Andrew Austin's reputation as one of Canada's most dynamic singer/songwriters keeps growing. Having recently wowed audiences in Toronto with two Canadian Music Week showcases, and reached living rooms coast to coast on Canada AM, Austin has produced a timely video for 'To Love Like This Again,' the lead-off track from his acclaimed debut album 'While It's Still Light Out.'
The song lent itself perfectly to Austin's idea to pay tribute to fathers, especially those like him who are taking a more active role in raising their children. "The gender norm is changing and it's awesome," Austin says. "More and more, real world fathers are engaged, involved, and doting. They're taking paternity leave and taking over more domestic duties. They are involved in their kids' lives and proud of it. Everyone's lives are enriched by this."
Austin adds that his goal with the video is to put some of these images in the mainstream media to show that modern dads are more than just caring playmates. They can attend to a child's needs just as well as Mom. The opening frame is a photo of Andrew as a baby with his father, which segues into a shot of Andrew with his child. From there, many more young dads are featured.
The video was completely crowd-sourced through friends sharing with friends, parent internet forums, spreading the word in mom/baby groups, and approaching strangers with cute babies. People were asked to send in footage of Dad and baby just being themselves. Their partner was encouraged to be behind the camera in order to capture as much honest intimacy as possible.
"We received responses from a wide variety of people and places," Austin says. "This seemed to resonate with all sorts of families who were happy to participate and get nothing in return. The response was overwhelming, really. We had to turn away dads hoping to be featured in the video because the song was not long enough for more clips. In the end, I feel it conveys that the natural role of fathers is to be engaged, loving, and confident and that is why this video resonates with so many people."
Austin, a native of Sarnia ON, recruited legendary producer David Newfeld
(Broken Social Scene, Super Furry Animals) to help carve out the sound he has been cultivating for years. Recorded in Newfeld's Dobbstown, Ontario Haunted Church studio, the process of creating 'While It's Still Light Out' was so involved and intense that Austin ended up living out of the adjoining Priest's House for a period of time.
Austin's resume also includes a stint as bandleader for Andy Kim and performing in a Beatles tribute act. But perhaps he is best known to some as the voice behind Tim Horton's 'It's Time For Tims' and Alexander Keith's 'Toast This Life' campaigns. The latter ended up charting in the top 10 on ITunes and has achieved over 100,000 hits on Youtube and counting. You can listen to the 'Toast This LIfe' tune HERE.
Upcoming Dates
Thursday June 5 -- Toronto ON -- Drake Hotel 8:30PM (w/ Scarlett Jane)
Saturday June 28 -- Sarnia ON -- Sarnia Centennial Celebration 2PM
'While It's Still Light Out' Track List
1. To Love Like This Again
2. Inside Out
3. Thousand Eyelids
4. If It Ain't This Town
5. Sending Out A Message
6. Disappear
7. Missile Under My Bed
8. Cheap Motel
9. Here Comes The River
10. Beautiful Bones
11. If This Is Your Love
12. The Night
No comments:
Post a Comment