Alt-pop country artist Austin is ready to shake things up in the country music world with the release of his fresh new single, “Leave Like That.” The rising singer/songwriter is sharing the brand new relatable track with readers of Music Mayhem ahead of its official release date on Friday (Jan. 19).
First Listen Of Austin’s New Song “Leave Like That”
“Leave Like That,” written by Austin alongside Brooks Hoffman, Gary Garris, and Mason Thornley, is a fun uptempo tune that finds the singer/songwriter questioning the abrupt end of a romance. “Didn’t we just paint the town / Cruise around all last week?” Austin asks alongside an electrifying driving beat reminiscent of P!nk’s “Try” but faster in pace. By the time the chorus hits, Austin takes a breath while trying to find ways to slow down, having to say “goodbye” to a former love interest.
“Hold up girl you left your t-shirt / Hanging in the closet / Ain’t you gonna want it back / Looks like you forgot your makeup / Sitting on the counter / Along with all the plans we had / You’re walking out the door / And I’m like this can’t be it / How you gonna look so fine in them Levi’s and just leave like that?’” Austin sings throughout the infectious chorus. The tune is destined to quickly become a hit among his fast-growing fan base.
The Song Tells The Story Of A Past Relationship
Opening up about the track with Music Mayhem, Austin said, “I want to tell the story of a past relationship. I feel like people can relate to meeting a significant other and falling in love, the heartbreak, and what you do after the fact. I tend to spend a lot of time on ‘sad songs’ and the ‘missing you’ songs, but I feel like that’s a very universal topic that a lot of people can relate with.”
Austin also shared how the song came together in the writing room, saying, “On this particular day, we walked in and were like, ‘Man. We don’t know what to write about.’ Gary, he’s an incredible producer and track guy. He just started making this vibe in the room, and Mason just started singing, “Hold up, girl you left your T-shirt,’ and we were like, ‘Crap! That’s cool. That’s catchy!’ So we went on with that.”
He continued, “We didn’t have a title or anything like that at this point, but we just kept going. Then, it got toward the end, and I forgot who said it, but it was like, ‘How are you gonna look so fine in Levi’s and just leave like that.’ And, we were like, ‘That’s it!’ So we just took that and ran with it, and that was two years ago that we wrote that song. So, it’s been sitting there for a while. We’ve been waiting for the right time to come out with it. I think this is the perfect time to do that.”
Song Will Appear On His Forthcoming Self-Titled EP
“Leave Like That” is the lead-off single from Austin’s debut eponymous EP release, due in the spring. The tune is also the first offering of 2024 from the fast-rising artist. The song follows the Kentucky-born crooner’s previous single, “Way Too Much,” which dropped in December. Both songs will be included on Austin’s forthcoming project, which features seven songs, all co-written by him. The project will showcase Austin’s unique sound, signature vocals and his songwriting expertise.
Before releasing his two tracks, Austin split from his band SixForty1 on mutual terms. He shares that he took a step back and did some soul-searching, which paved the way for his next musical chapter that includes a lot of inspiration taken from the sounds he grew up with.
“I grew up loving the pop/punk era of music. It’s so nostalgic for me. And I’ve always wanted to figure out how to incorporate that into my own music while staying true to my country roots…” Austin shares. “With the previous band, the music wasn’t going there, and we decided to split and go our separate ways… I spent this whole year trying to dive into that sound and trying to hone that in while telling my story. I think I captured that with this EP coming out, and it’s been a super fun process so far.”
Follows The Release Of “Way Too Much”
Of both songs, Austin says, “’Way Too Much’ [shows] the far left pop/punk version of me. That’s the furthest that direction I’ve dove into that song. But I feel like the melody of that chorus [on ‘Leave Like That’] is so infectious that people gravitate toward that. It’s such a fun way of saying, ‘How you’re gonna leave like that’ kind of thing, so I wanted to shed light on that but keep it uptempo and upbeat. So I think this is the perfect song to lead the whole project with because it’s not all the way pop/country, but it’s also not all the way punk. So, I think this is how most people can gravitate toward my EP.”
His Upcoming EP Will Remain True To Who He Is
Austin shares that his upcoming Austin project will include something for everyone. “There’s the falling in love aspect, a heartbreak aspect, and a hopeless romantic aspect. So it has a little bit of everything for everybody,” he explains. “I’ve managed to stay true to myself and make the music I care about making.”
With his upcoming release, Austin hinted that his next chapter may include jumping on a few tours.
“I have my name in the hat right now for a couple of tours, just waiting to see how the music goes and if the tour fits, but that’s a huge goal of mine, is getting back on the road. That’s my favorite part about this career, is being on the road and meeting people and going to new cities and seeing the reactions of fans,” he said. “Once the EP comes out, and I get out on tour and meet fans, that way, and just expand the atmosphere of this new chapter of me, I want to crank out as many songs as possible. I’m technically brand new to the scene again, so I want to get my name back out there as much as possible and make the best music I can, honestly.”
Fans can look for Austin’s self-titled EP to drop in March. In the meantime, take a listen to “Leave Like That” in the clip above!
