Seattle-based singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist AudioGust continues his remarkable independent journey with the release of his uplifting new single 'Amaze You', a heartfelt preview of his forthcoming album arriving this July.
Having built an extensive catalogue that balances reflective songwriting with anthemic alternative pop-rock, AudioGust has earned a reputation for crafting music rooted in sincerity, resilience, and emotional honesty. On 'Amaze You', he explores the delicate process of earning trust rather than demanding it, wrapping a deeply human message in soaring melodies, rich instrumentation, and a memorable singalong spirit.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with them to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Definitely the guitar. More specifically, the electric guitar. My father always had an acoustic guitar around the house, but there was something about an electric guitar that seemed so cool and powerful to me when I was young.
My first few electric guitars were pretty terrible, but in high school I bought a G&L F-100 that immediately felt like my guitar. It's the one I was playing when I met my wife, and after all these years I still have it. I've owned a lot of guitars since then, but that one will always be special.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I went through a lot of different phases, but most of them revolved around rock music in one form or another. I had a big prog-rock phase where I listened to a lot of Yes and Rush. Then came The Police and the new wave bands of the '80s, grunge in the '90s, and later a steady diet of pop-punk and emo bands in the early 2000s. Looking back, there’s a common thread through all of it. The first thing that grabs me in any song is usually the rhythm. Drums are huge for me. A great drum part or groove will catch my attention almost immediately, and then I start paying attention to everything else. A lot of my musical tastes have changed over the years, but that part has stayed remarkably consistent.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I remember owning was Honky Château by Elton John. My parents took me to an Elton John concert when I was about six years old, and I was hooked. Those early Elton John albums are still some of my favorite records ever made and they've influenced me as a songwriter ever since.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
There are so many songs I could choose, but I think I'd have to say Not Strong Enough by boygenius. I don't know what's in that song, but it hits me hard every single time I hear it. I've analysed it dozens of times, trying to figure out why it works so well. The melody, the arrangement, the lyrics, the performances—I've picked it apart from every angle. And yet there's still something in there that I can't quite explain. I can hear it, I can feel it, but I can't completely see how it's doing what it's doing. That's probably one of the highest compliments I can give a song.
It also has one of my favourite opening lines of recent years: "Black hole opened in the kitchen." That's a pretty good way to start a song.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I think the most important ritual is simply to start. Give yourself permission to write something that might be great or might be terrible. The hardest part is often getting past the blank page and allowing the idea enough space to reveal what it wants to be.
A lot of my songs start when I'm just playing around on guitar and stumble across a riff, chord progression, or groove that catches my attention. When that happens, I'll record it and usually try to develop a few related sections—a verse, chorus, maybe a pre-chorus—and save it as what I call a "song seed."
Those seeds have become a big part of my writing process. They come in especially handy during co-writing sessions because instead of starting from absolute zero, we already have a mood, an energy, or a musical idea to react to. Some of my favorite songs started as nothing more than a cool riff or groove that I almost didn't bother recording.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Over the past couple of months, it's been Biffy Clyro. They somehow flew completely under my radar here near Seattle, but someone recently told me that parts of my music reminded them of Biffy Clyro, so I started listening to see what they meant. That turned into a bit of an obsession. Their latest album, Futique, is fantastic, and I've probably listened to "Many of Horror" more times than is reasonable. What I really love is the combination of huge emotional melodies and powerful, energetic arrangements. And Simon Neil’s voice is amazing.
They've definitely influenced some of the music I've been writing recently. In fact, there's at least one song on my upcoming album, This Time Or Any Other, where you can hear that influence sneaking in.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
These days I've been focused much more on writing, recording, and producing than performing live, so I don't spend a lot of time thinking about opening slots. But if we're talking about dream scenarios, I'd love to play one of the legendary festivals like Glastonbury Festival or Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
I attended a songwriting retreat near Glastonbury last year and came away with an even greater appreciation for the history and community around that festival. There's something special about being part of an event that becomes a lasting memory for both artists and fans. And since we're dreaming, let's make it to the Glastonbury Pyramid Stage on a sunny afternoon. Not the headline slot—that sounds stressful. Late afternoon feels about right.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The simple—yet surprisingly complex—answer is that I get to play music a lot. I've always thought of music as its own communication medium. It's separate from all the languages we speak, yet somehow it can communicate emotions and ideas that are difficult to express any other way. Almost everyone can understand it, regardless of where they come from. As a musician, I get to both listen and communicate in that medium. I get to spend my days exploring what a melody, a rhythm, or a lyric can make someone feel. The amazing thing is that after thousands of years of people making music, we're still discovering new ways to say things with it. Getting to contribute even a small part to that conversation feels like a tremendous privilege.
And what is the most frustrating part?
I think the most frustrating part is that we don't value music in a way that comes anywhere close to matching its importance in our lives.
Music is woven into so many of our experiences. It helps define our memories, gets us through difficult times, celebrates great moments, and gives us a way to connect with one another. Yet somehow we've arrived at a place where many people spend far more on television, internet, or coffee subscriptions than they do on access to virtually the entire recorded history of music.
It's always struck me as strange that a music streaming subscription typically costs a fraction of what people pay for television services, even though those music services contain the soundtrack to our lives. If all of those entertainment services disappeared tomorrow, I suspect many of us would miss the music first. I don't say that because I'm a musician. I say it because I think music plays a uniquely important role in how people experience the world. If we valued it in a way that better reflected that importance, it would be much easier for musicians, songwriters, producers, and everyone involved in creating it to build sustainable careers.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
The best advice I've received is: keep going. Keep creating. Don't let a song that isn't coming together, a show that didn't go well, or the people who don't connect with your music stop you. Every musician has those moments. I've learned that sometimes it's better to move on and write the next song. A year or two later, you'll suddenly realise what was missing from that unfinished one. But you only get that insight if you keep creating long enough to find it.
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AudioGust's new single 'Amaze You' is out now. Check it out in the player below.