R2RB Podcast - Women Entrepreneurs and Indie Artists Series

Celebrating Indie Music with Austin Davis, DINKY and Cintale

• Deb LaMotta

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Are Facebook's ever-changing algorithms stifling your indie artistry or small business updates? This week, we navigate the frustrating landscape of social media hurdles and present crafty workarounds to keep your posts visible and impactful. Join me as I share insights on maintaining your online presence amid algorithm chaos, and tune in for a compelling double-header featuring Austin Davis and Dinky. Plus, get the scoop on Cintale’s musical evolution as he teases his upcoming single "Give Him Praise."

Wondering how you can make a difference at Second Chance Ranch? This heartfelt segment explores various avenues for supporting this noble cause, from donations to volunteering. I also have some personal news to share: an upcoming vacation and a fun live show with my granddaughter from Delaware. Enjoy tunes from Paul Val and don't miss the warm, insightful interview with Centale and his mother Deborah as they discuss their inspiring family collaboration with Sugar on their new single.

Curious about the synergy between faith and music? Discover the deeply moving single "Give Him Praise" by Centale, enriched by the creative input of his mother and artist Sugar. Cental's journey into worship music, while retaining his R&B roots, offers a fresh, uplifting perspective. The episode wraps up with Austin Davis recounting his musical odyssey—from his high school beginnings influenced by 90s country and the Backstreet Boys to his latest solo ventures. Celebrate the passion, creativity, and faith that drive these remarkable artists.

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Speaker 1:

When can we?

Speaker 2:

get Boss.

Speaker 1:

Lady out of the attic.

Speaker 2:

It's usually halfway through the week, so here she is, your host, your host of Halfway Through the Week, deb LaMotta.

Speaker 1:

Okay, you can applaud now.

Speaker 5:

Hello everybody. It is Deb LaMotta and it is Halfway Through the Week. Can't believe that we're here, but we are. It is July 17th. It is another hot day. It has been a very hot week and I hope everybody's been able to cool off one way or another. My God, this is just too much. Anyway, yes, it's summer, yes it's July, but it's still too hot and I guess I'm a little whining. But anyway, it'll cool off, it will cool off. So here we are. What's going on? There is so much going on, my head hurts.

Speaker 5:

And, of course, let me start on my soapbox with Facebook again. I had posted or reposted a couple months ago, an indie artist and their at that time, their new single and the cover artwork, which Facebook didn't like and it has given me grief ever since. So I have been trying different ways of getting putting my posts up without having them delete it. The last couple weeks my shows have not been posting on Facebook and I know those who are, you know, tuning in each week. I'm grateful, but I also like to let the indie artists know that I am spinning their song. That hasn't been happening and it's gotten a little frustrating this week. I think I figured it out. As long as I don't put the whole URL for my website, which is, of course, wwwr2rbcom, the post isn't deleted. So that's what I've been going with. I'm also going to do my best to create an event each week for the two shows to help that along as well.

Speaker 5:

Facebook we know that's going through changes. We know something's in the wind. We know something's going to come up from all of this. There's been different speculations, from subscriptions to I don't know what, and of course, ai, the algorithms, and what they see or what they process isn't necessarily what we see or what we're posting, which is the frustrating part of it all. So we'll see. We'll see where it all goes, how this all plays out. Obviously, you know somebody's going to lose in the end and of course it's always, I feel, the indie artists, and that's music and the arts itself, I mean in small businesses, my goodness, it's, that's just, you know, going to affect everybody one way or another. So we'll see what comes of that.

Speaker 5:

Other than that, lots going on in the music world, always something new to listen to, always great new songs, and I am so happy to always be able to spin anything that I possibly can for the indie artists here on Halfway Through the Week Tonight's show, oh my God, amazing. So I had interviewed Austin Davis a couple months ago and because of my scheduling I scheduled him for which there's nothing wrong with it, but I scheduled him for live out of the attic, live from Delaware, and I usually like to do the indie artists on Wednesday nights. It has become a thing. So I wanted to replay his interview, which I will be playing this evening, and then I just interviewed Dinky excuse me, last week, week before, and so I'm also going. So it's a double header tonight. Not only is it a double header with Austin Davis and Dinky, it's I have a third special guest tonight that I am so excited to once again have Santel live on the air with me to talk about his new era music oh my gosh. And his first release will be Give Him Praise, which will be released January. Please, no, july 24th. July 24th Give Him Praise. A new era of music.

Speaker 5:

On this single is Cyntel and Deborah and Sugar. Deborah is Cintel's mother and Sugar is a close family friend, so I'm so excited. So Cintel had sent me the MP3 earlier and I was going to listen to it. I haven't heard it. The only people that have heard it. You know, maybe a teaser here, or there is Cintel, deborah and Sugar and I was going to listen to it prior to playing it tonight for everybody else, but I decided that I'm just going to wait until I share it with everybody and listen to it together with Sintel, and I just am so excited to hear it. So that's what I'm doing with that tonight. Just thought I would do you would do a little something different. So I am recording this on a Tuesday night and rebroadcasting on Wednesday night. I have and will be at a fundraiser. Or I am at a fundraiser when this is playing for Second Chance Ranch, or I am at a fundraiser when this is playing for Second Chance Ranch. I'm hoping to jump on live in between to shout out different artists.

Speaker 5:

We also want to do a side fundraiser to name the two little surrenders that Christian and Kara picked up this afternoon, a little donkey and a miniature pony. So they have come to the rescue as of this afternoon. The owner reached out to Kara and asked if that did she have room and could she take these two little cutie pies. So they off. They went this afternoon with their trailer and got the little donkey and the pony a miniature pony, and so they are all nice and settled in in the barn for the evening. And so we're going to do a fundraiser to name the donkey a miniature donkey it's so cute and the miniature pony.

