Trip-Hop Artist AUSTIN GALANTE Discusses His Recently Self-Released Album and More!

Photo Credit- Elliot Aughtenbaugh

Austin Galante recently self-released an album of social and political protest trip-hop songs called “The Law of Truly Large Numbers” that can be purchased at most online retailers.

Austin produced and directed videos for several singles on the collection and each track expresses viewpoints on various topics you might find on the legal pad of progressive liberal or just the average millennial.  Subjects range to anything from social democracy, the military, the second amendment, weed, religion and much more.

Learn more about Austin Galante in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! What are some words you would use to describe 2016 for you and your music? What were some of the highlights? What are you most excited about for 2017? 

Hopefulness and enthusiasm turned to, disbelief, and horrifying disgust. Bernie Sanders running for president was a bright moment in my year and our history.  Finally someone who actually cares about people and not just lining his own pockets at the cost of everyday people.  Then the DNC cheated him (in so many ways), leaving us with the horrifying Cheeto Scrotum-in-Chief.  I was really hopeful enough people would actually see that Bernie was truly interested in getting money out of government, regulating Wall Street, and trying to tackle single payer health care for all. Unfortunately they didn’t.

One Highlight was my second son being born. Another would be finishing this album.

For 2017 I am most excited to get into our new home, start fixing it up the way we like it, spending some quality time with my wife, seeing family more now that we have moved closer to them and hopefully getting back in the studio towards the end of the year to work on the next record.

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory? Could you see yourself doing anything else today?  

I started rapping when I was 14 over Gangstar, Public Enemy, Consequence, KRS-One, NWA, Wu Tang and records like that. One of my friends had a karaoke-type machine, so we would (one take) rap over the instrumentals. The production quality was magnificent. Fortunately nearly no one got to hear it except us and a few friends.

I do a lot of things besides music. I am a painter.  My art work is on all Bad Fathers CD releases.  I’m most known for my work in Bad Fathers.  I’ve also done some acting, I’ve written two books, a fiction novel; “Black Market Maven the Guardian from Novak” and a non-fiction book called “The God that Cried Wolf and the Dangers of Make-Believe.” I shoot music videos and edit them. I also run a photography business. I try to keep myself busy with different kinds of things so I don’t get burned out on any one thing.

Let’s talk about your recently self-released album of social and political protest trip-hop songs called “The Law of Truly Large Numbers.” What was it like putting this collection together? In particular, what was it like self-releasing the collection? Where did the inspiration for these songs come from?  

The inspiration came from life – from observing the social issues we have to deal with in all of our daily lives because of who is being elected into legislative position within our government. In some places on the record, some of the scary people are doing the electing. Obviously the subject is much too vast to properly discuss on three minute songs but I sprinkle some ideas in there. Of course some songs are more specific. There is a silly song about who you will call for love in various circumstances. One is calling out B.O.B. the rapper for his ludicrous claim that the Earth is flat. Another is about the dumb shit we all do as kids and in yet another I address some of the superstition that goes along with the harmful and abusive claim that people were born with sin. So there is are a number of different topics on the album.

How do you think you as an artist and your sound has changed since your first solo album? How does what motivates you to make music changed through the years?

My first solo record was written, recorded, sung and produced all by myself within one months’ time.  I had a break up that left me feeling very bad. Which hadn’t historically been the case. Generally my relationships had run enough of their course that it wasn’t so painful. This one ended abruptly and I thought it would be “fun” to really just dig in and try to capture as many of those feelings while they were fresh. So I basically did nothing for a month straight except write music, write lyrics, record them as soon as they were written and move on to the next song. The entire album is the relationship from start to finish. The sound of the music was very down tempo trip hop meets dubstep. It was a fun exercise in making music even though it was kind of depressing to keep myself in that place for longer than needed.

My motivation has definitely changed from that but I generally pull from life, sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating social issues, sometimes just silly nonsense I stumble on. I’m sure I will make all kinds of songs in the future, from frivolous to thoughtful.

Do you have plans to perform much this year to support your new music? Can you remember a favorite performance of yours? 

I have zero plans to perform this year. There would have to be a spectacular opportunity to pull me out. I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old. My family is moving into a new home and I would like to create some more music this year.  So for the most part my plate is more than full.

My favorite performance was probably Deluna Fest. I have opened up for a lot of big national acts, but the vibe of being right out on the beach (festival style), in Pensacola Florida was a blast.

Where do you think you are happiest- in the studio recording new music, on stage performing or elsewhere? 

I’m happiest creating things. Whether it be paintings, albums, photography, acting, or writing a book; I find a lot of pleasure in the process. I also tend to learn a lot in many cases which is fun.

Who are some of your all-time favorite artists? Who would you love to work with in the future? 

Cee Lo Green, Slim Kid Tre of Pharcyde, and #0 of Slipknot are a couple I have worked with.

Empress Of, Andre 3000, Jay-Z, Tricky, Massive Attack, System of a Down, Jimmy Urine of Mindless Self Indulgence and Marilyn Manson, are some favorites that I would love to work with in the future.

At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope people take away from your songs? 

Well, I guess I hope I introduce some people to some new ideas they might not have thought about before. Maybe even plant a seed that gets them to think about a number of ideas or issues in a different light. At bare minimum inspire them to go do more research for themselves and or investigate different sides of a debate. I disagree with a lot of mainstream society on a number of issues, so that makes it tough to connect on a lot of levels with many people. Obviously not all, but certainly with religions, pseudo sciences and at least half the population on politics…  so I hope at least a few people can identify in some manner. I don’t expect it. In fact I’m pretty certain that’s unlikely, but like anybody, it is nice to be a part of a group of people that feel similarly; even if that group is small.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music? 

I’m certainly up for random collaborations. I work in my own studio so I have the freedom to explore any random avenue in music. I’m not opposed to making a blues song, metal, or singer-songwriter type stuff, and then turning around and make some EDM. I enjoy a lot of music in different genres. Life is too short not to enjoy different opportunities when they present themselves.