Austin Meade lays down a feel-good, summer vibe in his latest video “Lying to Myself.” Meade seamlessly encompasses multiple genres and eras of music — think 80’s anthem rock, late 90’s alternative in the Everclear/Silverchair vein and modern Americana artists like Shakey Graves or The Avett Brothers in the vocals. That being said, the groove remains simple throughout the track, and the uplifting mood is accompanied perfectly by a comical video, featuring clown costumes, juggling and pissed off women.
The guitar tones and straightforward drum beats a la Def Leppard or Whitesnake immediately solidify a stadium rock atmosphere. Yet Meade’s laid-back vocal style delivers a smooth contrast to the instrumental. On top of all of this, Meade adds his unique Americana twang to give the track a modern feel, despite some of the other vintage elements that are occurring. “Lying to Myself” exemplifies Meade’s ability to channel many different influences while maintaining a sound that is fresh and original.
The silliness on display in the music video seems to only elevate the liveliness of the song. The video tells the story of a guy — presumably recently heartbroken — wandering around, attempting to pick up an attractive female. Throughout his escapade, he gets his foot stomped, a drink poured on his face and his groin area punched. One could simply interpret these events as a man pathetically trying to rebound from a lost love by mindlessly pursuing other women, but a deeper message may be present underneath this obvious analysis — the male actor is experiencing a loneliness that is relatable to anyone who has experienced a painful breakup. Towards the end of the video, the guy is on stage with the band and they’re dressed up in clown costumes, signifying that not taking life too seriously and enjoying things as much as possible are the only ways to move forward sometimes.
Austin Meade’s “Lying to Myself” showcases his fluid songwriting and crisp vocals, all while reminding us that life is too short to dwell on the past. The Texas based musician possesses a mature sound that is uniquely his own, and we should all be excited to see what his future holds.
– Quinn Donoghue