Speaker 5:

You can see pictures at Second Chance Ranch on Facebook. I've shared it on my page as well. So if you go check that out while I'm talking and hopefully I've either cut in already to talk live or prior to this, and we're going to, you're going to be able to a a number um, and then you'll be able to submit a name for either the donkey or the? Um miniature pony, or buy a slot for either one and submit your name and, uh, they will be picking, picking the names, um, for the pony, for the pony and for the donkey. So one way to get a little money going uh, it costs money, it's a rescue, and so the fundraiser that I am at well, this is broadcasting.

Speaker 5:

We are with gypsy grove creations and they have a hat bar. That's right, a hat bar, not a liquor bar, but but a hat bar. So Mary and Ashley go to different events and fundraisers and they set up their hat bar. You pick the hat and it could be a cowboy hat, a trucker hat, I believe they're going to have some straw hats and then they bring all the embellishments, all the embellishments and that you choose, and then you, you know, put it all together and they help you put it together and they also attach it for you, and then you, you, you know, you've helped, uh, you've helped the rescue, you've gotten a beautiful hat and a great evening, uh, with uh other other great people for the um, for the fundraiser. So that's where I'm at.

Speaker 5:

I'm hoping to jump on and off, live. I'm hoping this works out. You know everything goes left, so I'm just trying to make it go right. So we'll see how that all works out. All right, all right. So listen to this. All right, I talked about Second Chance Ranch. Now you get to hear about it. I'll be right back. Now you get to hear about it and I'll be right back. I'm Deb LaMotta and I am a volunteer at Second Chance Ranch in Felton, delaware. Imagine a place where horses, ponies and donkeys can come to heal, a place where they can be safe and loved, a place where they can find a forever home. That place is Second Chance Ranch in Felton, delaware.

Speaker 5:

Second Chance Ranch is a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming horses in need. Kara and Christian Sabo provide a safe haven for horses, ponies and donkeys who have been abused, neglected, abandoned or surrendered. They rely on the generosity of their donors to help care for their horses in their program. Your donation will help provide food, shelter, medical care and training for the rescues. It will also help to educate the public about the importance of horse care and welfare. Please donate today to Second Chance Ranch. Your donation will make a difference in the life of a horse.

Speaker 5:

If you would like to make a monetary donation, purchase from their Amazon wish list, volunteer, sponsor a horse or visit Second Chance Ranch, you can find all the information you need at 2CRDEorg to reach out to Kara and Christian and thank you for your support. Absolutely. Thank you. I do appreciate everybody and their support. This is near and dear to my heart, this rescue, and their support. This is near and dear to my heart, this rescue. I am so fortunate to have found Christian and Kara and Second Chance Ranch. So if you have whatever you can donate, be it monetary or otherwise, it would be greatly appreciated. And the fundraiser tonight to help.

Speaker 5:

Well, they're installing six runs off the side of the barn, and so they have the wiring, they have the posts and they need a few other things. They need the gate, they need some crimping tools, they need the bolts and the other things, the hardware for the fencing, and I think there might be something else. So, again, if you have crimpers and you want to help out gosh, please, you can text me at 302-272-5389. And, of course, you can email me at info at r2rbcom. So if you're local, if you're in Delaware they are in Felton, so they're kind of right in the middle there Reach out, please. We appreciate it so much. All right, so that is that.

Speaker 5:

What else is going on? I'm trying to think. I think, oh, I'm going on vacation. I am going on vacation. I am out on Friday for 10 days going back home to visit my kids and my grandkids and just kind of sit back and relax. And yes, I'll have my computer with me, but I'm rebroadcasting all but one show and hopefully that all works out as well. But I will be doing a live show with my granddaughter one of the Sundays out of the attic, live from Delaware, probably the second Sunday that I'm away. So please watch for the announcements on Facebook for that.

Speaker 5:

Kara was. Kara Kaya was my co-host last summer for four weeks, four Sundays, and we had a great. We had a blast. She really enjoyed it. She did really well. We had planning meetings and she picked her topics and did some research and I helped her with that and she just ran with it. So I'm excited to do it this year and I hope you will all tune in and enjoy that show as well.

Speaker 5:

I'll post which date that is. Actually, I can tell you in one minute. Hold on, it will be July 28th, out of the Attic, live from Delaware. We will be live, so stay tuned for that. All right, I am going to play some music. I have some awesome music tonight. This one is Paul Val. She's Gone Great bluesy song, oh my gosh. So Brian Heason sends me all kinds of great indie artists' new releases, and this is Paul's. I believe this is Paul's newest one. I happen to like Paul's music and this song. I listened to it before when Brian sent me the MP3. He's like wow. So I hope you enjoy this. While we're listening, I'm going to go get Centella on the phone and I will be back.

Speaker 1:

She's gone. She ain't never coming back. I pushed her away, so far away, and she's on the streets again and I'm on my knees again. I should have told her Just how I felt inside.

Speaker 4:

I should have told her Everything will be alright. Alright, yeah, she's gone. She ain't never coming back. I pushed her away so far away. She's gone. She ain't never coming back. I pushed her away so far away.

Speaker 1:

And she's on the streets again and I'm on my knees again.

Speaker 4:

I should have held her Of every single inch of me. I should have held her and made her a part of me. She's gone. She ain't never coming back. I pushed her away so far away. And she's on the streets again and I'm on my knees again. Yeah, guitar solo.

Speaker 1:

She's gone. She ain't never coming back. I pushed her away so far away. She's gone. She ain't never coming back. I pushed her away so far away. I pushed her away so far away. I pushed her away so far away. I should have told her Just how I felt inside. I should have told her, everything will be alright. Now she's gone.

