THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Abstract Art Of An Unstable Mind is a musical once upon a time from the creative and unconventional mind of Austin Meade. Thanks to crazy-fast career momentum, newcomers to Meade’s unique musical world might have pre-conceived notions. But expectations be damned: “Just because I’m raised down in the Texas Country Red Dirt scene, folks think we’re a country band. Then they come to the show and are like, ‘What the hell was that? That was rock ‘n’ roll!’ ” Meade states. “Starting the record with Violation Delight, a heavy song with a nasty riff, makes people go, ‘oh, shit, what am I in for?!’”
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 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, which follows 2020’s Black Sheep, 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.
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. The sequencing on Abstract Art Of An Unstable Mind follows an emotional trajectory, too. The first songs on the LP are more lighthearted, but as with life, things become heavier, trending more serious starting around the middle, with the title track. With Zeppelin-esque riffs over Meade’s sensitive voice, Abstract Art Of An Unstable Mind is a perfect turning point.
The album 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.” The pair reveled in putting together odd combos of words like Violation Delight, a song that brings the nostalgia of the local fair along with crazy hormonal teenage crushes where even little things loom huge. The song’s bridge is memorably repetitive with a Killers-type vibe.
“We tried really hard on this record to find where the climax of the song should be, and not only use a vocal roller coaster leading up to it, but then explosive guitar solos to really grab people.” There are unexpected moments — many of them — on the album as well. “We put these little audio gifts in there, dropped in between songs,” Meade hints, calling them “a dream within a dream.”
With Abstract Art, Meade’s creativity, insight and often-devilish humor is matched with a powerful work ethic, creating an immersive, perfectly detailed experience both on album and onstage. The self-reflective record marks a coming of age for Meade, his universal lyrical and musical musings pointed and often cringe-worthy because of their truth. As Meade sings in Loser Mentality, “I’ve got hopes, but I still dream / And every night I do the same old boring things / Scratchy couch and a blue TV / So uninspiring.” The songwriter also laments innocence. “I just don’t hear a lot of people talking about that idea of ‘what about before all the drugs and alcohol and stuff,’ what happened to that?’”
Ultimately, Abstract Art Of An Unstable Mind uses every available creative tool to a cohesive end. “My goal was to put all the things together. I wanted to write a record where I had the potential to seriously make a video for every single song, because the combination of the arts is so awesome,” explains Meade. “The songs are cinematic. You can enjoy it visually; with just the audio; but then the live show experience brings it all together; it’s always my favorite because you get to sing along with me … and everyone else packed in next to you.”
And don’t try to tell him he’s too ambitious or over the top in any of his creative ventures. Meade gives a big middle finger to expectations, rules, and naysayers, shutting it all down with the retort, “Damn, are we here to be entertainers or be boring?!”
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