview”
“Varsity Type”
“LMAM What’s Your Problem”
“Loser Mentality”
“Take a Trip”
“Dial Tone”
“Abstract Art.jpg”
“Quicksand”
“Darker Shade of Blue”
“Forever Unfaithful”
“Rain Dancin”
MORE ABOUT AUSTIN MEADE & ABSTRACT ART OF AN UNSTABLE MIND:
A wide spectrum of musicians—from Jelly Roll to ZZ Top to Shinedown—are among Meade’s fans. Meade’s own influences—from the band Yellowcard to the Swedish movie Midsomar, are as varied and rich as the small-town Texas soil that nurtured his talent. Thanks to his metal- and classic-rock loving dad, Meade saw bands like Judas Priest and worshipped Whitesnake. In junior high he related to the intense emo-rock of Paramore and Fall Out Boy, and the power of songwriters including John Mayer and Tom Petty. Meade was a drummer for years, even teaching to pay the bills, but found his true voice when he began playing guitar as a teen in his pastor-father’s church.
Abstract Art of an Unstable Mind is not just an album, it’s an aural adventure. The 19-song collection of compelling modern rock songs from singer/guitarist Meade ranges from the poignant, nostalgic “Loser Mentality” to the propulsive edgy opening “Violation Delight” — with an unforgettable aggressive chorus and wailing guitars— to the endless-summer song-story of “Varsity Type.” The album even boasts a couple cool co-writes—including “Quicksand” and “Forever Unfaithful”—penned with Tyler Bryant and Caleb Crosby of Tyler Bryant and The Shakedown, the collab allowing Meade to expand his headspace, while staying true to the storyline of the record.
Abstract Art of an Unstable Mind, the Texas musician’s second Snakefarm LP, is a storytelling album full of catchy tunes that create a soundscape packed with aural easter eggs. You could call it a concept album. But each song on Abstract Art of an Unstable Mind can be viewed as an episode; and as such, they stand alone, but are also part of the album’s larger narrative. Abstract Art of an Unstable Mind follows 2020’s Black Sheep album, which saw Guitar World rave: “Black Sheep might very well be Meade’s most varied album to date – it’s bluesy and soulful yet at times psychedelic and even somewhat Sabbathy.”
Meade’s 2021 remix of “Happier Alone” (ft. Koe Wetzel) has over 17 million Spotify streams; 2021-22 saw him touring, playing packed headlining shows as well as sharing the stage with Whiskey Myers, Blackberry Smoke and the Old 97’s.
His creativity and truths shine, sometimes painfully, but always colorfully. Three Abstract Art… songs—”Varsity Type,” “Red Roof Estates,” and “Rosé Romance”—make up a trilogy of videos. The story starts with the characters just getting out of high school. Then it’s a fraught and often funny/sad journey through the formative years til the diverse personalities from different walks of life reconvene—for better and often worse—as adults. The characters are well-drawn: there’s a “Varsity Type,” (buff douchebag); a popular cheerleader, and the nerd with a “Loser Mentality” (which, hint, isn’t always negative and may be the character closest to Meade himself).
Meade has been playing and making music professionally for more than seven years, and though he cut his teeth touring in the Texas and Oklahoma Red Dirt scene (and has a country bent by dint of geography), Meade moves seamlessly among the heaviness of classic rock, the gut-punch of emo and showcases his stellar singer/songwriter chops on every tune.
Abstract Art of an Unstable Mind was created by Meade and his band, longtime guitarist and creative partner David Willie, drummer Aaron Hernandez, and the newest member, bassist Jordan Pena. “Me and Willie really wrote most of the songs together,” Meade says. “There were times we were rolling on the couch laughing because we were having so much fun with the writing.”