Speaker 5:

Alright, well, I am back. I am Deb LaMotta. This is halfway through the week. I hope everybody's been having a great week. I know it has been hot, but it is summer, we'll get through it. We'll make it. But tonight I have two special guests with me. I have a Sintel and I have Sintel's mother, deborah. Thank you so much, both of you, for joining me tonight.

Speaker 3:

Thank you for having us.

Speaker 5:

Oh, you're welcome. I'm so excited for both of you and for Sugar too, who also is on this single. You guys have so much going on, so tell us well first.

Speaker 3:

first of all, just tell a little bit, centelle, everybody knows who you are, but go ahead, tell us again who you are, who mom is and sugar okay, so you already know who I am I'm centelle and my mother is deborah and our friend and sister, like you know, sister to the family her name is sugar and, uh, we just got together and collabed on a brand new single and, um, you know, it was one of those things where it was like I heard it and I was like, oh yeah. I said, ma, I need your vocals. She was like, all right, well, what you need me to do? I was like I'm going to need you to subrime out and you're going to sing a full verse. Wow, she was like, okay, and then we got to part of the song.

Speaker 3:

I was like, oh, my goodness, you know who I hear on this song. I said I hear Sugar. And so I was messing around and, you know, pretending to be like I was, you know, singing the song. Like I was singing the song, like I was her and my mother was laughing so hard. So we finally called her up and she was like, yeah, yeah, I'll do it, yeah. So she came over and I went through it several times with her and then she recorded it and we got it. Wow.

Speaker 5:

Oh my gosh. So you had sent me the MP3 this afternoon. You have been posting about a new era of music. You have been posting give him praise. You've been teasing us all with this and I was going to listen to it. As I was telling you off air I was going to listen to it. It's like no, I think I'm going to wait so I can listen to it with you and your mom and everybody else out there, just to you know, I want you to hear my reaction. I love your music and you know, I've heard, you know, your mom in the background with other songs, beautiful voice, and then adding sugar to the mix is just, I mean, it's just a great blend. Pardon the pun, a great blend, pardon the pun, but I think it is like you've got, you know, all of you. Um and and centel, your music again is just uplifting. Um, it is encouraging, it is beautiful and it always has a great message thank you.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, that's, you know, I strive, I strive for that. You know. It's just being, you know, being a christian and and person, person who believes in God. You want to encourage the world and to let them see the light of Christ in you and not have them be so subjected to the negativity that's out there all the time.

Speaker 5:

And there's so much, there is so much. And so you know, and there's so much, there is so much. And so you know we've talked and talked before. You know, everybody doesn't believe in the same thing. Everybody doesn't have the same beliefs. Everybody doesn't have, you know, we all have a different spirituality. But I think if we all just let the music kind of, you know, just listen to it and listen to the words, you don't have to believe. But I think if you just tune in the right way and take away, you know, your message in a good way. You've touched so many people.

Speaker 3:

Right.

Speaker 5:

So tell us a little bit. So Give and Praise is a single off an album you're working on, correct?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yes, remember, I teased about an album coming.

Speaker 5:

Yes, yes. Do you want to tell a little bit about it, or are you still kind of keeping it?

Speaker 3:

I'm still kind of keeping it under wraps. I mean it's still in the works. I mean it's you know I'm working on whether or not it's going to be between 11 and 12 songs. Wow, this era of music is, you'll be able to hear the difference in what I've done and what I've taken. Okay, at a level, like I was, like I mentioned in the little, the little paragraph that I gave you, sarah Music has said you know, I went with some different kinds of tones and melodies and even different vocal techniques with some of them and some of it is just, you know, instead of it being that hard, I don't know if I put, put out my hip hop and trap Right, right, don't believe me. It's still some R&B kind of you know undertones, but I think a little bit more now is kind of going into a little bit of worship kind of music.

Speaker 5:

Okay, so, yeah, so it's calmed down some, but it still has a you know, a good thump and make you want to tap your foot and clap your hands, which we all love and I am so excited to, and I can't wait for the release. Do you have any idea what when a release date for that is?

Speaker 3:

Oh, the album, Mm. Hmm. Oh, I'm still working on it, so I'm projecting maybe September.

Speaker 5:

Oh, I'm still working on it, so I'm projecting. Maybe September, oh nice, ok, september We'll. We will be watching and looking for the post for the release and you'll have. You'll have to let me know so I can get it on the air. I'm working diligently. Oh my gosh, wow, you've got a lot going on. So do you have another release coming out or are you just going to work on your album?

Speaker 3:

Just this one for the time being. I haven't thought of the second one that I might release before the album comes out. Why don't you just run off this and just keep that steam going and then boom the album?

Speaker 5:

I like it. I like it, debra, let me ask you a question what's it like working with Sintel, your son?

Speaker 7:

Pretty much the same as just living in the same house with him and seeing him do his music all the time. It's like this thing. He started off as a hobby and just watching him, you know, sing his music and I pretty much leave him alone to himself. Most of the time I go upstairs and let him have his space. So that's what I pretty much do. I don't bother him or anything, unless he calls me and says hey, I need your help.

Speaker 5:

He needs your voice. Come here, I like it. Oh my gosh. Yeah, how exciting. I mean, that's great that the two of you are able to collaborate on, on this and other songs that you've done as well. Um, it's, it's just really nice amen, yeah, yeah absolutely all right, uh song that she's done a full verse on too oh yeah, that's right, just not not a little backup vocal here or there.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, that's what she's done for me in the past, with some backup vocals helping me, along with those and you know a couple of songs. She was like, hey, I hear another harmony on this, I'm going to sing it. So I'm like, alright, go ahead.

Speaker 5:

Well, that's nice. I mean, it's really nice, that one that you can collaborate with your, with each other, and that you do it well without you know a fallout from it. Because I know sometimes.

