Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Austin Yarbrough . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Austin, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I first went to school for business knowing full and well that producing music was my passion. I experienced a great deal of depression because I believed I needed to secure a practical degree as a backup plan or to play it safe instead of fully diving into what I believed I was made for. When I transferred to a different school to pursue music I thrived and my grades skyrocketed.
Achieving a decent living in music can be challenging. Though my music career has allowed me some considerable financial flexibility, being a self employed musician still has its challenges in comparison to traditional employment. Even after achieving a full time career in music, I’ve wished I was proficient in a number of other areas so I could get benefits or something more consistent and reliable for my later years. I got my real estate license and, just like when I was in university, experienced that out of fear and anxiety, I was chasing something outside of my design. The truth is, I am happiest when I am making music. I think trusting the process in whichever field one is most passionate is one of the keys to success. My talents provide me opportunities to live in joy. Deviation from this postpones my living fully. Though I don’t yet feel accomplished, I am happy with the path that I am on.
Austin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I grew up in Nashville Tennessee and was raised on music and travel. My parents started taking me around the world when I was only a few years old. That love for adventure is my ground zero. Growing up, I prayed for a lifestyle that would allow me continue. After I graduated I was a sound engineer running sound for DJs at a popular venue on broadway in Nashville. What they were doing intrigued me and I saw it as a healthy transition out of the job I had at the time. I watched and studied them for a couple years and knew I was capable. I went to the store, invested in gear and one of the DJs I was working with took some time to show me the ropes. I carried my equipment in my trunk in case an opportunity presented itself. Thankfully it did. And I used that gig as an edge to sell myself at other venues. It was one of those “luck favors the prepared” kind of situations. Since these 6 and a half years, I’ve DJ’d for Nashville’s most popular venues and brands like Jack Daniels and the Nashville Predators. My resume has gathered prestige but this is not what I want people to know me for.
My resume for exploration is long: I’ve survived in the Amazon with local survivalists from the jungle, meditated with monks in the Himalayas to understand the discipline of monkhood, learned the ways of several tribes in the grasslands of Eastern Africa, and climbed some of the tallest mountains in the world. This list continues.
The main thing I want people to know, much more than what I sell, is how I connect with the world. I am a passionate African American musician who’s seen 50 countries before the age of 30 wants to show everyone that this much and more is possible. Outside of the office and the studio are amazing experiences waiting. I have made a living as an entrepreneur and a creative. But I live as an adventurer and wish to inspire others.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
As an open format DJ, I’ve had to stay on top of what people listen to and have felt increasingly jaded especially toward mainstream music. This has inspired me to expand my talents into an additional field.
We live in an age where depression and anxiety are at an all time high and the muses we seek don’t provide the nourishment we need in days such as these. My goal right now is to encourage people – give people a reason to keep living, keep trying, and discover a sense of freedom from within. I have been in multiple countries across Africa over the past month producing and directing a short film. All of the music is encouraging and designed to help those looking for answers that I have struggled to find. The short film is called ‘Faith & Diamonds’ and will be released in April 2024 on YouTube and all social media platforms.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
n/a
Contact Info:
- Website: WorldbyAustin.com
- Instagram: @moreaustin
- Facebook: Facebook.com/austinyarbrough
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Moreaustin?si=-7ePzFhlOdZxPH8n
- Other: TikTok: @oneaustin