Overview

Hello world! My name is Austin James, and I'm a singer-songwriter here in the beautiful city of Hartford, CT.

I have been writing and performing original music for 15 years and with my band, The Nomads, for the last 5 years. Our songs blend heartfelt lyrics with blues, soul, rock and folk to create a unique and energetic sound. My music career has led me to share the stage with national acts including Hawthorne Heights, Needtobreathe, Switchfoot, and Neon Trees. I have honed my sound performing and touring throughout the United States and Europe. Austin James + The Nomads has been performing regularly since 2019, playing around the country as a national touring act, and even being featured in the Freestyle Libre 2 commercial for Abbott Pharmaceutical.

In 2019, I became a spokesperson for Abbott pharmaceuticals, and was featured in a nationally aired commercial for their Freestyle Libre continuous glucose management sensor. In 2022, Austin James + the Nomads performed at Abbott's keynote presentation at the CES trade show in Las Vegas, with their performance viewed by both the in-person attendees as well as the virtual attendees across the globe. I also performed at the National Sales Meeting in New Orleans in January 2023. My work with Abbott has given me the opportunity to promote health and awareness of diabetes through music to people across the country.

I embarked upon a national tour in October of 2022, where I wrote the 5 songs featured on the PERFUME EP. I was able to work with some incredibly talented songwriters in Nashville, TN, and I believe that experience was instrumental in creating a truly beautiful album.

Our past and current records as Austin James + The Nomad’s are available on all major streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, and Bandcamp.

The material is ready, and the musicians are waiting -- this Plaid Dog campaign is the final step toward creating my new professionally produced studio EP.

This campaign is raising funds for my professionally recorded EP with Ryan Gallagher in Boston, MA. Ryan is a Boston-based producer and engineer with experience working with both established and up-and-coming musicians. Together, Ryan and I are digging into my original material, writing arrangements, and reaching out to local musicians to bring the songs to life. 

We’ve been able to cover the costs of recording and producing one song, which is ready for you to check out right here on this page. This new song is called “Perfume,” and you can check it out below!

While I’ve been able to fund the recording process for "Perfume" on my own, to create an EP of songs of this quality, studio costs add up quickly. With that said, this campaign can give us a unique opportunity to collaborate and make great art together. Your donation will cover the following costs of my project:

1. Pre-Production: This is where everything starts. Ryan and I will start crafting the arrangements for each song slated for the EP. We’ll hold rehearsals to fine-tune the songs and arrangements and talk through new and exciting ideas for how to approach the recording process.

2. Recording: This is when we enter the studio and start capturing the music and where the songs become what you'll hear on this EP. This campaign will play a huge role in making sure we have enough time to capture great performances for every member of the band.

3. Mixing & Mastering: Each track will get mixed to create the right balance between instruments, texture and color that make up a track. As a final step, the EP will be mastered from beginning to end so that the listening experience is cohesive and carefully choreographed from start to finish.

And what will you get for your generosity and support? So many awesome things!

I am so appreciative and grateful for any support you can lend to this campaign. In exchange for your generosity, I've put together a really exciting group of gifts that are available exclusively through your participation in this campaign.

Check out some examples below and a full list to the right!

It's hard to express how much this project would change my life.

Music has always felt so personal to me. While I have been performing music since childhood, I did not start writing until 2010 after my sister passed away. That was a deeply emotional time for me but also the catharsis that drove me to begin songwriting. For years, I primarily wrote about my journey through grief, and once the healing process was moving forward, I began to share my thoughts and experiences on love, grace, and gratitude.

Fast-forward to October of 2022…

I’m on tour alone traveling from Boston to Nashville; when you’re driving that many miles alone, you begin to retreat into your own mind quite effortlessly. I started thinking about the hardships I’ve been through, from chronic illnesses to failed relationships both romantic and platonic. I started to think of how the intersection of love and loss is so inherently intertwined. Heartache can either lead to new life discoveries or careen into heartbreak. So, I pulled over at countless rest stops during my tour and wrote an album that would become the Perfume EP. With the help of some incredible songwriters from both Nashville and here at home in Connecticut, we were able to craft these introspective and beautiful records.

Being able to heal from grief and heartbreak has given me the ability to share that healing journey with you all. I am eternally grateful to Plaid Dog Recording for giving us the opportunity to create an album worthy of your time and appreciation. May your life be sweeter than nectar and lavender. All love…always.

Austin James

If you're ready to contribute, just click the "Back This Project" button on the top right of this page! Every little bit counts, and I’m so grateful for all your support.

If you have folks in your network that would be interested in supporting me, please feel free to share this page with them.

Thank you so much for checking out my campaign page. I can't wait to share this music with you.