Speaker 3:

But I do push them.

Speaker 5:

But in a good way.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, nope, that's not it.

Speaker 7:

You got to do it again I feel like, nope, that's not it, you got to do it again, do it again, do it again. I feel like a teenager again. There you go when you hear the ladies say let's do it again, let's do it again.

Speaker 5:

I like it, oh my gosh. Well, congratulations to the both of you and to Sugar. I think this is so exciting. Taking this and taking your music to you know, another different era. I like that. A different era to something a little bit different. You just keep maturing, your music just keeps growing and you just keep growing. So congratulations, sintel.

Speaker 3:

Thank you.

Speaker 5:

All right. So, debra and Sintel, I am going to spin the new song. Give him praise. We will be off air, but the song will be playing. I'll be able to hear it. So hold on, let me start it up and we'll see how it goes.

Speaker 7:

All right.

Speaker 3:

We're going to do things a little different.

Speaker 4:

Everyone clap your hands when the spirit of the Lord is moving. When the spirit of the Lord is moving, you can't stop the feeling that he brings. Can't stop the feeling that he brings. There is joy, there is joy, there is peace, there is peace, there is freedom. When he takes over me, there is joy, there is joy, there is peace. So much peace. There is freedom when he takes all over me. Now give God's praise. That's it, come on, come on, come on. Speak Jesus, he can break every chain. Speak Jesus, you won't be the same. There is power in his wonderful name. Surrender now and give him the praise. Speak Jesus, you can break every chain. Speak Jesus, you won't be the same. There is power in his wonderful name.

Speaker 1:

Surrender now and give him the praise.

Speaker 4:

Let's give God some praise. Introduce my mother. God's word is powerful. I'm a walking, talking testimony. When Satan tried to take me out, god won and I got the victory. Victory, victory, victory, victory. Speak Jesus, he can break every chain. Speak Jesus, you won't be the same. There is power in His wonderful name. Surrender now and give Him the praise. Speak Jesus, he can break every chain. Speak Jesus, you won't be the same. There is power in his wonderful name. Surrender now and give him the praise.

Speaker 4:

Okay, we're not finished yet. We got one more singer. She's going to take us home. Come on, come on sugar, come on sugar. Oh, the glory of the Lord is mine. It's mine. I'ma let his light shine. All my tears are left behind, behind. That's why I praise him all the time. Oh, the glory of the Lord is mine. I'm a legend. I praise him all the time. Praise him all the time. Praise him all the time. Praise him all the time. Speak Jesus, he can break every chain. Speak Jesus, you won't be the same. There is power in His wonderful name. Surrender now and give Him the praise. Speak Jesus, he can break every chain. Speak Jesus, you won't be the same. There is power in his wonderful name Surrender now and give him the praise oh my goodness, phenomenal, fantastic, just come.

Speaker 5:

Oh, oh God, I don't know where to begin. First of all, Sintel and Debra absolutely amazing, Debra, you have a beautiful voice and I love being able to hear it up front. And sugar Also what a awesome trio on this. This track is going to kill it. This is such a beautiful, beautiful worship song Praise Jesus. So the church I attended in Connecticut they had a beautiful worship team and that just brought back memories like, oh my gosh, it is just again. It's just what people need right now. We all need Mike, congratulations.

Speaker 3:

Thank you.

Speaker 5:

Sometimes I forget to stop talking. It's just oh my gosh, so I don't know, I just can't. People, you have to go. This is going to be released July 24th. Can you pre save it? So until?

Speaker 3:

No, I didn't do a pre save, because I'm not saying for albums.

Speaker 5:

Okay, I, that's fine. I just wanted to make sure that people knew where they could go find it on June, june, july I've been doing that all day July 24. The release release of Give Him Praise, sintel, debra and Sugar it's absolutely amazing, absolutely. That is just going to rock everybody, absolutely. Well, again, congratulations.

Speaker 3:

Thank you.

Speaker 5:

My gosh. I'm so glad that I waited to now to listen to it, because this is really it. Everybody, please go find Sintel C-I-N-T-A-L-E, like him, follow him, comment, share him, mark the calendar for July 24th so you can go stream it and purchase it wherever you purchase your music and wherever you stream your music from. Please, please, please, please, please, please. What do you think, centel? I mean, this is just amazing yeah, it was, you know it's.

Speaker 3:

It's one of those um experiences, like you said, it brought back memories for you. So it really brought back memories for me because, remember, as I told you before I grew up, harmonizing with my mother, we were going to record on a tape recorder yeah and uh, you know cassette tapes and learning to sing with her. So, like singing with her, now that I'm an adult, it's, it's. I mean, it just brings back those those times when mom was like you take the high, take the low, you take the low, I take the high, you know. So it's, it's those those moments like that.

Speaker 5:

I'm just like wow wow, absolutely, oh my god, the harmonizing and that's that's, oh my god, absolutely beautiful, and now I can't wait for the release of the album. Don't rush it, but hurry up not too much longer next wednesday.

Speaker 5:

Next wednesday oh, my god, I can't wait for the release of this. I'm so happy for you guys. This is a beautiful, beautiful song, absolutely, and thank you so much the both of you, centelle and deborah for uh joining me this evening and sharing this with everybody. So please, once again, centelle goel, go find Sintel Facebook Instagram, mark your calendar when TikTok, tiktok oh, that's right, you're on TikTok too. Please go find him and follow him and share him, and then mark your calendar for July 24th for the release of Give Him Praise. Thank you guys. Thank you so much. I appreciate you being here tonight.

Speaker 3:

Thank you.

Speaker 5:

Alright, let me start a song. Hold on one second.

Speaker 2:

Oh, we'll be right back. We praise the God of war and thunder In dragon ships. We raid and plunder.

Speaker 1:

With fire, milk and steel, bound by honor, fate and glory.

Speaker 2:

In hallowed halls they will sing our song Of conquering all nobles Distant shores, battles and wars. Silent cries with a rage in their eyes, conquering wars, long ships of war. They peer into fire in the dark of the night.

Speaker 1:

Listen to the wind, you'll hear the call of Vikings in the air Like thunder in the sky. Sword on shield, blood on steel, arrows fly and they carry to the hour when they die.

Speaker 2:

Village bells will toll their warning. All are dead or enslaved by mourning. By axes, sword and spear, swarms of blood lost. I surrender, although there's much to reach the end of the spell that brought me here. Torches, blazed villages, grazed, screaming walls of a devastating cost, the rash of all the spoils of war, the white moon in the breeze, every morning, a new fall.

Speaker 1:

Listen to the wind. We call the Vikings in the air Like thunder in the sky. Sword on shield, blood on steel. Heroes fly In the carriage you vow when they die.

Speaker 2:

On the wind. You can hear the whisper. It's a calling to our arms. It's a calling of war. We sail before the ice and wait until winter. We have a dream beyond two ways. It's a calling of fate and of coming home. Evermore We'll be right back. Dark shores, battles and wars.

Speaker 1:

Won't listen to the wind. You're here to call the flying game's in the air. Yeah, yeah, yeah, like thunder in the sky, sword on shield, blood on steel, it holds right Like a whisper on the wind. You hear thunder, thunder, thunder, thunder, thunder, thunder In the sky, in the carry-to valve, have all when they die so so rain of fire, call of vikings, joe boo.

Speaker 5:

Rain of fire, call of vikings. Another one. Just I love it, love it. Thank you, joe, for sending it over this afternoon, or yesterday actually, I think, so I could get it on the air today. Wow, if you haven't been following Joe Boo, where have you been?

Speaker 5:

Reign of Fire, shadow Band, joe Boo and the Dog and I'm missing one or two, ten, maybe I don't know. The man is all over the place. But awesome projects. Thank you, joe. All right, so tonight, tonight I've had such great. All right, so tonight I've had such great already I've enjoyed tonight, sintel and Debra joining me. Give him praise.

Speaker 5:

Amazing, just an amazing song. How can you not feel uplifted, believe what you believe, believe in what you believe. But you have to feel better after listening to that song. Just listen to it, feel it, oh my gosh. And with Deborah and Sugar, absolutely amazing.

Speaker 5:

My next guest, austin Davis, another amazing indie artist, gosh, you know, sometimes I follow people and then I find out who everybody's connected to. Right, we're all connected one way or another. So I was following JLD, I think. Oh, I definitely was following JLD. And then Christina had posted about this Austin Davis person. He didn't have a lot of followers. So, you know, I followed and I was reading about him, and then you connect the dots. It's like, oh, now I understand who Austin Davis is and his beautiful music and his beautiful wife, jld, and their beautiful, uh, christian music as well. So, but Austin Davis, now this is the, his other side, and he had a, uh, a new release, um, yep, hold on a second. Do I have it ready? I don't have it ready yet. I'll get it ready for you. Circles Around you is what. What the single is, um, which I'll play at the end of the interview. So I interviewed Austin a couple months ago. I had played the interview on Out of the Attic Live from Delaware.

Speaker 5:

Most of the time I like to play the indie artist on Wednesday night, it's just the thing that I do. So I wanted to give him Wednesday night as well. So I wanted to give him Wednesday night as well, and so I'm going to share his interview. Next, austin Davis and then his song Circles Around you, featuring JLD. So it's going to be a great night, and then I'll be back. And then I have another interview that I did with Dinky the week before last. Oh, my gosh, I'm telling you I enjoy my interviews. I really do. Some of them go a little crazy, but I definitely enjoyed all these interviews that I do.

Speaker 5:

And then I get to share all the great music that these artists have released or are going to release until June. I don't know why I keep saying June, july 24th. I certainly don't want to go back in time. Well, maybe no July 24th, so mark your calendars for that. Dinky just had their album release Ghosts, and Austin Davis had his single Circles Around you, and I know that he has a second release coming out soon. So there is that All exciting and I get to share it on my my two shows. I am going one more time. I am going on vacation, starting on Friday, for 10 days. Uh, I will be rebroadcasting um the last couple of weeks shows, since I've had issues with Facebook and posting for my shows. So I want to give everybody, um the you know time to help share um that I'm playing their music anyway. Okay, so next up, austin Davis. After that I'll be back with his single circles around you. Hi and welcome to the R2RB Indie Artist Podcast. This evening I have with me Austin Davis and Austin, how are you?

Speaker 8:

I am well. How are you?

Speaker 5:

I'm good thanks. I'm so glad that we finally connected. It took us a minute, but we did it.

Speaker 8:

That's all right. Sometimes it takes time.

Speaker 5:

Right, exactly. So I always like to ask two questions to get us warmed up. What music artist would you like to meet in person?

Speaker 8:

Oh man. Well, it might be a little weird to say but Taylor Swift, Then I can be cool to my daughter.

Speaker 5:

Oh, there you go. Oh my gosh, I like that. She's a big Swifty fan.

Speaker 8:

Yeah, she's 10. Taylor Swift's her favorite artist. Well, I have to say Taylor Swift is definitely.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, she is a great artist and you know it's somebody to look up to. That is a good one, absolutely. What's your favorite app on your phone and why?

Speaker 8:

Favorite app on my phone, maybe the weather app. That way I know what I'm looking at here the next day. I like to fish, so getting out in the lake, it's good to know what the weather's going to be like.

Speaker 5:

Cool, and you're out in Minnesota.

Speaker 8:

Wisconsin, wisconsin Southern Wisconsin.

Speaker 5:

Okay, I knew it was that way somewhere.

Speaker 8:

Yeah, somewhere over in this area, more west than what you are.

Speaker 5:

Oh, definitely All right. So who's Austin Davis, the indie artist?

Speaker 8:

Well, I am, uh I've been involved in music for a very long time as a as an artist. I'm still finding myself uh in a lot of ways. You know been been interested in a lot of different uh styles, mostly rock. Uh has been uh like a cornerstone've been diving a lot more into the indie acoustic world more and I don't know all the genre names, there's way too many genres to count Right. Can't keep that straight, but my wife is probably better at that but listening to more what I would call chill music or acoustic-flavored music, singer-songwriter, a lot more than I used to. So that's something that I think is what my sound is more like now, whereas I used to be more all about the electric guitar, rock and roll, heavy drums, big stuff, big sounds. I still like those things.

Speaker 5:

The indie artists. I think one of the things that you all do so easily or effortlessly is just kind of cross the borders of all the genres and bring it into whatever style you are.

Speaker 8:

Yeah, that's true. I guess there really isn't always a cookie cutter formula for it. As an indie artist, I guess the mainstream guys, they typically have their formulas that works, what sells and all that. We tend to just do what comes from the heart. That's where I'm at.

Speaker 5:

Absolutely. Oh my gosh. Your first solo single came out in the beginning of April Circles Around you, which is absolutely a beautiful song featuring JLD and congratulations. It is such an awesome song, Thank you. You are welcome, so tell me about it. Where did it all come from?

Speaker 8:

Yeah, so that song was written in.

Speaker 8:

I guess a day I just sat down at the piano and I was actually inspired a little bit by Billie Eilish and that type of her softer songs the one actually written for the Barbie movie it's kind of funny, the popular one for that and that flavoring, just that. You know, I wanted to try to create something with a beautiful melody instrumentation, something that really just moved you, and so I started sitting down at the piano and trying to come up with some chords and then started singing the verse melody and put words to it. And then maybe half an hour later at that point I had a verse and a chorus at least called my wife in from the other room JLD who that is my wife asked her if she wanted to finish writing it with me. And yeah, about an hour later, I think, we had something pretty much locked in and then it took sometimes I move quick when I'm motivated. Other times I don't move quick at all, but I was motivated and we got it finished in. You know, I think like a week or two. Then it was ready to release.

Speaker 8:

It released in early April, I think, wrote it beginning of March.

Speaker 5:

Wow, yeah, no. And so this is your first solo single, correct?

Speaker 8:

The first solo single. Everything else I've done has been a part of a group or with someone else. This is the first thing that is solo. There are other songs that I've written and this is all working towards something. Time frame wise, I like to say, you know, within the next year, 12 months, but you know, realistically, there's that ebb and flow of motivation that I think a lot of us struggle with. But it finds me pretty easily.

Speaker 5:

Me too. Sometimes I totally get that, Absolutely. So when did you know that you, that music was going to be a part of your life?

Speaker 8:

I would say in definitely in high school Up until around 11 or 12, I really didn't listen to music that much. Moved around the country my dad was in the Navy but I spent a good chunk of my elementary and middle school years in California and I was outside all the time. At the time CD players were a thing and obviously cassette tapes and whatnot, but I didn't have a good CD player or anything that didn't skip a lot. You know, maybe had what was the what was good those days, five second Andy Skip or something. It wasn't, it wasn't much. So I just I was skateboarding a lot and riding my bike, so I just didn't listen to music. You know we'd sit in the car.

Speaker 8:

My parents listen to country music, you know, when we were in the car or something like that. And so I know a lot of the nineties country and I like it a lot. Good music. It annoys my wife, but, but but I love the nineties country music. I do too. You know that that I'd never really thought much about it at the time. I just it was just playing, and it wasn't until I think Backstreet Boys at 2000, the Millennium album that was the first CD I think I ever had, and you know I'm not ashamed to say it, I love the Backstreet Boys. That was a great album it was. I still rock and roll all those songs, play them at the piano and the kids don't even know what they're listening to. Right, that's okay. Yeah, so around that point, that's when I started actually getting into music.

Speaker 8:

But then in middle school is when I started playing instruments and developing that side. School is when I started playing instruments and developing, developing that side. So I started on saxophone. And then I picked up an electric guitar. Parents got it for me for Christmas one of those sixth grade year, seventh grade and sat in my closet for about a year because I was intimidated by it. And then I, when I picked it up after a year of having it and went through my saxophone you know sheet music book and started playing Yankee Doodle on it. Not usually everybody. That's not a typical first electric guitar song. Most people are learning smoke on the water or you know crazy train or you know something like that.

Speaker 8:

I was doing yankee doodle and so, but yeah, it's gonna start somewhere um nothing wrong with that and then my brother started playing the drums and from from that point on, and going into high school, and then, of course, meeting my wife, which we'll probably talk about later I knew. I knew at that point that music was going to be cornerstone in my life. To what extent I wasn't sure, still not sure, but but I know it's a cornerstone and you're doing something right.

Speaker 5:

So you got through high school and then, after high school, when did you get into christian music?

Speaker 8:

uh well, I didn't become a christian. I didn't accept Jesus in my heart until 2018. So I'm fairly. I guess it's not that new anymore. But if all through college, I graduated in 2013. So all through college I was I consider myself agnostic up to that point. So my my wife is has been a Christian for a very long time, but we never really talked about faith or religion all that much outside of some debates here and there Conversation, but yeah, so Christian music wasn't until much later in my life, in 2018,.

Speaker 8:

I had been going to our church that we're going to now for a couple of years and started working with them on their sound side of things, on the tech side, prior to becoming a Christian, because I needed help and I was there and willing and able. Once I accepted Christ, then I started getting more involved in the worship side and that's kind of where that started to what it's become now.

Speaker 5:

Nice place to start.

Speaker 8:

My wife and I are now worship leaders there at the church we write and play original music.

Speaker 5:

So your wife Jessica Davis, aka JLD. You are a husband and wife duo in the Christian genre and you write beautiful music and I love the message that you share through your Christian songs as well. Do you write the songs together?

Speaker 8:

We do so. Early on I kind of defaulted to Jessica's lyrical prowess. My lyrics weren't the greatest early on. I've improved in that area. I was always the I produced. She wrote the song you know and that, and that we came together, you know. Now it's it's more of a mixture. She's actually doing a lot more producing on her own now, which is great that she's picking up that side of things. She doesn't have to wait for me to have motivation anymore. But I have written a couple of our songs, uh, that are currently on spotify. I will, which is the newest one? Newest one, yeah, which is not that new anymore no, but it's a great song yeah, that one.

Speaker 8:

That was one that the holy spirit just uh, downloaded to me one night and um, then I stayed up all night tracking it in my office. You know, by the next morning I was like, oh jessica, come hear this. She was actually I didn't know, but she was actually sitting out there in her chair for a few hours just listening to me play the guitar solos. Why is he doing it a hundred times? I mean, that's kind of how I operate.

Speaker 5:

I'll record the same thing 50 times again just to find the perfect one. You produce, you put it all together, you do all that engineering, you do all that mixing, all the sound tracking. How did you get into that part of it all?

Speaker 8:

That's actually what my degree is in. I went to college for music media production. It's a bachelor of science. So my degree I can at least say I'm a scientist to some extent. It looks good on the resume but when you look at the major it's music media production. That's not really helping me get into any sales jobs or anything like that. But that's what I went to school for. Started picking that up in high school, you know I had a little multi-track recorder it's kind of my intro into it then started getting into computer recording. It was all in an effort to record some of the stuff we were doing in high school with our band and I've always had some interest in tech.

Speaker 8:

And that's clearly progressed now.

Speaker 5:

So obviously it's paid off for you.

Speaker 8:

Yes, actually, I'm the tech director at our church too, so that's the other side, oh wow. I do actually have a job in music production.

Speaker 5:

Oh, you do so. You do that as well.

Speaker 8:

Yes, yes.

Speaker 5:

I have to say the indie artists, including you and your wife as well. You all work pretty much 24-7. So if it's not your music, it's your family time. You know it's always something. How do you and Jess work that out?

Speaker 8:

Well, you know, we navigate as best we can. You know, there's not without arguments, not without, you know, stressful times, sometimes it's. You know, I'm a pretty needy guy, so maybe I'm just feeling like I need someone to talk to and she's busy with music. So then, vice versa, I can get sucked into stuff too. So like. I said I fish, so I've been doing that a lot. That's that's been my, my. When it's just me and she wants to do something, then I go out and fish.

Speaker 5:

There you go. I like it. Do you all do something to unplug from it all? Do you all take that time off and just say we're shutting down for a few days and walk away from the social media, so forth and so on?

Speaker 8:

Well, I would say for me I'm not very good with social media anyway. Specifically, if you probably looked at my accounts, I don't really I'm not super active. There specifically, if you probably looked at my accounts, I don't really, I'm not super active, can't say.

Speaker 8:

I'm trying or have any intentions to try harder. But Jessica, she I don't know. I think she's always on, she's a hundred percent, she lives for it, not the social media, but like she, that's what brings her energy. Is that side of things for me? Yeah, I don't really get too wrapped up in it. Otherwise it's a little little dangerous because I can also be the guy that just veges the whole time scroll on Facebook if I'm not careful.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, I agree, because I actually have to like shut the tab down that says Facebook. Otherwise I find myself scrolling and answering and posting and you know, you do you get swept up into it. And the next thing I know it's like all right time to shut it off. Oh, you know, you do you get swept up into it.

Speaker 8:

And the next thing I know it's like all right time to shut it off. Oh my gosh, is there a highlight of your music career that stands out above the rest At this moment? Probably? You know circles around you and doing a solo thing, that's never really been something that I had considered doing before. I always tied myself to Jessica, just considered that we were always going to be a duo and I never really thought that it could be both or that or that. What I had to offer vocally or musically was was enough on its own. But you know, the response circles around you has been really great and supports really great. Fortunately, because Jessica is so good at social media, I've got to benefit from her community of wonderful indie artists, friends and connections who have, you know, just embraced me as well, even though I'm not super active, it's okay, so it's been great.

Speaker 5:

That is awesome. So did Jessica kind of push you into the solo artist category.

Speaker 8:

She supported it. I would say you know, I think we've been together long enough to know that neither one of us is going to. You know, get pushed by either one. You know we can make suggestions. I suppose, when it comes down to it, I'm going to do what I want to do. She's going to do what she wants to do. She supported me, though. Definitely she always has, and I assume she always will.

Speaker 5:

Exactly, oh my gosh, when you're not doing music besides fishing and fishing, what else do you like to do A when?

Speaker 8:

you're not doing music. Besides fishing and fishing, what else do you like to do? A lot of things. You know I like to drive. I've got myself a Challenger so I drive that around. I'm used to have a motorcycle, Drive that around. Plan to get another one some point.

Speaker 5:

Playing with kids. What did you have? What motorcycle?

Speaker 8:

I had a cruiser. It was a Yamaha 97 Royal Star. Eventually I'll probably get into a harley at some point, but you know priorities. Right now the boat gets most of the love oh nice, that's good things like that.

Speaker 5:

So yeah, and then, and then you have the kids the kids, of course.

Speaker 8:

You know basketball out front, uh, that sort of stuff, um, they're, they're in school, so we got lots of school things, the sports they're starting to get into these in different uh activities, um, musicals, band, and all of our kids are very musical. They all sing much better than I ever did at their age, or even in high school when I started singing. They all sound so much better than me now at seven and 10 and four, that's awesome, wow. So three kids keeps you busy, that's for sure. We like to camp and we've got some vacations planned to do that as a family and with some friends. We are together a lot as a family, nice. So there's a lot of time spent together, even if it's just singing around the piano or doing something.

Speaker 5:

That's so nice. That's so nice to hear too, because you know it's so hard these days for families to I don't want to say find the time, but just to have the time to be all together, to be able to do things together, to be. You know that family structure is very important.

Speaker 8:

We are blessed that I get to work from home and Jessica is at home too. So outside of traveling for work, you know, sometimes to Denmark, like I was recently, most of the time it's somewhere in the US, but other than that I was recently Most of the time it's somewhere in the US, but other than that I'm home.

Speaker 5:

No, that's great, that is really great that both of you can be able to do that. Let me ask you, going back to collaborating with Jessica on Circles Around you, do you have any plans for collaborating with somebody else and what's in the works for you now?

Speaker 8:

I'm always interested in collaborating. Again, I guess it comes down to motivation. If I do it, most likely it would be someone that comes to me that would ask. In this moment I don't know that I would have the capacity or bandwidth to think too hard on that. Outside of collaborating with Jessica, of course, there is more in the works. I do have a song I told you about um earlier. I believe that's coming out. I haven't actually released it yet, uh, or send it to the distribution yet, so it may end up being early july before I uh actually release it, but that that'd be song single number two and I'll give you the title of it. It's, it's called bet on us, it's a. Well, I'll let you guys hear it when it comes out.

Speaker 5:

Okay, all right, I would love for you to send it to me so I will spin it and give it airtime. Oh, that's great. Wow, yeah, so July is really just around the corner.

Speaker 8:

It is. I intended to release it. You know, actually the end of May I need to wrap up a couple of things and this is where the motivation comes in. You know, I gotta wrap up a little bit on the vocals and then it needs to get, you know, a final mix and master done.

Speaker 5:

So it's very close oh cool, very good, very good how do you know when it's done?

Speaker 8:

right, you know that. That's. That's one of the issues. I think a lot of us indie artists and artists in general, I think you just all categories you don't know when it's done, so it just feels like it's done.

Speaker 5:

Until you listen to it again and do you say well, wait, I could just kind of tweak it there.

Speaker 8:

Yeah, I mean for me I have gone as far as I can go with my capacity to keep working on it. Where I've finally made myself bored working on it, then it's got to be done.

Speaker 5:

Then it's it. Is this totally solo with you, or do you have somebody in the background?

Speaker 8:

This one is 100 percent, so there's no, yeah, no, no featuring on this one. Jessica is a co-writer on it, but but it's not featuring her for this particular one.

Speaker 5:

Awesome, all right, well, is there anything else you'd like to share that I haven't touched on?

Speaker 8:

No, well, I definitely feel free to send me you, you know, if you're another indie artist out there, send me some stuff to listen to. I need to get better at that and uh, check out uh jld and you know austin davis uh on apps and whatever the places are, you go for that.

Speaker 5:

Social medias and such right and to find, and then to find you and jess, and to find you and jess, the Christian genre. Where do they find you for that?

Speaker 8:

We go by Austin and Jessica Davis. So if you search actually if you search either one of our names or Austin and Jessica Davis it should come up on Spotify, and we actually have a whole lot more on that side of things that we haven't recorded or laid down, but we have an album's worth of music on that side.

Speaker 5:

That just hasn't been prioritized yet yeah, no, I um, when I first heard of you which was christina from vox and sticks gosh, um, many months ago, had posted about you, austin davis, and to give you some likes and comments and shares, and that's when I first got in touch with you. And so from there you've come this far now with your solo and I didn't know who you were then. But when I was doing my research I came upon the Christian music and you and Jess have a powerhouse of music on that side. It's beautiful and the message that you share through it is just really and if everybody's with everybody that's listening, please go check the music out on the Christian side, because it is beautiful and it is a beautiful message.

Speaker 8:

Thank you so much, and now all glory to God, absolutely. I'm definitely blessed to be able to share that with everyone.

Speaker 5:

Yeah, it is so great, Absolutely.

Speaker 7:

Yeah, it is so great.

Speaker 5:

Absolutely yeah. So Spotify, iTunes, Facebook, Instagram you can find Austin Davis on all the streaming platforms, on all the social medias. I'm probably going to have to thank Jessica for all that she does for Austin.

Speaker 8:

Yes, yes, yeah, she's my manager at this point. There you go, she's a. She's my manager, there you go, there you go.

Speaker 5:

You two are a great duo. Um, Austin, thank you so much for for talking with me. I've really enjoyed this and I'm looking forward to the new release bet on us coming out in July.

Speaker 8:

Absolutely Hold it to it.

Speaker 5:

I'm holding you to it.

Speaker 8:

I'm going to be bugging you Caterpillar buddy, there you go.

Speaker 5:

I'm going to be bugging you the week before.

Speaker 8:

Please do, please do.

Speaker 5:

All right, Austin. Thank you so much.

Speaker 8:

Thank you.

Speaker 5:

All right, and now Circles Around you featuring JLD Austin Davis, and I'll be back. Maybe, no, I'll be back, maybe no, I'll be back. Hold on, don't go anywhere. Oh, my goodness, you gotta love. Okay, here we go.

Speaker 6:

How do I say that I love you when I can't find the words to describe what's more than a fire? It's primal desire. My lips go numb when I try to tell you that you're my one Obsession. A moth to a flame when I find you.

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Debra LaMotta

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